The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-31
ON TRIAL FOR WIFE MURDER.
Dr.. Baker Faces a Jury of His
Peers.
Abdingdon's Big Murder Trial Started mt
Lnst-Nlrs. GiImer tho First witness.
She Describes Their Criminal Kela.
tions and Gives Damaging Testimony
Against tho prisoncr-Loye-slck Let
ters Produced In Court.

Against the Prisoncr-LOye-SlCk Let
ters Produced In Court.
ABINGDON, July o-TSpeciall-
trial of DR.. John A. p. Baker, for the
murder OF his wife, by poison, has been
anxiously looked forward to as most
sensational event. The interest in this
case Crews as the trial progresses. No
such crowd of people has ever Doc n
collected i'll court as that through which
DR.. Bakor followed Tailor Clark, this
morning at o:45 o'clock.
1t was understood that Mrs. Wynd-
ham p. Gilmer, who has played such an
important part in this unequallcd Grim
inal case, was to be introduced as the
first witness for the commonwealth, and
at an early hour every seat was taken
and the aislcs were filled with anxious
spectators, watching for the approach
of this remarkable character, who
divides with Dr.. Baker the disgrace OF
the terrible charge against him.
At 10 o'clock Mrs. Gilmcr, dressed in
black and leaning on the arm of her
N
was sworn 10 tell the truth. the whole
truth and nothing but tho truth regard
ing the charges against the prisoner at
the bar. Tho examination was COM
menced ut once, and Mrs. Giimcr stated
that she was thirty three years old, the
wife OF Wyndham Il. Gilmcr, of Wash.
ington county Va; that she had been
his wife for thirteen years; that she
knew the prisoner at the bar and had
known him since August, ISIS, who n
she met him at 4 festival at Maple
Grove, in this county; that DR..
Baker was living at that time
within about three miles of her home,
and had lived there until the latter
part OF November or the first of Dccem-
, bcr OF last year; that he had been
their physician for eight or nine years
and that her family and Dr. Bakers
had all bcen on very intimate terms.
She said that their criminal relations
dated back about five years, when she
was sick and Mr. Gilmer, OF course
was absent from home. DR.. Bakers at
tentions while in the sick room, were Of
the very kindest Imaginable, and that
long before he made known to her his
love She believed from his actions he
| thought great deal of her, and she
| loved him dearly.
Tho plans for the poisoning Of her
husband were detailed and the private
postoiiice from which they received let
tiers from each other was often men
toned. it being small house near the
Gilmcr dwelling where they deposited
their letters almost nightly.
Tho witness was asked how many
children she had and answered five, and
comp ctely broke down. Some minutes
were re luired for her to regain her self
control so as to proceed with her state
ment. When able to resume the story
! she told that Baker had visited her fire.
Quently, sometimes every day, until it
became very unpleasant for him to do
SO on account of ;hc jealousy Of her hus-
! band.
Counsel asked her ii Or. Baker had
ever made any threats concerning the
taking Of his wiie's life to which She
replied that his identical words were
THAT ever barrier Shall be burned
away" An exhibit of jewclry was then
made by the attorney for the common
wealth, consisting of Il gold watch, gold
pen and ring, and some other articles
all OF which the witness identified and
told when, how and where they had
| been presented to her, and how q por-
ton OF them had been concealed from
her husband Engraved in the ring
were these words, Love for Maggie"
When called upon to explain who
Maggie was Mrs. Gilmer replied that it
was herself and that Baker told her
if any one asked to see the ring and
asked about 1T, to tell them it was for
her little Maggie. She also told Of her
trip to Hotel Paramount. at Bristol,
Tenn, where DR.. Baker met her and
spent The night with her. Seven letters
OF the most disA listing lovc-sick nature
that could be devised were introduced.
The first was dated August %. 1890,
and begins "My own little guardian
angel; my little love- Sing forever
and ever. God knows this is from my
soul, as surely as one OF his angels
could utter it,"
1t is signed II W." which the wit
ness explained to mean Little Wife"
Another begins, my own little sweet
precious darling angel My heart is
bleeding at thy door" This letter is
dated August 2s. 1890
There was a heated agument between
counsel as TO the admission OF certain
testimony concerning the pot to poison
Wyndham +. Gilmer several months
after the death of Mrs. Baker, and a. :
O'Clock the court adjourned until to.
morrow morning at o'clock.
g