Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-13
THE BAKER TRIAL AT ABINGDON.
Forcibic Arguments Of Opposing Counsel
The Case to Close To-day.
Special telegram 20 tho Dispafch

Especial telegram 70 the Dispatch.l
ABINGDON, Va, August i2.-The Baker
dramais drawing to close. The pleading
will certainly be finished tomorrow and
the case given 20 the jury. Popular inter-
est increases and no one feels certain what
the verdict will be.
The argument was taken up this morn
ing by Daniel Trigg for the prosecution.
He began with the statement that be pro-
posed 10 deal with facts only. The ques-
tion before you Is whether Baker Is guilty
or not guilty. Defending his connection
with the case, the speaker said be was
hired TO expose the villiany of the prisoner
and to assist in bringing him TO justice.
We propose TO show the connection between
the desolated hearthstone OF the Giimers
and the death-bed of Mrs. Baker. The
blood of his murdered wife cries ont
against him, and we will have your blood
for hers. Mr.. Trigg described in passion
ate strain the manner in which Baker
wrought the ruin of the Gilmer family,
and how he plotted to remove every OBJ
stacle from his path of crime by the mur-
der of his wife and the husband OF his
paramour.
THE TELLrALE LETTERS.
The letters are once more taken up and
every dark hint they contain is pointed
out and dwelt upon. Could these letters
have been arranged as to facts? Gould
this blinded wounded. this woman whom
the gentlemen on the other side claim was
nsane--could she have calculated before
hard each statement in the letters? They
were not only going 10 Kill Gil
mer, they were going to embalm him. too.
They were not gong TO give him any
second-class funeral. Talk about desc
Grating graves. Iwould rather rob thou
sand graves. | would rather play resur-
rectionist from now until the day of resur-
rection than TO conspire with the wife OF q
! confiding man to send him to the grave.
Speaking at length in defence of Mrs.
Gilmer's testimony. MIR. Trigg quoted va
riOus authorities to show that the confes-
sion OF an accOmplice must be received ~
evidence, even though II be uucorrObo-
rated. But he claimed her story to be
fully corroborated by score of witnesses,
and then after all the circumstances point
ing to foul play the body was taken up
and arsenic was found.
THE ARSENIC IN TIE BODY.
The defence attempted to account for
| this arsenic by introducing the undertaken
and the cmDalming fluid. After they set
| lied on a fluid that would suit their pur-
pose because It contained arsenic they
| were driven from this position by the
| ANALYSIS. which revealed other metallic in-
gradients in tins fluid besides arsenic
| substances that should have been found IN
| the body but were not.
| The speaker paused a few moments TO
| rldicule Expert Clark, who declared that
the deceased, in his opinion. died from
heart disease. Ii DR.. Baker IL innocent he
| has II ia his power to account satisfactorily
| for the death Of his wife. Why has he not
done so: Mr. Trigg closed his argument
| by summing up the chief points of evil
| dence. lie spoke four hours and thirty
minutes.
| REVENGE THE FOUNDATION.
! He was followed by his brother, Hon.
| c. r. rrlgg. for the defence, who after an
| eloquent erordlum upon the persistence
| with which the prosecution. like Shylock,
| demand their pound of fiesb, examining
| the motives by which the Ccclis and Gil
| mers are actuated. He declares that re-
| venge is the foundation OF this case. He
] does not claim that DIR. Baker is excusable
for his connection with Mrs. Gllmer. He
docs not think that in such cases the
| woman should DO east out and the man be
| made hello, but he does claim that his
| client stands upon al equal footing with
his accuser. ile sarcastically refers TO the
! fact that Mrs. Gilmer came from Pulaski,
| the home Of Mr.. Wysor. lie speaks Of the
| arts -he used to lead tie Doctor on; that
he held out till IL was impossible Tor him
| 10 lbliItT ltNlti. It.tl -ut WIS lii' rcAub-t,
not he: that she was false 10 her husband,
false to Baker and false to her preacher
| when she called upon Heaven, and
her God 10 witness her innocence. Let
Him be the witness Of her innocence. Let
! him die l. the cry OF the prosecution
| cruelty him, cruelty him: revenge, blood /:
the wrath Of the Gilmers and the Cecils
| must be appeased. This woman must be
believed, and yet they cast aspersions upon
the character OF our witnesses.
vIRTUoUs FAMILY.
Al vile as our client is depicted he a
least has one virtue, the virtue Of having
reared virtuous family who testify to his
innocence. They would throw the testi
| mony of our witnesses aside because they
are related TO tho prisoner and yet the
Glmers are to be treated as sweet-scented
| geraniurns. Mr.. 1rigg said would rather
be a dog than try TO take ont my revenge
| in this way. Why had not Gilmer waited
to prosecute Bagerl II they believed bin
20 be such bad man and there WAS halt
| n man in the Gilmer or Cecil family, Baker
| would not be there on trial The prOsecu.
| ton have abandoned every count IN the
| indictment. They began with the charge
| that the deceased was poisoned with
! strychnne and phOsphoric acid, but be
! cause an arsenic-bOttle was found they
have taken ny the arsenic theory.
TO CLOSE TO-DAY.
Court was adjourned till tomorrow
morning. when Mr.. Trigg will conclude
and be Immediately followed by Congress.
| man Buchanan, also for the defence. anc
the case VIII be closed by tho prosecuting
attorney, Judge +. Il. Hutton.