Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-09-04
Believe Him GuiItless.

EfCISssOT J aN6S a. LAWS Huu niS tWU
brothets Messrs. Chss W. and ]. M. Davie,
have written public statement TO the Alb
Ingdon Virginian of their reasons for refus-
ing to believe that DR.. Baker poisoned bis
wife. who was their sister. They say:
Many sensational articles appeared In the
newspapers during the trial which were CAL
oulated, II not really intended, to bir5 the
public mind against the accused, and the
verdict rendered by the Jury bad scarcely
reached the ears of the prisoner before 1t
was boldly announced through the same pa
pers that the verdict accorded with the
views Of the great mejorlty of the people,
and now after the unhappy man has fallen
beneath the blows of the prosecution there
are those who would etsb him again and
egan.
why Is this be!ng done The que.tioH is
even raised why the Davis brothers did not
Join the prosecution In clamor for the life
OF the accused to avenge the death OF their
sister? 1t Is due &c ourselves, to the prison.
or and to the public that we stste some OF
the reasons for the course we pursued.
Tnere was nothing manifest In the previous
life o! the accused that ehowed him capable
of committing crime, hence by law, both
human and divine, we we're required at least
to remsin client and consider him innocent
until bg investigation he might be proven
guilty. That investigation has been made
with degree OF risoF that denied the ac-
cused the benefit OF existing doubts, and yet
the evidence, which we have carefully stu
died, has failed to prove that Baker poison.
ed his vile, tbs impression still remaining
that our sisser mey have died from natural
Causes
Oar intimate connection with the Baker
family gave us an Insight into their domet
tic relations and knowledge OF our sisters
physical condition 81 certain periods, un-
known to the general public. Her ailments
on the week of her death did not differ ma.
teriaily except in severity, from what they
had been on some previous occasions. Her
Illness began Oh Saturday and Increased
gradually, though intermittently, until she
died on the Wednesday following: By
habits Of industry she was accustomed to
labor to q degree far beyond her strength,
and hence we Infer the chief cause Of her
S sff1 ctions. The entire absence of the main
symptoms that attend arsence poisoning,
such as thirst, vomiting and purging, end
the time that must have elapsed between
| the taking Of the poison and effects indi-
cate that death was produced by other
causes. The autopsy proved nothing not
otherwise explained.
"a cloud hangs over the origin OF the let
sers that we're go strangely hidden and 80
! readily found, and cloud la on the chsrac-
ter and testimony of the chief acouser, but
even ifthe letters be genuine aud the testi.
money true, what DO they prove more than
wicked design on Bakers part, for
purposes unknown to us, to produce an I'm
preston on the mind of. his parsmour that
be had done incredible things and made ir-
| credible sacrifices for her, and even Intensl-
| tying this By most nntimely visit to her
house. In view Of these and other oireum-
stances involving DOUBT. need anybody
| wonder that when Jury composed Of man
| as honest and truthful as the country can
furnish, yet overstrained possibly in their
Judgment by the extreme rigor Of the prose-
! cution and is attendant rulings, brought In
| their verdict, were sstonished more than
when we heard of our sisters death.
"May we not then, ,ipending other proceed.
iugs which mag follow. invoke from gen.
erous public fair and calm consideration OF
this matter, such as we ourselves, who
mourn the loss of favorite sister, are will
ing to give. upmoved by the sensational
! items and hesrtless criticism that spring
sither from oupidity or hatred"