The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-28

ABINGDON, Va, Fob. 27.-TSpeciall l.
One week of the Baker trial is finished
and there have been very few facts
proved that were not brought out at the
first trial
The Abingdon postmasters were iI-
troduced this morning to prove that
DR.. Baker had received letters from
Mrs. Gilmer addressed to him in ficti-
tious namess
The first new Witness introduced was
Mrs Arnold Gilmer. She testified as
follows:
81 am sister of Mrs. Wypdham Gill
mer. We arc not on friendly terms.
was acquainted with DR.. Bakers wife.
He took dinner at our house soon after
his wife's death. He had boon in Dick.
lnson county to sec a patient. l live in
Russell county DR.. Baker spoke to
mo about his wife's death. lie said
that after breakfast his wife was taken
violently i'll; that she went to her room
and he followed that he knew she was
very fond of pears and won't out to a
tree to get her some; that before he
returned, one of his children came after
him and said that his wife was yerv
SICK, and that another child camo for
him before be reached the house; that
when he got to his wife she was lsueel.
ing beside little bed in the room, and
had vomlSed large quantity of urdi-
gested food; that she had several con-
vulsions, and sool after died.
The next important witness was Mrs.
Margaret Mcconnell. She said:
ION tho llth OF September, 1890,
was ut Mrs Frank Lowry's. Dr. Baker
came there on II professional visit. He
talked TO me arout his WHO'S death
said Sho had a miscarriage and died iu
commissions"
Miss Jcssee testified as follows: ~
was at Mrs Gilmer's house tho day
after Mrs. Bakers death DIR. Baker
came there that day. ] saw him enter
to him Don't tell mo any more was
there sewing at the time. Dr. Baker
was also there the Sunday before his
wife'S death"
On cross examination she stated that
she had never repeated the remark sho
heard Mrs. Gilmer make until DR.. Ba.
kcr was arrested; that Mrs. Gilmer's
room was near hers, and the door was
open when She heard tho remark; that
the arrest Of DR.. Baker brought the
occurrence to her mind more wildly.
Joseph Butt testified that he had
talked to DR.. Baker before her death
about Mrs. Bakers health. "He said
She was not very we'll: that she was in
delicate condition; that he bad her
under treatment and hoped to bring
her through. He said she had trouble
on similar Ccc asions before; that he
didn't like TO be away from home 1
think he said that Sho was in tho
seventh month; thatsho had had trouble
on former occasions at that period, but
he lad her under treatment that he
tho ght would overcome it.
Il saw him on tho day of his wife's
burial. | went to his room before the
burial to SEQ him. asked him what
was the direct cause of his wifos death
He stated that she was in right bad
condition, but that he didn't realize it
till she told him she believed she was
going to have commissions; that he told
her he hoped not, and had turned around
t, prepare hypodermic injection of
morphine: that he inserted it and laid
her ON her back, and in few moments
she was gone.'
All tho remainder Of the afternoon
was devoted to proving that the ex-
huming of Mrs. Bakers body was done
openly, and that tho body was not
timperod with in any way before it was
turned over to tho State chemist, DR..
Taylor.
The trial will probably last two
weeks yet. II is said that DR.. Baker
will go on the stand this time. 1t is
also rumored that DR.. Taylor will give
some important testimony in Bakers
favor.