Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-02-25
THE BAKER MURDER TRIAL
DETAILS OF MRS. GII-MER'S
TESTIMONY.
How DIR. Baker Killed His Wife
BY POise ening-The Letters of
Mrs. Gilmer Examined, Bv the
Judge and Read to the Jury.

Judge and Read to the Jury.
ABINGDON, Va, Feb. 23.2The follow
ing comprises further details of Mrs. Gil
mers testimony at the Baker trial Tues
day:
II knew Mrs. Baker. | had very little
conversation with DR.. Baker regarding
the death of his wife. asked him not
to tell me anything about it. He told
me on Saturday after her death that he
supposed was very much disappointed
at his not coming Tuesday: that his wife
was complaining greatly that day. |
lived about three miles from DR.. Baker
at the time of his wife's death. | was
sick and he had promised to core to see
me Tuesday. Mrs. Baker was very sick
that day. He said she was taken vio-
lently i'll on Monday. | had very little
conversation with him regarding the
health OF his wife.
THE POISON.
He talked to me in regard to taking
her life; said he was giving her nerve
tonic (phosphoric acid and strychnine)
which would finally produce paralysis.
The conversation occurred at the house
of Mr.. Gimer. don't know whether it
was professional visit or not, he was
there so often. He said lie had prepared
for his wife capsule and had told her
| To taly ~ "a, ,l,n,, ha II che talt
nervous; that if she should take that cap
sule she would go to sleep and never
wake again.
The presents that Dr. Baker had given
to Mrs. Gilmer were brought in and
identified by her. She admitted their
visit to Hotel Paramount, Bristol, say
ing that DR.. Baker occupied room near
hers and that he was often in her room
while there.
The famous letters of Mrs. Gilner to
the doctor were then presented The de-
fence objected to their introduction, and
the court decided to examine them and
decide which Of them were admissible,
There was then adjournment until We'd
nesday.
WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The trial was resumed this morning.
Judge Ward decided to admit the letters
of Mrs. Gilmer to DR.. Baker. The letters
were read. They are filled with loye-
sick sentiments and hints against the
lives of Mrs. Baker and Wvndham Gil
mer.
The examination of Mrs. Gilmer was
then resumed. The witness was
asked what were the promises she made
to DR.. Baker that she did not keep Her
answer was II was to cooperate witt
him in poisoning my husband. He gave
me a vial OF hydrocyanic acid. got a
note from him afterwards urging me tc
give my husband poison. | destroyed
the note and did not administer the med
icine. l threw the poison away. DR.
Baker also gave me white substance
! to be administered to my husband, anC
informed me in a note that it was ar
senic. He also left tartar emetic, saying
1t was nerve depressor. The arsenic
was given me two or three weeks before
was arrested. The acid was given mt
in the fall OF 1889.
"Dr. Baker was offended because
failed to carry out my promise to giv'
my husband poison. He threatened mi
that if did not fulfil my promise within
two weeks he would desert me. HI
said he would kill me il did not admin
lister the medicine, but he did not I'M
press me that he meant it. He spoke o
the embalming fluid that he used on hi
\ wife, saying it contained some of tn
most deadly poisons known. He ssi
God would not look upon our action n
a sin, that we were made for each Other
never gave Gilmer any of the medicln
except several doses of tartar emetic."
SHE BECOMES THEATRICAL.
Witness here called on God to witnes
that she never meant to betray DR.. Bak
er; that it was his own negligence tina
did it. The witness continued:
II believed then that DIR. Baker ha
poisoned his wife, and wished to tax
care OF his little children, because Grim
had been committed for my sake
She was then asked how long it wa
, after Mrs. Bakers death until she wa
- again intimate with DR.. Baker? Answer
"Irould not say definitely and trutl
fully how long. 1t was at the hrs
favorable opportunity"
A sensation was created when que!
tions were asked Mrs. Gilmer il she ha
had any correspondence with Dr. Bake
since the formal trial, and whether 81
and Mr.. Gilmer had been living togetht
in the meantime as husband and wife.
Both questions were answered in tt
Il affirmative. Two letters, which ha
,r been secured by the prosecution, we
Il read, one from Mrs. Gilner to DR.. Bak'
and his reply. Her letter was write
is about two weeks ago. 1t is filled with co
r. tritionover the fact that her testimor
In should have brought the prisoner to h
lg resent condition.. She disclaims any i
X. * tention of betraying him, saying 81
vT ur would have died before she would ha'
uttered one word if the formers lett
an had not been discovered.
- DR.. Bakers letter expresses surpri
that she would address him, proclaim
b innocence, hints that she was n
compelled to testify and expresses t
s hope that, whatever his own fate m;
" be, she may be relieved from her prese
on state OF sorrow. He says he cherish
no ill will toward her. The witness W
. turned over to the defense, and the cou
\ adjourned.