Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-02-24
THEBAKER MURDER TRIAL
THE GREAT ABINGDON SEN
sATION AGAIN ON.
a Jury selected From Another
COunty-Mrs. Gilmer, the wO-
man In the Case, Put Upon the
stand and Tells Her story.

man In the Case, Put Upon the
stand and Tells Her story.
ABINGDON, Va, Feb. 24.-When the
county court met Monday morning
large crowd had already assembled in
town to hear the preliminares in the
celebrated Baker case. 1t will be re-
membered that the case was continued
last term on account of the sickness of
one of the deience's witnesses, and lhst
owing to the difficulty Of obtaining a
competent jury here venire was sum-
moned from Botetourt county. The
venire arrived here at 2 O'Clock yester-
day, and all the afternoon was COM
sumed in forming jury and in reading
the indictment. The prisoner when ar
raiFned presented his usual cool appear
ance.
The court room was again crowded
when the case was called yesterday.
The case has taken a decided turn.
Mrs. Gilmer, the paramour and acces-
sorry to the awful crimes committed, has
seemingly taken the law into her own
hands and tried to run the court for a
while.
To begin with she sent for Hon. Frank
Barr this morning, prominent lawyer,
but one who has never had any connec-
ton with the case, to adyise with her.
They remained in his Office for consid-
cradle length of time, delaying the court.
Everybody was waiting impatiently,
some asking, Where is the Cleopatra
who is to do important testitying this
morning." She was then asking Mr..
Barr, "ls it my Christian duty to testify
against DR.. Baker, when was implica-
ted and when indicted as an accessory"
At last she arrived in the court room.
The eager throng drew breath of re-
lief
The first proceeding was one of sensa-
ton, one which has never been heard OF
before in this country. The fair witness,
iaultlesslv and elegantly dressed. took
her seat. The court had convened and
the prosecution was preparing to ques-
tion her, when Barr took seat beside
her and addressed her. Then the tlve
able lawyers exchanged looks of conster-
nation and surprise. One of them jump
ed up and asked the court to stop that
man and have him ejected.
A discussion arose which bordered on
to madness. Barr swore that he was
her advising counsel and proposed to
protect her. Finally he was compelled
by the sheriff to move from behind the
bar and the questioning began. Mrs
, Gllmer answered them till this question
was asked: "On the day after DR.. Bakel
buried his wife and came to see you
what did he say, how did he look, wha
were his actions"
At this she broke down and refusct
to answer She said to answer tina
question would be to bring disgrace ant
intamy down upon her. Then a discus
sion among the ten lawyers began which
lasted till four O'Clock this afternoon
The prosecution argued, land she wa
their witness), she must answer, as /
would only disgrace and not criminat
her, and that until question was asket
that would criminate if she responded
she must talk.
The defence took different grounds
Mrs. Gilmer, who testified to suit tn
prosecution last summer, now evade
them. In fact she was a prisoner then
and now she is free and wants Bake
free. She has soured on the prosecution
The judge finally ruled that she mus
answer and she burst into sobbing. bu
responded, "He took me IN his arm:
caressed me and said, Now my darling
you are mine forever
At this point she was taken very sic
and had to be removed from the cout
room. She said the prosecution had in
posed on her from the beginning.
d At this point Col. Summers arose an
& said, Then withdraw from the case,
and he left the court room.
l. The trial will continue to be very SCI
, satienal.