The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-24
BAKER CASE AGAIN.
srs cr1mrRoNrHE prTNEsssTtSD
g.. ~ rolscr To.d Her lie Poisoned
MS Nlfc-t Lively Tilt fe'"ee"
Counsei-yirsinia anairs.

sn,ycnov. Va. Fob. 22~.-lSpecial when
,horonntv court met this morning the case OF
a. Commonwealth against Or. J. A. =. Baker
fo- the murder # his wife was called for a re-
hearing The courtroom presented the usual
l.e.r,g anpcoYonca. Crowds soon thTonged
Tho aieies. and interesting spectators leaned
ovcr the railing OF the bar. The prisoner
looks better to-day than he did YESTERDAY.
Tia appearance indicates that he slept wen
last night. The jury seems to be above 'ns
average in intelligence and education. mere
WAS no difficulty in obtaining 1t from 'He
veuire summoned from Botetourt county
wRs. GILMER TEsITIEs.
Tho first witness for the Commonwealth
vac Mrs. Margaret Gilmer. VINO was o''.9.'
and tie trial began. A hush TO-" 49,
crowd as she entered ana All eyes VIZ -
81 nnon her. She was elegantly dresSeu /"
49,. y.Ied but not 30 heavily a. before
ord entered with "a rather hrm STEP. one
Statod th.t her age was thlrty-four years
81, che Rad been married 70 Nyndhain VII
mer for thirteen years. frank J. b"l1, -
counsel for lie witness. Whispered o"u
,oorks ~ her. and a lively scrap eiisueu Oe-
.n" him and counsel for the Common
wealth. the latter claiming thaI nj b.tt a. a
No r5cht TO enter into a consultation WIN .uo
witress This position WAS sustained oy tne
Cont and the examination pro,eeue1. lno
fofowiug IS the substance OF MIS-. runners
- toew Mrs. Baker. She has been dead
.uo ,c.rs and ak months. ! hal very little
e",yer.afion with DR.. Baker regarding the
death M lis wife. ! asked him not 10 tell me
snrtbi,c aiopt n. He told me on Saturday
sfter her death that he supposed | was very
ruch disappointed at his not coming Tues
dow. that bis wife was complaining greatly
that day.
SAID ~ WOULD I'LL HER.
lived about three miles from Or.
Baker. At the time Of his wifes death.
was sick. and he had promised 10
come 10 see me Tuesday. Mrs. Baker
was very sick that day. He said that she was
taken violently III on Monday. ] bad very
little conversation with him regarding tie
health Of his wife. He talked TO me In
regard 10 taking her life said he was
giving her q nerve tonic. phosphorIc
sc;l and strychnine. which would finally pro-
duce paralysis. This conversation occurred
~ the house OF Mr.. Gilmer. | don't
know whether II was o professional! WISH OF
not. he was there so often. lie sad ne hHd
prepared for bis wife q capsule ana hhu toIu
her 10 take il when he was gone II sne Ielt
nervous. that If she should take that capsule
enc would 60 90 sleep and never wake again.
witness was next asked about Dr. ia
Al "L
ter's actions and appearance at the time OF LIS
FIRST visit after bis wife death. She objected
10 answering on the ground that 1t would
bring iniamy and disgrace on herself and
90 her children. An hour was devoted
to discussing the privileges OF the witness.
The fact was d~ivulged that the prosecution
are somew. at afraid Of this, their chiei Wit
ness. and much talk was INDUCED IN about
compelling her TO testify.
Those PRESENTS IL COURT.
After the recess the presents that DR.. Baker
had given 10 Mrs. Glmer were brought IN
and identified by her. She admitted their
visit TO Hotel Paramount, Bristol. saying that
Or. Baker occupied "a room near hers and
that he was often in her room while there.
The famous letters of Mrs. Gilmer 10 the
doctor were then presented. The defense
objected 10 their introduction and the court
decided 10 examine them and decide which
OF them we're admissible. There was then
adjournment till $3.50 tomorrow morning.
The case promises 10 20 even more inter
esting than u was before. There were sew
eral sensational scenes TO-DAY. The defense
obiectedt 20 almost every question and showed
that they mean 10 contest every inch of tue
ground. The prosecution are iu-t "a stub
born. Several DAYS vii probably be con-
pumed ia the examination of Mrs. Gllmer.