The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-24
KILLED IN COLD BLOOD.
An Old Grudge Aggravated by
aQuarrel Over a Team
of Horses.
PURSUIT OF. THE MURDERER.
Relatives Of the Victim Swear
They VIII Avenge His
Death.

MADEIRA, CAL, July 23.-Judge I. L.
was shot and killed to-day by Victor
Adams, his son-in-law. The shooting took
place at O'Neals, about twenty-five miles
from here, at o'clock this morning.
Ever since Adams married Bakers
daughter there has been bad blood be-
tween the two, and their old grudge was
aggravated by trouble that arose lately
over span of horses. The two met this
morning at a blacksmith shop, near Judge
Bakers house, where hot words were
passed. At that time Adams had his shot
gun with him and threw it up to his
shoulder as if to shoot, but was stopped
by the blacksmith.
When Baker left the blacksmith-shop
Adams followed him to his house, walking
some distance behind. When Baker ar
rived at his home and as he stepped
upon the threshold he turned and saw
Adams in position to shoot. He called
to Adams to put down his gun, but the
words had scarcely left his mouth before
Adams fred The charge struck Baker in
the abdomen and he fell almost into the
arms of his wife, who was coming to meet
him. Adams fired the remaining charge
left in the gun into the PROSTATE body OF
his victim, and then started off toward the
brush, loading the gun as he went.
The neighbors who lived across the road
and Judge Bakers employees were so seized
with CONSERVATION that they did not i'm
mediately pursue Adams and he escaped
in the thickly wooded country that sur
rounds O'Neals. This forenoon at 10
o'clock ]. B. Baker. the brother of the
murdered man. sent to Sheriff Westfall the
following telegram:
PoLLAsKY. July %, 1895.
To S. W. WestaU, MADEIRA, Cal: Vic Adams
shot and killed Judge Baker; go to o'Neals.
Sheriff Westfall, Coroner Payne and Jo
seph Conley. the court reporter, left i'm
mediately for the scene of the tragedy.
Adams will undoubtedly make a hard
fight before he is captured, as the reputa-
ton he has borne here was not of the best.
Some time ago he drove his stepdaughter
from his home into the woods. and word
was received from a former wife of his in
Arizona that she wished to prosecute him
for bigamy. There was talk at that time
of lynching him, but it went no further,
and he now has murder added to his list
of crimes.
Judge Baker was native of Missouri,
man of middle age and well liked by all.
He leaves widow and two daughters.
Judge Baker had four brothers, who are
said to have sworn that Adams shall never
have chance to stand trial. They know
every part of the foothills and as soon as
they heard at their brothers murder they
armed themselves and started on the trail.
Baker also had several young nephews in
different parts of the foothills and they are
known as determined men.
A few months ago Adams returned home
after having been away all dsy and found
that his five-year-old stepdaughter had lost
a small band of sheep which he had told
her to watch during his absence.
Before daylight he compelled the little
girl to go out to hunt the sheep, and when
she returned few hours later without
them, he again sent her off without any
breakfast. The wife pleaded for the child,
and Adams threatened to shoot both OF
them Late in the afternoon the child re-
turned home again unsuccessful, and with
out being given any food was driven out
nee mere. The neighbors finally heard OF
the inhuman affair, and late the next DAY
found the child covering under some
brush ten miles from home. Adams barely
escaped lynching.
1t is now learned that Adams tried to
kill the mother of his stepdaughter on the
day before ne drove the little girl out into
the mountains. The elder stepdaughter
visited the home of a friend near Sanger,
and later was found in a creek, with her
hands and feet tied. She was rescued after
having been in the water several hours.
She had been bound and thrown into the
stream by man who had surprised and
oyerpow cred her while she was in the barn
collecting eggs, and evidence lately pro-
duced shows that this man was her step
father.