The San Francisco call., 1896-07-08
Rev. Marshall Law Says Mrs.
Bakers Story Is Incor-
rect and False.
STELLA SANG IN HIS CHOIR
The Girl Was Neglected, and Her
Father Consulted the Pastor
on the Matter.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,

Baker.
Her father, who has been divorced from
her mother for several years, Is suing
for a modification of the decree so
that he can have possession of the girl.
To-day her mother openly charged Mar
shall Law, rector of the Church of the
Advent with entering into conspiracy
with her ex-husband and Mrs. Parker to
take the girl from her.
Stella Baker is beautiful girl about 16
years old. She is well educated and fine
singer. For some time she has been a
member of the choir in DR.. Laws church.
The present fight to be her guardian is
rather more interesting because Of the fact
that she is the only heir under the will OF
rich aunt who resides at San Jose. and
will one day be fairly rich. In his COM
plant, Baker alleges that the girl has been
neglected by her mother, has been per-
mitted to- enter into indiscreet compan-
ionships and that she eventually came
under the notice of Mrs. Prescott, the
president of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children.
Mrs. Baker has been a teacher In the
public schools OF San Francisco for twenty
years and has brought up her childre n
without any help from her husband whom
she says she was glad TO be rid of. She
did not ask for alimony, as she knew he
was not able to pay it. She is the daughter
of Mrs. Carey. prominent anu we'll
known philanthropist of San Jose.
According TO the statement of Mrs. Ba-
ker, made 10 her attorney to-day, she has
been victim of her husbands deception
ever since they were married.
when l married Baker TWENTY-FIVE
years ago ne was widower and l was a
widow" said Mrs. Baker "He told me he
had been obliged to get divorce from an
unworthy woman and that he had no chill
dren. l afterward learned that his first
wife obtained the divorce on the ground OF
failure to provide and cruelty and that he
had three children.
"Iu the second place Baker was preacher
and exhorter at an NJ E. church at Val
lejo until he was invited to leave because
of some translation in which he figured at
the navy-yard. Eventually / was forced
10 g ct divorce, and ! have been teaching
ever since.
about two years ago Baker came to me
and asked permission to take Stella to
lectures for the purpose OF broadening her
ideas. 1 permitted it and gradually he
tried to poison her mind against me.
When l went to the springs few
weeks ago for the benefit of my health
/ left Stella with Mrs. Parker. My
daughter, although brought up q Con-
gregationalist, was admitted to member
ship in Mr.. Laws church without my
consent, and she has told me that the
pastor kissed her and told her that he
would like to go to Australia with her.
While away from home / wrote to Stella
and got no answer. and also to Mr.. Law
and got no answer. When / returned
found that Stella had been allowed to
run about and had been put in the Chabot
Home. / have learned enough to convince
me that DIR. Law, Mrs. Parker and Mr..
Baker have entered into conspiracy to
take the girl from me. Whether for her.
self or for the money they expect her to
get some day do not know, but / shall
fight her fathers application to the end. T"
Rev. Marshall Law was seen at his home
tonight and said: 81 have nothing more
to say than that the story has no founda-
ton. 1t is fake. Our church is open to
be permitted to come or pick out one to
stay away? / can't see how a woman with
the standing of that woman can get q
hearing at all. / have no study in the
church. l have never met the child in
the church. l have taken great deal OF
interest in the girl, for she had no atten-
ton.
al never treated her differently from the
way l have treated fifty or seventy-fiye
others. l never allowed her to touch the
choir vestments, owing to her filthy con-
ditlon, although she was good musician.
don't know what in thes world I'd want
of her. have three children now that !
find it hard enough to care for. 1t was at
Mrs. Bakers urgent solicita tion that
I secured Estelle a situation. I have
her letters upstairs now. Mr.. Baker never
asked me to do anything for her nor him
self in his life. have always thought
that girl OF her ability should have bet
ter chances than she is getting. She NAV
be too old now to be restrained, as she has
always had her own way. No one has
ever asked me where Estelle was staying
but I have answered them. At Mrs.
Bakers own request / gave her let
ter of dismissal to st. Luke's Church in
San Francisco, and she has not been 8
member in our church for two months.''
Mr.. Baker and Estelle we're present
during the interview. Baker said he
came over from the city at the request OF
his attorney. Judge Gibson, and produced
the letter making the request. He was
passing Mr.. Laws house when the latter
gentleman called him in to talk in regard
TO the girl.
Stella was asked if she ever told her
mother that Mr.. Law had kissed and held
her on his knees She said 'snon most
emphatically. She denied ever telling
her mother that Mr.. Law was going TO
Australia and would take her along. She
declared that her mother had suggested
that herself.
81 told mamma Mr.. Law was going to
Australia. She asked if he was going to
take me along. l said: No, of course not.
l said Mr.. Law was the best preacher /
ever heard, that all the children liked him
and that hoped he would not GO.
When asked if she ever said that he
wanted to marry her she laughed and with
an emphatic no, turned her head and said
II never heard Of such stuff. wish you
would rub all that out" When the doc
tor was talking sue said: "Dr. Law,
hope you don't believe / ever said any,
thing of the kind"
Mr.. Baker tells the following story:
''Mr. and Mrs. Parker, where Stella was
staying, came to San Francisco to see me
and tell me how Stella was getting along.
They told me how her mother neglected
her. | came over and saw her. They
came after me second and third time.
She was working as domestic in private
families. Her mother has an irresponsi-
hla mind Tudpa Gihson my att0rnav