The San Francisco call., 1896-02-18
Lewis Jordan Files His Accusa-
tion With the Department
of Justice.
SAYS TRIBUTE WAS LEVIED.
The Chief Justice Declared to Have
Held Court When No Cases
Were on the Docket.

HHENlA, AR1Z., rep. I7.-SenSatlOnal
indeed are the charges preferred against
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court A C.
Baker by Lewis Jordan, the text of which
was published in The CALL several weeks
ago. Jordan, who was formerly a court
attache, accuses Justice Baker of defraud-
ing the public out of large sums of money
in salaries for work never performed; of
opening court when there were no cases to
be tried that the court officials could draw
fees; of levying tribute upon the attaches,
and finally of drunkenness and disgraceful
conduct. The original copy of Jordans
deposition, transcript of which he pre-
sented in person to the Department of
Justice at Washington, was shown to
CALL correspondent tonight.
The document is in the shape of depo-
sition sworn to before a notary public and
attested by three witnesses. If these
charges can be substantiated by the rec
ords Judge Baker is in serious trouble.
After the usual legal opening and the re-
cital of how he was affronted and how,
after witnessing innumeral Irregularities,
he resigned, Mr.. Jordan says:
my first knowledge of anything of these
Irregularities occurred in March, 1894,
in the clerks Office. Mr.. Walker. nv su-
perior clerk, remarked to me that the ex-
penses of the office were pretty high, and
said: Lewis, l pay Baker 800 per month
for this position, and he keeps drawing on
me until 1t keeps me nearly broke
Secrecy with regard to this was en-
joined by Mr. Walker. 1 was greatly sur
prised and both looked and showed it.
Several times after this Mr.. Walker told
me the same thing, and have seen him
pay Judge Baker money, and at all times
note it down in book.
"While Judge Baker was in California
the past summer he wrote and telegraphed
to Mr.. Walker for money, and Mr.. Walker
showed me the letters and kilograms, say
ing on one of these occasions: Baker will
keep bleeding me until ne gets every cent
/ make
'In this way matters moved along for
about one year and then Miss Minnie
Baker, daughter of Judge Baker, COM
menced to work in her fathers chambers
At this time Mr.. Walker called me into
the courtroom one day and said to me:
"'Judge Baker tells me to find place in
the office for Miss Baker, and some new
arrangement must be made. The PROPOSE
ton is this: The Judge wants to save the
50 per diem OF the court-crier, but she can
not act, so the Judge will appoint you,
and YOU act as court-crier-just simply
open court in the morning SO as to save
| that 81 per diem for Miss Baker Miss
Baker will do the entering of judgments
and such copy work as there is in the
office
II hesitated, but Walker pressed me and
I consented, Mr.. Walker saying: You
see, if 1 make this arrangement, the Judge
will open court every day. business or no
business, so he can get these per diem as
court-crier, and l can get my per diem,
which is $40, as clerk of the United States
Court
81 did not like the arrangement at all,
but did it, understanding that my posi-
tior depended on my so doing. Mr. Walker
and myself then went to Judge Bakers
chambers and Mr.. Walker said to the
Judge, at is all right, Judge"
1.-The Judge said: All right, Lewis; you
put an order on the minutes appointing
yourself court-crier, and understand, the
arrangement is simply to save the per
diem as crier' and then Mr.. Walker said
to me: you put your initials on the
records as ''F. L. Jordan, crier," but in
the office as deputy clerk sign as you have
always, "Lewis Jordan, deputy clerk."'
Judge Baker said: Yes, that is good
idea
"This arrangement was so distasteful to
me that in conversation with my father
few days after told him of it and said
was tired of it. He cautioned ME about
doing anything touching the matter until
! found something else to do, and then ad-
vised me to get out as quickly as possible
son July 1, 1895, Judge Baker and fam
lily left for California ana were gone all
the summer. Miss Baker returned to St.
Louis and has never returned to Phoenix
Mr. Walker said to me that the same ar
rangement would be made about the court
crier business. made out my account as
court-crler, which amounted to $130.
"Mr. Walker said to me: You and Judge
Baker are both going away, and 1 will pay
Baker or Miss Baker that money. You get
the check made out so I can get it, I did
so, and the check was Endorsed by ]. E.
Walker on the back and paid to him.
Continuing, the deposition tells of how
this went on; how he (Jordan) found
Walkers notebook, in which was set
down all the sums of money the latter
gentleman had paid to Judge Baker. The
complainant asserts that court was opened
when there were no cases to be heard,
simply that the clerk and crier could draw
their wages.
Accompanying the deposition are ex-
hibits of the record, showing the alleged
rascality-how court was opened fifty-six
days and business actually transacted on
but eighteen. There is also an auxiliary
affidavit, asserting that Judge Baker was
grossly intoxicated on December 5 and
went about the streets carousing and
swearing at the members of the Grand
Jury then In session.
SHANNON rs CONFIDENT.