The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-06
An Innocent Man to Be
Pardoned From San
Quentin.
Spent Three Years in Prison
for Forgery Committed by
Another.
Deathbed Confession of the Real
Cu1prit Results in His
Release.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Dec. Son Mon
day morning the prison gates OF San
Quentin will swing open and restore to the
world and to citizenship Edward L. Baker,
who for three years has been unJustly i'm
prisoned for a crime which. If the sworn
word of dying man can be relied upon,
he was never guilty OF.
For three long, weary years Edward L.
Baker has been an inmate of San Quentin,
forced to consort with the lowest of hui
mainly. Dressed in prison stripes, he has
gone to his daily task, and when the day
waned he fell into line and entered his
granite cell to hear the iron door clang be-
hind him, always tortured by the knowl-
edge that he was an innocent man, with
no wav of proving that innocence.
The prison annals show that Baker has
been more than an exemplary prisoner,
and has at all times obeyed to the letter
the rules and regulations of the institu-
ton. This has been decided advantage
to the innocent man, and to certain ex-
tent resulted in making his enforced
servitude less irksome than it would have
been If he had rebelled at the unjustness
of his fate.
Edward Baker was, born in New York
State, and after the usual vicissitudes of
childhood and early manhood came to
Los Angeles, where he engaged in mining.
Eventually he and his co-defendant, a
man named Hay, were arrested and
charged with the crime of forgery. AT
the trial Hay perjured himself and laid
all of the blame upon the shoulders OF
Baker. who was convicted and sentenced
49, IS for1 koar n n
Quentin prison.
On Deem Der 1, 1898, the prison gates
opened and Baker became one OF the
wards of the State.
Once and once only since his term OF
imprisonment began has he enjoyed even
partial liberty That was on February 4,
1894, when he DOTTED his prison suit for
eight days and went again among his feI-
lowmen to testify in certain case.
Since that time his co-defendant, Hay,
has passed over to the great majority.
When on his desthbed Hay, stricken by
remorse, called notary to his aide and
made due acknowledgment of the fact
that be alone was guilty. and that on the
witness-stand he had committed perjury
and been instrumental in causing an in
nocent man to suffer for his own crime.
So strongly did Hays story bear the i'm
print of truth that many of the influential
men in the southern portion of the State
interest themselves in Bakers case and
laid before Governor Budd the circum-
stances in such a clear and concise man.
ner that it was impossible for the execu-
tive not to take official cognizance of the
case. The result is that pardon has been
signed and will be issued on Monday.
Among those who have been instru-
mental in procuring this pardon are Hon.
James McLachlan, formerly District At
torney OF Los Angeles County; all the
mem bers OF the Grand and petty juries;
Hon. E. NJ. Ross, United States Circuit
Judge; G. J. Dennis, United States Dis
trict Attorney, and nearly all the Con-
gressmen of the State.
On their strong recommendations
Governor Budd granted the pardon. At
torney- General Fitzgerald also recon-
mended that Baker be pardoned, as he
was assured that Baker was an innocent
man.