The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-12
COURT MARTIAL TRIAL
Lewis Baker Came Home to
See Sick Mother and Is
CHARGED WITH DESERTI0N
Trial Finished Last Week and
Papers Forwarded.

Lewis Baker, a Wichita boy who en-
listed in company F, Third light artillery,
was tried before a general court martial
at Fort Riley last week on the grave
charge of desertion The testimony is
now In charge of the officers at Fort
Riley and a verdict is expected very soon.
The case of young Baker is peculiar
and unfortunate one and is the result OF
his ignorance of military discipline.
Young Baker enlisted with the artillery
regiment in this city about six weeks ago
when the recruiting station was establish
ed The time of enlistment was three
years He was sent to Fort Riley, where
h remained until about six weeks ago
Receiving word that his mother was III
the youthful artilleryman obtained FUR
Tough and cane hoEe 10 be with ais sick
nlither who is quite aged and VINO was
not expected TO live at the time. Not
! knowing the consequences or being fanlil-
lar with army regulations AID discipline
he overstayed his furlough and went 10
work for the ice company in order that
he might be near to comfort his mother
during her declining years.
After the expiration OF the leave Of abb
sence the officers at Fort Riley, finding
that the soldier had not put in an ap-
pearance wired Chief Cubbon 70 investi-
gate the case. He was located and taken
! to the barracks by Officer Aspey.
There was no intention on the part OF
| Mr.. Baker to desert and it was purely
ignorance on his part, as he expressed
| himself before leaving. However, he was
sorry that matters took such an unfor-
tunate turn on account of his poor Old
| mother.
His mother, Mrs Anna Baker, is a
highl respected widowed lady, living on
South Main street. and she has another
son, Charles Baker, a plumber and both
| boys stand well in the community.
AS was said yesterday by young man
who was a member OF his circle: He
done nothing but what any other boy
would have done for a widowed mother,
who was old and feeble and hardly ex-
peoted to live" However, the circunl-
stances are such over which a court mar
tiaI has no control, and is like all other
courts of justice, ignorance Of the law Is
not excusable.
/ One of the witnesses who appeared be-
! fore the court martial watch was COM
menced last Wednesday, was Blatt Dav-
son, barber who works on East Doug
las avenue. It seems that Baker lad nc
! intention Of deserving and had told Mr..
/ Dawson that he was going back. Ne was
! subpoenaed to prove the conversation be-
| tween the two. Mr.. Dawson says that
young Baker has been confined in the
guard house since he was taken and nc
one is allcwd to communicate with him
unless accompanied by an officer. He
vas allowed TO see him only short
time. The court martial lasted one day
Wednesday. Each witness was examined
separately and privately before all the
| officers OF the regiment which composed
| the court. After the evidence was all ir
the testimony was forwarded to the
| headquarters at Omaha, and it is hoped
/ that Baker viii be eXonerated from any
/ intended wrong doing.
/ Mr.. Dawson has returned home from
| Fort Riley He says the barracks are
nice. and that he was treated royalty uE
/ there by the officers who extended him
every courtesy.