The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-25
BY HIS OWN HAND
Adam Baker Dies of Self
Inflicted Wounds.
SAID TO HAVE BEEN INSANE
Poor Health and $4,000
Damage Suit the Cause.

Adam Baker, one Of the wea1thiest far
mers in the eastern part Of the county,
died yesterday morning at his home eight
miles east on kellogg street, from the
effects of wounds inflicted by his own
hands Mr.. Baker is supposed to have
been insane as a result OF poor health
and great worry over large damage suit
now pending in the district court Of this
county, for alleged defamation Of char
acter. The suit was brought by his neigh
Dor, Lloyd Cook. last fail and asked for
$4,000 on three counts, alleging SANDER
and libel
Mr.. Baker was in the city Monday and
appeared to be all right mentally. al
though he has not been in good health
for some time. Thursday he took a sud
den spell and grew very wild and riotous,
1t is said A neighbor, Harvey Bale, who
was in the city yesterday, said that on
Thursday Mr.. Baker secured a revolver
and used it in a threatening manner. His
son finally took it away from him. Then
he broke out of the house and tried TO
run away. The son ran around the house
TO meet his father but not in time to pre-
vent a frightful punishment which Mr..
Baker was inflicting upon himself. lie
had picked up a heavy piece Of iron rod
with a knob on one end of it-and COM
menced beating himself over the head
with it, Before the son could wrench
the rod from his father he had so severe
ly injured himself that it was thought he
would die. He was then taken into the
house and tenderIy cared for and watch
ed. That night, however, Mr. Baker
Slipped out OF the house in his night
clothes and disappeared. AS soon as he
was missed a search was instituted sew
eral of the neighbors who had been
aroused Joining in the search. Mr.. Baker
was found about y O'Clock in a corn field
quite distance from the house. He was
almost chilled to death, and is said to
nave been violently insane. In spite Of
the best efforts Of the physician he died
yesterday morning from the effects Of the
wounds inflicted and the terrible expo !
sure Thursday night.
Mr.. Baker, it seems, has been having a |
great deal of neighborhood unpleasant |
ness within the last few years. There |
have. been neighborhood quarrels amount |
ing almost to feuds in the Baker neigh |
borhood. and all kinds Of ugly rumors |
were flying thick and fast. The trouble |
finally eliminated in a suit for damages |
brought by Lloyd Cook. In his petition |
Mr. Cook alleges that Mr.. Baker made |
some very dirty remarks about him and |
his family while in Wichita on the first |
day of last May. The remarks We're |
made to Ephriam Wagner and pretended /
10 give the impression that Mr.. Cook was |
running a house Of prostitution at his /
home and that he (Baker) saw woman |
lying naked on the floor OF Cooks house |
and that Cook invited him in at the same !
time. The two men lived but a quarter |
of a. mile apart. Mr.. Cook claimed in his |
petition that such statements were circu- /
lated In the neighborhood greatly to his |
detriment In a social and business way. |
He asked S2.50O CT this count.
Mr.. Cook laIeges that Mr.. Baker made |
this same statement the same day in
Wichita in the presence of James Belford /
and others, and he asks $500 on this |
count.
Again IN WICHITA III int piIoClINS u 4
both ReIford and Wagner it rs alleged |
that Mr. Baker said: Cook is the daddy /
OF the Bale girls baby" meanin an IL |
legitimate child born in the neighbor-
hood and to which suspicion pointed TO !
the son of Mr.. Baker as being the father. |
On this count Mr.. Cook asks for 5000.
1t is understood that several attempts |
had been made to settle the case AMIGA /
biy outside of the courts, but up to the /
time of Mr.. Bakers attack of insanity |
no basis had been agreed upon. Mr.. Ba- /
ker had employed Judge Wall to defend !
him. while Sankey & Campbell were con- |
Quoting the suit for Mr.. Cook. BY his /
death Mr.. Baker has completely defeated /
Mr.. Cook. who will not be able to prose-
cute the case further, no matter to what /
extent the alleged SANDER and libel have /
effected him. Otherwise it would prob |
ably have been d hard fought case in |
volving the entire neighbOrhood
The deceased was 81 years old, and had |
by his industry and go?d judgment &C
cumulatea large amount Of property. |
His sudden death is to be regretted.