The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-27
A TRAGEDY IN
SOUTH RALEIGH
Mrs. Baker Shot Through
the Throat.
WHO FIRED THE SHOT ?
Was it Attempted Suicide or At
tempted Murder
HER HUSBAND ACCUSED OF THE DEED
But She Tells Conflicting Stories as 10 How It
Occurred Her Husband Says She Shot
Herself Resting Easy at Twelve
O'clock Last Night.

O'clock Last Night.
Raleigh was shocked yesterday af-
ternoon by an occurrence that has in
il both tragedy and mystery.
The tragedy lies in the fact that rs
the result of a pistol shot, a woman
lies desperately and perhaps fatally
wounded. at the Rex Hospital.
The mystery of the affair is that
shot by which the woman was injured,
and also that the woman herself has
told different tales about the occur
rence-at one time saying that her
husband shot her, then that she shot
herself, and finally that she and her
husband were scuffing over the pistol
when it fired, and that she does not
know who fired it.
The unfortunate affair took place
at the home of Mr.. Sid Workman. of
this city. The woman who was shot
is Mrs. Dora Baker, and her husband,
and the man who many people here
believe TO be guilty of attempting TO
murder his wife is one \. b. Baker.
of Harnett county.
Down in Southeast Raleigh there is
an alley known as Jones Alley ~
is between Person and Bloodworth
streets and branches off from Smith
field street. There are half dozen
three room houses occupied by white
people.
1t was i'm one of these three room
ed houses that the tragedy occurred.
The only eve witnesses TO the affair
are the woman who was shot and her
husband.
There was only a short time after
the deed was committed before ply
sician arrived. The woman was lying
on a pile of chips in the yard, in Il
pool of blood which had poured from
a wound in her throat. She was re-
moved from the ground, and carried
into the house, and placed on bed Ill
the front room. Her dress was cover
ed with blood and about her neck
were clots of red that told the first
part of the story. She was IN terri
bile pain. though she held herself un-
der control to all outward appear
ances and only once did she break
down and cry after the first excite
ment and that was when she was ask
ed why she would wish to shield
man if he had fired a shot to end her
life.
She said that her name was Dora
Baker. Before she was married her
name was Gilbert and she was the
daughter of well-to-do farmer in
IIarnett county. near Fayetteville.
hn III nj III
along the meek country" between
the Cape Fear and Little Rivers. She
has long been married to Dick Baker,
but they have never been happy to-
gether as he has always been cruel TO
her She had Two children, but both
Of them died when very young. She
is twenty seven years of age and she
determined recently that she would no
longer stand the torments that she
had been receiving from her husband.
That is what brought her to Raleigh
and il was not long until he followed
her to this city.
Her husband came TO the house
about IL o'clock and had been there
ever since that time until the shoot
ing. Some talk had arisen between
them TO cause the man 10 say that he
had pistol and to show il to her. She
answered that she had one also and
proceed to take it from the bureau
drawer. Then, she says. a scuffle en-
sued and it was during that time that
the shot was fired.
did you shoot yourself or did
your husband shoot you?' was asked.
II don't know, was the reply.
The same question was asked again
and again after others had been put
TO her and once she said that her hus-
band had the pistol when the shot was
fired and once said that she reckoned
she must have had il.
Finally she was told that she could
have all the protection that could be
given anyone and was asked to tell
the truth.
Il can't. 1t seems TO me Just IKE
dream. He said he had pistol.
said / had one too, and then the scuf-
fie and then The shot. ] can't tell you
now, but wait until ] am better and
then | can tell"
why do you wish to shield him.
had been asked, and with the words
came the first tears from the broken
hearted suffering woman.
Mrs. Sid Workman. at whose house
Mrs. Baker had been boarding for
short while SAYS that Mrs. Baker left
her husband. who lives in Harnett