The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-18
SLAIN, THEN ROBBED
S. II. BAKER FATALLY ASSAULTED
IN COLONIAL PARK.
POCKETS WERE RIFLED.
STRUCK IN THE HEAD WHILE
WALKING HOME.

no Clue 10 Murder-Crime Proba-
bly, Committed by Two Men-Skui
Was Fractured by Some Blunt
Weapon-RObbers Got No Money
but watch and Chain Were Taken.
wounds Were in Head over the
Left Eye-Mr. Baker Well
Known Confederate Veternn-Was
Bookkeeper for John Lyons a Co.
Samuel T. Baker of No. 416 Charlton
street, east. a bookkeeper for John
Lyons & Co. was fatally assaulted and
robbed about y o'clock Saturday night,
in Colonial Park. within calling dis
lance of police headquarters and the
county Jail The police have no clue
upon which to work, and it is doubtful
if the guilty persons will ever be
brought to justice.
Several young men passing through
the park about 1890 o'clock stumbled
across a bleeding man and reported
the matter to the desk sergeant at po-
lice headquarters. Patrolman Dryer
and John Farrell were sent to make an
investigation and found a man lying on
Oglethorps avenue and Abercorn street
to the southwest corner of the jail
yard.
At that time it was not known who
the man was. although the discovery
was made short while later. The Of
fcers thought he had fallen and was
only suffering from a scalp wound, and
a charge of intoxication and lying in
the park was entered against him.
Later this was removed from the dock
ct, when the facts became known. and
Police Surgeon Osborne had stated pos
Itively that the wounded man was not
suffering from alcoholism, and had not
been drinking. When the officers
reached MIR. Baker they found his
pockets turned wrong side out, and
were of the opinion that some one had
gone through his clothing after he had
fallen.
Police Surgeon Osborne was sum
n1oned and the discovery was made
that Mr.. Baker had been seriously in
tIred. DR.. Osborne said that the de-
lirious mutterings of the wounded
man made the case a. typical one OF
fracture of the skull, and that there
was not the slightest sign of intoxica-
ton. There were two wounds on the
head, over the left eye. and several
cuts and bruises on the face.
Mr.. Baker was removed to his home
about two hours after he was found
by the police, and never regained con-
seriousness. He died at o'clock yester-
day afternoon. Coroner Keller was no.
titled and asked to make an investi-
CATION Not until then were all the
facts in the case discovered.
Mr.. E. NJ. Hopkins, Mr.. Bakers SON
in-law, saw Mr.. Baker a few minutes
before II o'clock Saturday night, at
the store where he was employed. He
talked with his father-in-law, and then
returned to his home on Charlton
street. When Mr.. Baker did not show
up at o'clock Mr.. Hopkins started to
book for him. He walked down Haber-
skam street and through Colonial
Park from the county Jail. In
the darkest spot in the park he no
ticed a large pool of blood. He hurried
on to his father-in-laws' place of bus
mess, thinking that possibly he had
been working on his books later than
usual.
=. When he reached the store he found it
closed and learned from a fruit dealer
on the corner that Mr.. Baker had LETT
the place a little after II O'Clock, and
had gone to a barber shop to get
shave Mr. Hopkins remembered hav-
ing passed the pool of blood, and start
ed at once for police headquarters.
There he found Mr.. Baker, and saw his
condition. He found his pockets had
been emptied. and Immediately decided
that he had been assaulted and
robbed.
The wounded man was in a semi
conscious condition when he reached
his home and fought against being un-
dressed. Don't do that" Leave my
clothes and Shoes" There are two to
one, please leave my clothing" were
his utterances during his delirium,
which lasted for several hours. Every
effort was made to get some account
of the assault that might furnish some
clue TO his assailants, but beyond his
delirious expressions nothing could be
gotten from him. His language was
taken to mean that he had been set
upon and robbed by two men. His
watch and chain, and a bunch of keys,
were missing, but ~ cents was found
in his overcoat pocket
The officers were unable to secure
a description of the watch and have
no clew upon which to work. 1t is not
thought that the highwayman got any
money, and the police have no idea
who committed the assault and rob-
berry. Mr.. Baker collected some $500
Saturday, but turned it over to Mr..
Lyons. One theory is that the assault
was committed by some one who knew
that he had collected the money. and
supposed that he had it with him.
1t had been the habit OF MIR. Baker
to return home from his Office through
Colonial Park. The spot where the as
sault was committed is about half way
across 10 the jail, in the lane, and Is
one OF the darkest parts of the park
Mr.. Baker carried a walking stick and
may have made some show at resist
ance when held up. II Is not improb-
able that this was the case and that
the robbers were forced to knock him
down. The physicians who examined
his wounds are OF the opinion that that
they were made with some blunt in
Etrument, probably a billy. or the butt
Of a revolver. They are OF the opinion
that they could not have been made by
a fall.
After q thorough examination Of the
body Coroner Keller decided that Nj.
Baker had been murdered and robbed
ana an inquest will be held. after the
officers have been given sufficient time
20 maze 4 further fnvaeff Der