The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-21
REWARD FOR MURDERERS.
Plan Suggested That Might Bring
Results in Baker killing.


The killing of Samuel T. Baker in
Colonial Park still remains a mystery,
| and reward may be offered for the
arrest of the murderers. 1t is be-
! lieved by many that this might result
! in their capture.
Mr.. J. n. Baker of Beaufort, S. c.,
a nephew of the murdered man, ar
rived in the city yesterday for the
purpose of pushing the investigation.
Mr.. Baker will cali upon Mayor Myers
to-day and ask him to offer reward
for the arrest of the murderers. A meet
ing of Council will probably be called if
the city should decide to offer a re-
ward. 1t was stated yesterday that
should the city name a reward, friends
of Mr.. Baker would add to the amount.
All of the theories so far advanced
point to the fact that the killing was
done by more than one man, and in
this way the reward might cause an
explanation of the mystery now sur
rounding the tragedy. 1t is pointed
out that if the crime was really COM
mitted by three men one of them might
turn states evidence.
This could very easily be arranged,
and it is thought that a substantial
reward would be followed by the sur
render of one of the muTderers. If
three men committed the crime 1t IS
probable that one member Of the party
would be apt to be attracted by the
reward, knowing that by turning
state evidence he could escape pun
ishment for any part he might have
played in the homicide.
There are some who do not believe
that robbery was the motive of the
criminals, while all of those who have
conducted the investigation agree that
the crime was not committed by any of
the grafters who were here for the
State Fair. Mr.. Baker was lying in
the park wounded for almost an hour
before he was found, and may have
been robbed during his period of I'M
consciousness, If indeed the watch and
bunch of keys We're not taken out of
his pockets by the murderers them
selves. They may have done this and
turned the wounded mans pockets
wrong side out for the purpose of put
ting the police on a false track.
While many theories have been adj
vanced. and are being Investigated by
the officers, there are two clues that
are being followed closely by the de-
tectiVes. They are totally different, as
TO motive, and either may be the true
theory. 1t is quite probable that Mr.
Baker was killed under circumstances
such as are related in one of the two
clues, to which so much Importance is
being attached. Neither theory makes
one man the perpetrator of the crime
and the offering of a reward would in
crease the chances of the arrests.
Those who do not think that the
motive was robbery are of the opinion
that Mr.. Baker encountered trio of
young men who had probably been
drinking. They saw a bottle in his
hand, and in a riotous manner may
have grabbed for it. Mr.. Baker car
ried walking stick, and may have
lifted it to strike one of the party.
His eyes were bruised. and he may
have been struck with fist before the
fatal wounds in the head were made.
Those who are inclined towards this
theory say that after he fell lie was
probably kicked in the head and face.
His walking stick was covered with
blood, and it is not considered prob
able that he lost consciousness before
putting up a fight with his assailants,
even though his effort was feeble, The
assailants may have taken the watch
and keys as a blind. or they may have
run off and left the unconscious man
for some negro stroller to go through.
1t is generally believed that Mr.. Baker
made some show at resistance before
the mortal wounds were administered