Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-04-21
ATTEMPT ATDOUBLE MURDER
Mrs, Katie simet Shoots Nine Times at
George Baker.
BAKER THEN BRUTALLY ATTACKS WIFE
Trouble starts by Man Attempting to
Beat His wife while She IL
Visiting at the simet
Home.

Mrs. Katie simet took nine shots at
George Baker Sunday afternoon with a 80.
caliber revolver, two of which took effect,
one in the left arm between the shoulder
and the elbow and the other in the right
foot behind the large toe. A third ball
passed through his left shoe grazing the
large toe After the shooting Baker re-
turned to his home, where he had been pre-
ceded from the shooting by his wife, and
beat her severely. He was taken to the
Clarkson hospital, and Mrs. Simet, Charles
Sitzman and Mrs. Baker we're lodged in
Jail. the two women being detained in the
matron's department.
The shooting occurred at the home OF
Mrs slmet. 116 Hickory street, at 2SO
o'clock, and was caused by Baker attempt
ing to whip his wife, who was visiting at
the simet house. Baker and his wife had
trouble Sunday morning and the latter went
to Mrs. Simet's, and was followed In
short time by her husband, who was under
the influence of liquor. When he arrived
at the house Mrs. Baker Mrs. Simet and
Sltzman, who Is related to Mrs. Slmet, were
in the sitting room. Baker went into the
room and demanded that his wife return
home. She refused to 60 and he struck her
and attempted to drag her from the house.
Mrs. Simet interfeTed aud Baker knocked
her down.
Rapid Firing Begins.
Baker then turned his attention to his
wife, and the two struggled into the kitchen,
where Mrs. Simet soon appeared with a re-
volver She Immediately opened fire and
shot FIVE times at short range, none of
the shots taking effect
Baker then stepped out Of the door, as
though to leave the house, and Mrs. Smet
reloaded her revolver. Baker soon re-
turned, re-enforced with an axe AS he
started in the door Mrs Simet took four
more shots. Baker dropped his axe. threw
up his hands, and with the exclamation:
my God! you hit mel" walked away.
Some one sent in an alarm for the police
and officers Vanous. Cassane, Wilson and
Detective johnson rushed for the scene.
Upon their arrival, both Baker and Mrs.
Baker had left the house. Mrs. Simet and
Sitzman we're arrested, and Johnson and
Cassane made run for Bakers house, at
1917 South Second street.
Upon their arrival they found Mrs Baker
lying on the bed, almost unconscious moan
ing for some one to save her from her hus-
band. Her face and clothing and the bed
spread were covered with blood, which
flowed from a cash in her head and from
her nose and mouth. Her head lay on a
pillow, in the indention of which was a
pool of blood. "a, .-
Drinks Beers as Blood Flows.
Baker was seated at table calmly drink
ing from can filled with beer. His hands
and arm were covered with blood, which
had trickled down from the bullet wound
in the upper part Of his arm. When quesI
toned as to the cause OF his wifes condi-
tion, he would make no statement, except
to repeat over and over: Il amt afraid OF
no woman, no gun, nor no man."
Baker and his wife. Mrs. Simet and Sitz-
man we're taken to the police station, and
after his wounds were hastily dressed by
Police Surgeon Benawa, Baker was removed
to the ClarlSson hospital. He refused to
make a statement as to the cause of the
shooting, but said he was greatly worried
because he was afraid the wound in hls
foot would make II necessary for him LAY
ing of from work for few days"
Dr. Benawa then dressed Mrs. Bakers
wounds, which consisted of a cash several
inches long on the top of her head. a
smaller cash behind her left ear. both eyes
blackened and the right eye almost closed
from the effects of a blow. She suffered
intensely and her condition is serious.
Kicks Wife in Head.
After being shot at the Simet house,
Baker walked four blocks to saloon, got
a can of beer and went home, where Mrs.
Baker had preceded him. He Immediately
knocked her down, she said, and kicked
her in the head and beat her almost sense
less, after which he left her on the floor
and proceeded to drink his beer. She then
managed to get upon the bed, where she
was when the officers arrived. Four weeks
ago. she said, Baker had broken four OF her
ribs and she was still weak from the effects
of that beating.
Mrs Simet said MRS. Baker came to
see me and while we we're In the room talk
ing Baker came to the house and demanded
that his wife return home with him. When
she refused he began to swear and struck
her. l interfered and he knocked me down.
then went into another room and when
came back Baker and his wife were in a
rear room and as he started for me fired
at his feet. trying to scare him. He then
left the house and thought had gone away,
/ then reloaded my revolver and by the
time I had finished he was starting in the
door with an axe in his hand. Then shot
four more times. After he was struck he
dropped his axe and walked away and Mrs.
Baker soon left for home"
Mrs. sImet Also Bruised.
Mrs simet has several bruises on her
face where baker struck her. She is the
wife OF a section foreman in the employ "
the Burlington railroad, who is i'll at ST.
Joseph's hospital and is in a critical condi-
tion. She is the mother OF little boy and
girl, who are with her in the matron's de-
partment at the police station. She weighs
about 40 pounds. is below the medium IN
height and about 2s years of age. She
broke down at the police station and cried
piteously while telling Of the shooting, her
greatest fear being that the shock will have
bad effect upon her sick husband.
Baker is employed at the distillery and is
about "a years Of age. He took the shooting
as a light matter and remarked that Il took
more than a woman with a gun TO kill him
Sitzman has been in the city about two
weeks and he corroborated Mrs. Simet's
statement Of the trouble. From his state
ment he evidently did nothing during the
trouble except TO get out Of the way
Tn 0EESET RICK IcI ANN NEAL