The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-13
..PSCAP ING
GAS FATAL.
Abdullah Baker Was Pound
Lifeless in His Room.
BY ACCIDENT OR DESIGN
Not Known Whether or Not He Took
4. His Own Life-Was Recently
Divorced From His
[. Wife.

ri In a small hall room on the second
4 foor at No. 7o2 East Marshall Street
II early yesterday morning. Abdullal,
Il Baker, On Assyrian, better known In
i Esichmond as Albert Baker, q fruit
Healer, was found dead in bed.
"a Early risers at tho boarding house OF
y Mrs. w. & N. Downes. where Baker had
e roomed for the past three days. detect
ed strong odor OF gas in the house.
(, After short search a It was found that
K the gas was escaping from the little
y room oocupie by the Assyrian.
PM Mr., d T.. Griffith, boarder, who was
y helping In the search climbed up to the
front porch room and raised the window.
;3$As he did so. q strong gush Of the gas
y met him. Sue
aB7 FOUND BAKER LIFDLESS.
353955 After q few minutes he entered tho
room and found the form Of Baker lite-
less and cold. &ssss
LIN. a corner OF the little room on q
bureau was found o lighted lamp. and
s. In the opposite corner the hiss OF es-
Gaping gas from pipe could be heard.
The cock on the pipe connecting the gas
b stove was about half turned on.
e Nh The police were notified, and Ofi1cer
Redford was sent TO the scene. lie
summoned the ambulance.
The physician In charge said that the
man had been dead more than on hour
III and notified Coroner Taylor. who viewed
the remains and turned them over to
~ Ellis Assaid, fellow countryman and
friend OF the family. They wore removed
to Redden's Undertaking parlors. at NO.
a 1892 East Main Street, where they were
prepared for burial.
1 W neither he turned the gas on for tho
~ ordtnr hia Qrfh1v troubles,
"A or was 1t by accident that his foot struck
the lever In moving around in his small
quarters, are the questions which are
Vi perplexing to the police and coroner.
His life for the past several months
has been unhappy, and that is the cause
advanced for the theory OF suicide.
Baker and his family, consisting Of a
wife. about thirty-hvs years Of age,
and five childran. came to Richmond
about three months ago from Roanoke.
q There they had lived for a number Of
u years. He bought out tie fruit stand
]. OF John Onesty. next to the Bijou,
81 few days after coming to this city, and
resided on tho third floor over barber
q shop on East Broad Street.
IL " HAD TROUBLES.
Family troubles began to increase, ant
4. q short time ago when he knocked on
i night he was not admitted. He loft say
Ing no would never return, and engaged
A small room In the Davis House. Where
he resided until he rented tho room at NO
4 7o2 East Marshall Street. Some time ags
his wife began to sock O divorce, She en-
Il gagged Mr.. Edgar Allan Her bill was flet
4 In the Cilancery Court OF Richmond abon
Ahe middle OF February. She alleged crue
a treatment and recited various clrcun
Stances OF their married life.
After the fling Of the divorce papers
Judge Grinnan awarded the plaintiff OF
81 injunction enjoining tho defendant from
A interfering with the children, and alst
enjoining the Planters National Banl
h from paying out money standing to thu
credit of Baker.
Il This Injunction was dissolved I"ebruar!
\ 18th. when the following agreement as t
! aumony and costs OF the suit. signed b.
Y the principals and properly attested wa
tlled In court:
y. An absolute divorce was granted Marci
9TH, giving the wife the custody OF thei
., Eve children With them she returned t
Roanoke last Thursday
A LETTER FOUND.
Il In Bakers room. lying on the bureau
was found a letter written In his natiy
tongue from friend in Roanoke. tn
letter was translated by fellow-country
II man as follows
My Dear Mr.. Baker:
I send you my best love and hope 70
arc well and prospecting, got your lei
&ter, and hope you excuse me for no
replying quick. because waited unit
] took the satchcl to Mr., Scokurr to sen
to you, To-day your wife reached her
MaIl right; don't worry about her and IN
children Ny wife sends her best love I
you. There Is nothing new to tell you
n there Is anything of interest you know
write me- send the satchel, and let m
snow II you got II all right. ] hope 20,
Hil write to me. II had the wings O
87ltbird would ny to Richmond to see you
3,ut ! hope you will come back to Roanoke
&Bf you think you are not coming to Roa
"a Joke / will come to Richmond. Answe
ny letter quick
GEORGE TANNOs MAHWOL,
Baker and his wife were made one Il
Il he City Hall OF New York October l.
81,
YIN TirnECC EADNC tn WHICTI r