Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1903-01-09
SENTENCED 70 HANG ON MAY 70.
Defense of Convicted Man Was That His
Wife Was Unfaith-
full to Him.

An Atlanta, Ca, dispatch says:
That justice travels swiftly in Fulton
was proved in the James L. Baker
murder case, which was on trial be-
fore Judge John S. Gambler Thursday
in the criminal branch of the superior
court.
Baker shot and killed his wife the
Friday evening before; was arrested
shortly after; was indicted by the
grand jury last Tuesday morning and
Thursday afternoon was declared guilty
in the first degree and sentenced to be
hanged on the morning of the 10th of
next month.
The trial was notable one in manv
respects. The courtroom on the top
floor of the Ellis building was densely
crowded during the entire trial and
even after the jury had rendered the
verdict the great crowd fingered to
hear the sentence. Through it all
Baker sat unmoved, to outward APP
pearances Mt least, except to display
the liveliest interest in the manner in
which the case was prosecuted.
On the stand he told a remarkable
story, the substance of which was
calculated to blast the good name of
the wife whom he had shot to death
while she sat at the supper table on
the evening of the fatal "13th." His
statement was delivered in a manner
that carried out the idea that the man
failed to realize the gravity of his own
situation. He did not appear to be
nervous in the least and spoke clearly
so that the majority of those in the
courtroom heard every word of the
statement.
Considerable difficulty was expert,
enced in securing the necessary twelve
Jurors and three panels had been ex-
hausted and talismen brought in be-
fore the state was prepared to an
nounce ready.
Bakers attorney pleaded for post
ponement on the ground that he had
not had sufficient time in which to
look after all the details of the case.
He stated that what investigation he
had made convinced him that there
were some matters that he ought to in
vestigate that might show justification
for the crime. Judge Gambler stated
that the case had been called once be-
fore and been postponed, and that he
could not entertain the motion.
Baker was allowed to go on the
stand second time to make supple
mentary statement. All he said was
that he had not shot at his wife, and
that he was sorry the killing had oc-
Cured. He called attention to the
fact that his right hand was deformed,
and that he had been shot in the wrist.
Solicitor Hill, in summing up the
case for the prosecution, said that it
was the most wanton murder in the
criminal annals of the county. He
said that an effort had been made to
traduce the good name of Mrs. Baker
after she had been laid to rest in the
grave. and that Baker, in desperation,
hadAttacked the character of his wife.
He stated that it had been proved on
the stand by reputable witnesses that
Bakers wife was good woman.
Baker was sentenced to be hanged
on May 10th, between the hours of IL
and l o'clock, the execution to be at
the Tower, in the presence of only
those authorized to attend. The con-
victed man stood calmly with one hand
on the chair in front of him as he
heard the sentence of the court read,
and did not seem to be affected.