The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-16
The Trial of DR.. Baker
Began Yesterday.
MRS. BASS ON STAND
The State Examines a Number of Wit.
nesses and Rests Its Case. A
Sketch of the Trouble Between
Drs. Bass and
Baker.
Especial to News and Observer.

y. N.,
of State against DIR. Julian NJ. Baker
for killing DR.. III. I. Bass. on March
10th, 1903. was set for trial today.
There was an immense crowd in at
tendance. His Honor Judge Shaw is
very business like in the conduct of
matters before the court and has
made q good impression.
The morning was consumed in Sc
lecting a jury. In the afternoon the
trial began with the testimony of
Frank l.. Dancy for the State.
MR.. Dancy and DIR. Bass married
sisters. Dancy testified that he was
ut the postoffice when the tragedy oc-
CURED, which was about $3.50 o'clock.
He saw Bass at the poStoffice and
spoke to him. Baker came out of
his Office and went to the postofiice.
- Bass rushed at Baker and struck him
with his fist, but had nothing in his
hand. Baker ran into the street,
Bass pursuing him. Baker went to-
ward the bridge; Bass had hold of
him. Baker got on the sidewalk and
reached for his pistol. Bass seized
the pistol as it fired.
At the first shot three men had
hold of Bass. The time between the
two shots was two or four seconds.
The first shot went into the drug
store window. At the second shot
Bass did not have hold of Baker.
James w. Virgins. Luther V. Hart
and M. w. Smithson testified to the
good character of Mr.. Dancy.
DR.. l.. L. Station then testified as
follows:
He attended DR.. Bass when he was
wounded. Saw him btween II and
IL O'Clock on the morning of the
shooting. Said the wound was in the
stomach, went through the liver and
was necessarily fatal. DR.. Bass died
in consequence of his wound.
j. T. Moore testified for the State
as follows: ! was on the street on
the day of the difficulty and say Bass
chasing Baker. Bass overlook him,
beat him with right hand. Three or
four took hold of Bass. When they
got on the edge of the sidewalk DR..
Baker fired. Col Bridgers Herbert
and Martin -2and aoshrdluetaolshrdlu
Jenkins and Martin Carstarphen had
hold of Bass from behind. Did not
see Bass have any weapon until he
was shot Parties then held Bass
hand as the pistol was fired.
Cross examined by the defense. the
witness said he was standing north
of the postoffice door when his at
tention was attracted by seeing Baker
walking backwards with Bass pur-
suing him. While in the street Bass
struck Baker three or four times.
Raker was trying to get away when
on the edge Of the sidewalk when
Baker started to draw a pistol, Bass
had hold of him. At the second shot
Baker was bending forward toward
Bass He had Baker round the neck
when the second shot was fired. Two
shots were fired in quick succession.
DIR. Bass seemed very angry. Baker
was trying to get away.
Redirect by State: At the tina of
the first shot Bass had Baker by the
hand.
A. b. Crosby for the State said he
did not recall the date of the shoot
ing, but remembered the occurrence.
Immediately after the shooting he
heard DR.. Baker say he was not hurt,
but in reference to Bass, Baker said,
Damn him. ! put two in him..
Frank L. Dancy was recalled and
stated that he did not remember say
ing at the preliminary hearing before
Judge Brown that the tendency of the
shot was downward. He said DR..
Bass was angry.
him a few nights after the shooting
that he was in Bakers office and
heard him say Damn him or durn
him | put two IN him." Walston was
i'm his store. sixty or seventy yards
from scene of tragedy and saw Bass
and Baker in the street, Baker in
shirt sleeves and hand in hip pocket.
When they got to the sidewalk Baker
shot Bass When the first shot was
fred the party who was holding Bass
went behind him, others held him,
though he did not recognize. them.
There was about two seconds between
the shots. II never saw any weapon
i'm Bass hand. Bass had Bakers
hand. When the first shot was fired.
Mrs Bass, the widow, was the next
witness for the prosecution. She
stated that she was at home when
her husband was shot, but was noti-
fled a few minutes afterwards She
said DR. Bass was shot in the abdo-
men and died about eleven o'clock
that night DR.. Bass was thinner
than usual and not physically strong;
that he weighed less than at any time
since his marriage.
Cross examined by defence she
stated that DR.. Bass made a state
ment in her presence in regard to
the shooting. 1t was taken down by
Mr.. James Bender shortly after DR..
Bass was brought home. The ante
mortem declaration of Dr. Bass will
be allowed as evidence in the case
Mark Ruffin for the State was in
Gatlins store, fifty yards away; heard
the shot and ran into the street. say
Bass and Baker fighting: two or three
people trying to separate them. Very
little difference between shots
DIR. L. L. Station testified to the
Continued OH page six.)