The San Francisco call., 1904-02-29
SEEKS RELIEF
IN The CRAVE
James Baker, Bright Young
Man and Son of Wealthy
Parents, Commits Suicide
WRITES OWN DEFENSE
Father Is Ex-Supreme JUS
tice Of Missouri and One.
Time official of Railroad

James Baker, a highly educated
young man and son of a Missouri cap
italist and jurist, ended his own exist
ence yesterday morning in this city by
swallowing poison. He left a letter that
Will be an acquisition to the literature
of self destruction With the calmness
and deliberation cf a lawyer prepar-
ing a brief, he wrote in defense of his
act and evidently went to mis- death
satisfied that he had full right TO end
his own life, with the one exception
that it would bring a sorrow TO his
parents greater than. at their age they
were capable of bearing without in
jury to them.
That there is a great prejudice in
our country and time against suicide,
know, and there appears to be some
hazy idea of its immortality" he wrote
in the sophlstry he employed to ease
his conscience when he took the de-
stroying potion. The prejudice is en-
tirely local and d temporary one.
1t does not originate at the fountain
head of our religion, certainly. The
Bible has nothing to say against it.
l think whatever there is of its i'm
morality, etc, originates with modern
teachers of religion, and these would
be at loss to show cause.
UNIVERSITY GRADUATE.
Baker was 81 years of age and
graduate of the Chicago University.
He committed suicide in his room at
923 Jones street by swallowing dose
of cyanide of potassium His dead
body was discovered shortly after the
uoon hour by the landlady, Mrs. Muir
ply. 1t was fully dressed and was
seated on a chair with the feet resting
on the bureau. In the lap was bottle
half full Of the poison.
On top of writing desk the follow
ing note was found: The tin box is
the property of John c. Baker, 1886
Winnemac avenue, Chicago. l request
that it be delivered to him unopened.
1t contains nothing explanatory OF the
situation and nothing Of interest to
the law or the public. The contents
are private matters, important only in
a personal way and not especially so
in that.
The Morgue was notified and Deputy
Coroner Brown on going to the house
found in the tin box an open envelope
addressed John" and inclosed was the
following letter written in a bold, clear
hand:
SATURDAY EVENING
Dear John: My great regret and my only
Hesitation, save probably some instructive
shrinking at the last moment, are on account
of the keen sorrow / shall occasion the fam
ily, setting aside the many unpleaSantneSSeS
that my act VIII cause you all in your social
relations. This sorrow [ expect will be
keen and lasting in the case of mother grand
mother and Edith than it will in yours because
of your and your well-trained mind, which,
in far as it is strong and welltraned, will
avoid needless grief. | could ask you and
Edith to bear the sorrow and trouble conse-
quent upon my course, but that it is the most
heartess selhshness of which l could be guilty
shall cause home to the two persons there
who utterly uHable by both nature and
afTaA of -frnh
blow. That mother is a passionately fond AMI
entirely devoted mother / have known always
and l recognize the fact as we'll now as ever,
and this entirely undeserved sorrow about to
fall upon her is a sorrow to we'll. l
wish / could give her of my ability
support whatever blows adverse fortune
bestow.
DEFENSE OF HIS ACT.
Life is pleasure TO me and don think
that my living would really be of beneht to the
family I am sure that 1t would be of no ad-
vantage to society generally. The fact that
leave life by my Will. rather than by
chance should occasion no additional sorrow
That there is a great prejudice in our country
and time against suicide / know and there ap
pears TO be some hazy idea of its immortality.
The prejudice is entirely a local and temporary
one. II does not originate at the fountain head
Of our religion. certainly. The Bible has moth
ing to say against il. think what idea there
is of its immortality. etc. originates with mod
ern teachers of religion and these would be at
a loss TO show cause. The death is quick
and easy one and IT is the knowledge that l
had this at command that has kept me cheer
full. II (the knowledge) is. as somebody says
the chief solace of a troubled mind,
| have not taken a hasty unconsidered step.
It has all. except the time. been fixed In my
mind for years. came out here rather
pectng the event to take place before my
turn. Edith Is not to imagine that my not
writing TO her recently argues any lack OF
dial feeling on my part. II was simply that
] was little out OF the habit and rather had
my mind busy on other matters. / have in
tended writing to her many times. but get off
on to something else end forget 1t for while
Nom Of N-0fI arc IN 1aurfra hat I he
slightest degree actrated hy any family af-
fairs I say this because I doubt if mother
quite understands that II is possible for two
members nf g family to differ in opinion on
anvtfing without experiencing a change of
feeling or loss Of respect Tiat is possible.
The cause Of my act is one thing only. cir
J cunlstances are about ri1e for il. and I have
, had leisure 10 consider the matter and pre-
rare leave my affairs a little mixed but
there is nothing Of Importance. My dress SUIT
ard suit case ere IN pawn. Ticket inclosed
A fellow named f. J. Deasy at the office 4l6
California street owes me 500 I owe Pier
ser Evanston $42 nothing else that know Of
Nv room rent y raid til March 3.
-ive you all the best love Of which am
capabe and the cnlv love | have ever felt NV
myself. I have fte eourare or coldness.
whatever IL may be- to take things as they
ccme and make what I consider the beet of
everything. JAMES.
WAS IN ILL HEALTH.
DR.. Clarence c. Baker of the Hotel
Berkshire was cousin or the man
who killed himself and at DIR. Bakers
request the body was sent to an under
taking establishment. DR. Baker said
that the letter eft by James was ad-
dressed to his brother John. James, he
said, was very bright and had gradu-
ated with honors from the Chicago
University. His father was an ex-
Supreme Justice of the State of Mis-
souri, and ex-vice president of the ST.
Louis and San Francisco Railroad. of
which he had been one of the pro-
nnters Iainas had henn q r11ffnro,.