New-York tribune., 1908-03-21
BAKER HEIRS QUIZZED
ON IN JERSEY.
Mrs. Natalie Young Tells of Incl
dents at Ne1C York Dinner.

The ,nouest into the death OF Walter F. Baker
Of Boston, who died suddenly in the home Of Mrs
Frank H. Hurd, at Bogota, N j.. on October "a
1907. resumed before Coroner De Mund In the
Hackensack courthouse yesterday.
Mrs Nathalie Young. q sister of Mrs. Hurd, was
the first witness called. She told Of seeing Baker
as he left Broadway restaurant and seemed to
stagger toward the automobile which brought the
party to Bogota. She said that he complained OF
feeling ILL., but said nothing further the way to
Bogota Half an hour after they entered the house
Hurd the witness said came to her room, and she
went upstairs where she found Baker unconscious
with Mr.. and Mrs. Hurd working over him There
were dark spots his chest and his tongue pro-
made by Baker in 1907. Counsel for the Hurds OBJ
tected to any questioning about the will. because
there is a contest over It now going on In Boston
Mrs. Hurd followed her sister upon the stand
She said that she Baker and a man named
Harry Lee leaving place in Broadway. and she
at first thought they were intoxicated. She said
that Baker complained of illness, but did not ask
for a doctor She said that she did not know that
Baker had made will that she was legatee
until the day following his death
Mrs Hurd said that she did not know of any plan
of Bakers leave her home and live in Boston
Baker she said, a guest at her home, and had
never paid board Mrs. Hurd admitted that her
husband had borrowed money from Baker and had
given him several notes. She said that number
of Bakers checks had been indorsed by her because
she had an account in the Hackensack Bank and
Baker did Witness said that she knew that
Baker had received 100000 of his mothers estate
when she died. When asked by Prosecutor Koester
if she knew what had caused Bakers death, the
witness replied. II do not know.
Louis Snfen. the chauffeur who took the party
from New York to Bogota, was called. but added
little to the testimony He could not recall any OF
the conversation of his passengers.
The cook and the butler at the Hurd home were
in court but they both slept soundly the night
of Bakers death, and did not know Of it until the
next morning.
Frank H. Huri ;hen called, and said that
Baker had lived in his house guest for more
than a wear He said that he did not hear Baker
ask for doctor in New York and corroborated
his wife's testimony. Beverly Brittngham a deco
rator told Of the happenings in New York the
night of Bakers death.
Edward Baker. brother of the dead man. said
that his brother had told him short time before
he died that he was tired of the constant quar-
relling between the Hurds and going to make
his home in Boston He heard Of his brothers
death over the telephone from Hurd. He said that
Hurd had told him that his brother died from
kidney end heart disease. Thinking that autopsy
should have been performed upon his brothers
body Baker said that he teephoned to Hurd later
on the same morning instructng him to have
the body embalmed He said he surprised 10
learn that the embaning had already been done.
When the body arrived in Boston he said all of
the funeral party rode in carriages excepting him
self and Mrs. Hurd. who walked to the hotel and
told him the particulars of his brothers death
He said that his brother had never spoken to him
of an affection OF the kidneys complained of his
heart Mr.. Hurd said he knew his wife kept a
list of Bakers securities
The will left by Baker offered as evidence
and several of the items read off in the examina-
ton of the witness. One of them provided that
Natalie Hurd, the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs Hurd
was TO receive one-third of the estate The coro-
ner ruled that the document be thrown out as
evidence.