Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-11-16
CAPT. BAKER SHOOTS
NAN IN SELF DEFENSE
HOBO HAD DELIBERATELY FIRED
HIS PISTOL At HIM.
Kindhes rted Senator From Sumter
spared Life Of His AsssIisnt Un-
der Trying Circumstances.

Early Sunday morning Captain ID.
X. Baker OF Orange Homie. in order
to protect his own life, was forced
TO shoot man at his place Captain
Baker regrets the occurrence very
much, but under the circumstances
IL was unavoidable.
The facts in the case, as learned
BY a Times man from reliable
source, are about as follows:
For about ten days some person or
persons have been depredating in va
rious ways around Capt. Bakers
place. They would go into the grove
and take oranges out on the railroad,
eat what they wanted and leave a
dozen or more scattered around;
would also enter the barn where
peanuts were stored, and pick the
nuts of the vines. On Sunday morn
ing man working for Capt. Baker
reported that he saw man come
from the barn. He went up to the
pump. got drink Of water, washed
and walked very brazeniy out at the
front gate, as though he was perfectly
familiar with the premises, eating
peanuts as he went. 1t being Sunday.
and the Captain not wishing to have
any trouble, did not modest him. The
man then went up the railroad and
entered the grove, climbing the
fence. Capt. Baker then picked mp
bis gun for protection and went to
che grove, and when he got to the
grove gate the man came out over
the fence and stopped by a pine
tree by the side Of the road. Capt.
Baker stepped into the road and said;
well. sir, someone has been stealing
oranges here for some time. and
guess l have found the man." They
stood IN the road and parleyed for
3 few moments. and then the Captain
told him that he would have TO de-
tain him until he could phone 70
wildwood for a deputy sheriff and
would have 10 hold him until the next
day, las this was Sunday. then give
him hearing He kept by the tree.
and Capt. Baker told him to move
on down the road towards the house,
as am going TO turn you over TO the
sheriff"
AZ this instant he fired at Captain
Baker at range OF about ten feet with |
n 3S-callbre revolver. lie was 30
quick about Il Capt. Baker did not
have time to take his gun OF his
shoulder. Capt Baker then stepped
back two or three steps. and said
Don't shoot any more; don't shoot
any more" He raised his revolver
and took rest against the tree 10
shoot again. AS he did this Capt, Ba-
ker shot at the mans pistol, Capt
Baker said that be did not see the
man, 40 be was watching the pistol.
and felt that bis only chance was 70
put that out Of business. He cut the
bark from the tree and put one shot
IN the cylinder Of the mans revolver,
who was behind the tree ali the time.
He stiIl made further EFFORT TO shoot.
The Captain called to him to put
his pistol down or he would shoot
him. not knowing he had already hlt
him. After repeated efforts be found
that his pistol would not work. and
said: "You have already shot me;
you have broken my arm" and drop
ped his pistol
Capt, Baker said: Il ala an could
10 keep from shooting. and after be
took one fair shot and missed his
mark. he was In no danger whatever
until he raised his gun, took a rest
against the side OF the tree 90 make
doably SURF Of me next shot. thought
then Il my duty to protect myself"
The man was tramping through the
country and had about sixty dollars
On his person, He hrst gave his name
Is Brown. then Lindsay. HE was shot
IN the breast and his arm vas broken,
bat from last ACCOUNTS was resting
easy, and win probably recover
sumter County Times
Capt Baker Is State senator from
Marion and sumter counties and
owns nnc grange grove az Orange
Home. sumter county. whero he
livcs He Vas a member q the
board 81 trustees % TIE old East Flor.