Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-11-18
CAPT. BAKER SHOOTS
MAN IN SELF DEFENSE
HOBO HAD DELIBERATELY FIRED
HIS PISTOL AT HIM.
kIndhesrted Senator From Sumter
Spared Life Of. His Assailant IN
der Trying circumstances.

Early Sunday morning Captain D.
II. Baker Of Orange Home. 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
It was unavoidable
The facts ia the case. as learned
by a Times man from a 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 so 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 we're stored, and pick the
nuts or the vines. On Sunday morn.
ing a man working for Capt. Baker
reported that he saw man como
from the barn. He went up to the
pump, got a drink Of water, washed
and walked very brazsnly out at the
front gate. as though he was perfectly
familiar with the premises, eating
peanuts as he went. II 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 up
his gun for protection and went to
the grove. and when he got to the
grove gate the man came out over
the fence and stopped by 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 / have found the man." They
stood In the road and parleyed for
a few moments. and then the Captain
told him that he would have 20 de-
tain him until he could phone TO
wildwood for deputy sheriff and
would have 70 hold him until the next
day. (as this was Sunday, then give
him q hearing. He kept by the tree,
and Capt. Baker told him 10 move
on down the road towards the house,
as am going TO turn you over to the
sheriff
Al this instant he fred az Captain
Baker at range OF about ten feet with
Ss.calibre revolver, He was SO
quick about II 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 bis revolver
and took rest against the tree e
shoot again. As no did this Capt. Ia
ker shot at the mans pistol. Capt
Baker said that he did not see the
man, as he was watching the pistol
and felt that his only chance was C
put that out Of business. He cut ths
bark from the tree and pat one shot
IN the cylinder Of the mans revolver
who was behind the tree all the time
He stlll made further effort 20 shoot
The Captain called TO HIM TO pat
his pistol down or he would shoot
him, not knowing he had already hll
him After repeated efforts he found
that his pistol would not work, and
said. "You have already shot me-
you have broken my arm.r and drop
ped his pistol
Capt. Bakcr said; = dld al I could
% keep from shooting. and after b.
took one fair shot and missed nj
mark. he was IN no danger whatevel
until he raised his gun, took . res
against the side Of che tree to max,
doubly sure OF me next shot. though
then Il my duty 20 protect myself"
The man was tramplag through m,
country and had about sixty dollar'
on his person. lie arst gavc his nam'
~ Brown. then Lindsay He vas sho
In the breas, and his arm vas broken
s...s...-...1..