The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-11
So Governor Stubbs Sends
Baker Back to Prison.
TeIegrapher's Sentence Calls
for 243-Year Term.
SENT UP FROM ANTHONY
GiIIett and Wilcox of Libel Suit
Fame in Case.
Used State Paper to Prevent
Girl Learning Disgrace.

Horton, Kan, July 11.-Because of a
lie told his sweetheart, a South Da-
kota girl, ]. NJ Baker, a Rock Island
telegrapher here, will return tonight to
the penitentiary to serve out a sentence
the maximum of which is 243 years.
The falsehood was written to the girl
on stationery from the oAice of Gov
ernor Stubbs. The object was to pre-
vent the girl from learning that he had
been in the penitentiary.
Back of Bakers Imprisonment is the
long story of prosecution in Anthony
in which County Attorney Wilcox and
Judge Gillett, who recently figured in a
sensational libel case in Topeka, were
officials. Baker was sent up in 1909.
Previous to being sent to prison
Baker was agent for the Orient railroad
at Anthony. When he left a number of
express money orders, which he had
signed as agent, were found. Although
he had the right to sign the orders the
signing of so many was unusual and
Investigations followed. He was ar
rested on the charge of embezzlement
but the case was thrown out of court.
Arrested ON New Charge.
Then the charge was changed to
fourth degree forgery and 46 counts
were charged against him. E. c. Will
COX was the attorney who prosecuted
and Judge Preston B. Gillett presided
He was found guilty of 81 counts and
sentenced under the indeterminate SEN
| tence law to a maximum of 243 years iTi
| the state prison. He was taken to
| Lansing soon after the trial and began
serving what was practically a life
sentence.
Then members of the jury and others
got busy. They had not intended that
Baker should suffer such punishment
| for his misdeeds. Petitions calling for
the governor. Last May Baker was re-
| leased upon parole.
But there is another side to the story.
| During the period covered by his de-
f6Ications Baker met and learned 70
| love a pretty girl whose home was in
South Dakota. He did not want her to
learn of his disgrace so at his request
his sister wrote the girl that her broth
er had been killed in a railroad acci-
dent The girl mourned him as dead
When he was released from prison
Baker still worshipped the memory of
that girl. His love was so strong shat
he decided to write to her. Securing
sheet of stationery bearing the
stamp of the governors office he wrote
her that he had been working for the
governor and was not dead, as his
folks had supposed.
Meanwhile he secured employment
pany and acted as operator in McFar-
land and other towns near Topeka.
Later he was sent to Horton. He kept
the state officials posted as to his
whereabouts and was careful not to
violate his parole.
Girls Father Gets Busy.
But the father of the girl heard
about the resurrection OF Baker. He
wanted to know something about the
mysterious death and return to life
of ]. NJ. Baker, and wrote to Governor
Stubbs, stating the facts az he under
stood them. The governor upon learn
ing that Baker had lied, ordered the
warden of the penitentiary to go to
Horton, get Baker and return him to
the prison to serve out the remainder
of his term.
Railroad men in Horton learned of
this. They like Baker. W. E. Archer,
representative from this district, was
sent to Topeka to intercede for the
telegrapher. He urged upon the gov
ernor that Baker had not violated any
of the provisions of his parole, that he
was working hard and behaving him
self. He pleaded in the name of the
railroad men at Horton that Baker be
allowed to continue his work. He
had become a good citizen, and that
was the object of puuishing men,
Archer declared. But his plea was
useless. The governor wouldn't re-
consider his determination to send
Archer back to prison for life.
HE betrayed my confidence" the
governor declared.
And so tonight, Baker will go back
to prison. He has not violated his
parole but he lied to his sweetheart to
keep from her the knowledge of his
disgrace, and he used Governor Stubbs'
stationery to carry this white lie to it's
daSfinafinn