Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-10-30
L|C0N SPOKE FOR State
DEFENDANT BAKER SMILES AS
PROSECUTOR BITTERLY De-
NOUNCEs HIM.
THOMPSON Started talk
Opening Argument for the Defense
Had Just Started When Court
Adjourned for the Day.

Joe Baker, designated by the state
as "the murderer" and Guy d. Mac
kenzie, named as "the plotter,' both
charged with the murder of Charles
II. Reuter-, sat calmly in their seats
yesterday as they listened to Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney Nat Lyon, a
boy In years, scathingly denounce
them as the two coolest blooded MUIR
derers Of the age. Mackenzie. sitting
beside his sister, looked little wpr'
ried, but Baker. sitting with his wife,
smiled blandly as the denunciatlon be-
come more bitter.
Probably never before In the his
tory of criminal practice has a bet
ter argument been made by an at
torney with so few years on his shoul-
ders as has the young assistant prose-
cutor who has Just passed his Gath
birthday. 1t was his second appeal to
a jury and 1t happens that the first
appeal was also In murder case. Old
attorneys who listened for two hours
and a half while Ligon reviewed rhe
the maximum penalty. death, were
unanimous In their opinion that his
effort was worthy of man years old.
er, both In age and experience.
Tho entire morning session was de.
voted yesterday to the instructions to
the jury, the court instructing the jury
that they must fix the penalty.
Mr.. Lyon opened for the state al
1:45 ana spoke until o'clock. He
was followed by Ben Thompson for
the defense, who had only been talk
ing about thirty minutes when court
adjourned for the day He will re-
sumo his argument this morning.
1t is now believed that the case may
go to the jury late this afternoon or
tonight. Four arguments remain to
be concluded and 1t may be possible
that an extra day will be required, al
though Judge Breckenridge intimated
yesterday that ne would hold night
session tonight in order that the case
might 90 to the jury before Thurs
day. When Mr.. Thompson concludes
for the defense he will be followed by
Deputy County Attorney Grassland
He will give way to ]. r. Charleton
who will close for the defense and
County Attorney Malloy will close for
the state.
Ligon said in part:
"The great state of Oklahoma,
through her humble representatives,
comes before you today to plead for
the common justice that is based upon
a law that was written upon tablets
of stone In that yonder time: Thou
shalt not kill
"The soil of our own fair state is
saturated with the blood of men from
whom the life that God gave has
been snatched by the assassin. And
this clay of which we are made and
to which we must return is crying out
as Moses cried from the mountain
top Thou shalt not kill
Gentlemen of the jury, when you
took your places in this jury box, you
stood before your God and holding up
your right hand you swore that you
believed in this doctrine: Thou shalt
not KILL
1T is not q pleasant task, gentle
men, to stand before you and plead
that you return verdict that VIII
compel this court to pronounce upon
the prisoners at the bar this sentence
1t is the judgment of this court that
yon ~ =. ,aken to the death chamber
]. this court house and there hanged
by the neck until dead. dead, dead,
and may God have mercy on your
souls"
What STATE Has Proved.
The state has proved. we think. to
the satisfaction Of all reasonable men:
THAT Charles T. Reuter- was shot
down in cold blood In his home In
Tulsa county on the early Sunday
morning of May s.
THAT the shot was fired by Joe
Baker, who sits before you now, cold
In his stoicism. firm in his defiance.
THAT Joe Baker had been hunting
a job.
"That he didn't care what kind of a
Job he got. whether 1t be that OF
driving a transfer wagon. whether II
be that of working In the fields. whe-
ther 1t be that of repairing old shoes,
or whether 1t be that Of killing man
against whom he had no grudge,
against whom he felt no cause for re-
vcnge.
His was the task Of murder for
cash reward. He had no sentiment.
He wanted job and he got one.' and
the men who saw Nthat corpse lying