Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-10-25
BAKER EXHIBITS
An IRON NERVE
DEFIANTLY DTNIED HAVING ANY
THING TO DO WITH THE
REUTER- MURDER.
REMEMBERED NO Names
Could Not Name Single Person Who
Could Corroborate His Story
of His Movements.

of His Movements.
County Attorney Majloy: "Didn't you
on tho morning of May s, with thi .
gun (holding up the rusty revoiycr)'
i'm your hand and this flashiight (hold-
ing up the flashlight) in the other,
enter the basement door of the Reu-.
ter home, sneak up the stairway,
turn the lock I'm the door Of Mrs. Reu-
tcr's room, enter Charles Reuters
room, punch him In the ribs with this
gun, make him get up, rob him, force
linn to turn his back, then shoot him
through the head and after he had
fallen to the floor, fire another bullet
into his brain?"
Witness Joe Baker: "NO, did not"
This question and this answer
brought to a dramatic close the five
hours cross examination of Joe Baker.
charged with Guy Mackenzie with the
murder of Charles r. Reuter-. who
took the stand, Wednesday afternoon
in his own defense.
Standing directly in front of the
witness, County Attorney Mal!oy hurl-
ed this direct question at the witness.
AS the county attorney spoke, Baker
looked him square in the eye. His
jaw trembled slightly. but he never
faltered and the crowded court room,
including the jurors, leaned forward,
intensely in their chairs, realizing that
drama of the highest order was be-
ing enacted before their eyes.
Hardly had the words of the prose-
cutor died away in the death-like still
ness of the court room when Baker
almost yelled defiantly: mo, l did
not"
THAT is ALL" responded the county
attorney as he took his seat and the
long, gruelling examination was end
ed. The witness calmly leaned back
in the chair and gazed at the jury
box, apparently to see what effect his
exhibition of iron nerve had on tho
twelve men who are to pass on his
fate.
1t was day filled in with intense
moments with the county attorney
seeking with all the guile within his
ability to seek to force the witness
into an admission that might break
down his story of his movements on
the night the state alleges he shot
down Charlie Reuter- In his bedroom.
Many times it seemed as though the
witness had been forced into a tight
place. but nearly every time, he
squirmed out by some ready eXplana-
ton or quick retort 10 the inquis-
itor.
His story in the main was not vls-
IDLY broken down, but ii was brought
fcrclbly to the jury's attention that
the witness could not recall the name
of a single person whom he saw late
on the night of May and early on
the morning of May 5, although he
admitted he saw many people he
knew in the course Of his wanderings
amund the city.
Both the state and the defense pro-
fessed to be well satisfied with the re-
suit Of the days work, when court
finally adjourned at o'clock.
Today Guy Mackenzie will take the
stand in his defense, and his exam
ination promises 10 be as sensational
AS chat of his co-defondant, Joe
Baker.
Immediately after court convened
yesterday morning Baker took the
stand and Attorney Charleton began
where he left off the previous after
noon.
Thought He was Witness.
Baker testified that the first time
that he knew that he was held for the
Reuter- murder was on the first morn
ing pf the preliminary hearing. He
thought he was being held as wit
ness, prior to that tie, he said. He
declared that Ed Egan had tried TO
get him to turn states evidence. Ed
told him, he said, that they wanted to
stick" Guy Mackenzie and Mrs. Reu-
er and were willing to turn Joe loose
il he would aid in convicting them.
Il told them" said the witness.
that | didn't know anything. One oay
Ed Grassland came to me and said
they had found the overeoat | wore
the night of the killing. l told him
that If they bad. they didn't find
much. for | had used the overcoat as
a bed for my dogs. My wife also WIS.,
tied my cell and told me that Pat
Malloy had promised to turn me loose
II | would tell what | knew. / told
her that / didn't have anything to
tell; that If | knew anything to tell