Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-06-12
BAKER SENTENCED
TO TEN YEARS IN
PENITENTIARV
Clever swindler Faces Prison
Term 0ptimistically; Ad-
mires Interior Decorations
Of Court Room After Being
Sentenced.

Of Court Room After Being
Sentenced.
Ten years IN san Quentin was the
Justice neted out To james Arthur
Baker. notorious swindier. when ar
ralgnsd before Superior Judge Dens.
more IN the Riverside county court
room last saturday BAKER Il the
"msn-womnn" captured IN Aibuquer-
cue by CHIEF Of Police McMlnln ON
May 2sth. after be had escaped frem
two Riverside county officers from a
drawing room IN q Pullman car at
lached 10 Santa Fe train No. 8. as
the train made brief stop m FlnE-
stan, Arlz.
Baker took hts sentence OF ten
Years cOoily, according 10 "a Riverside
paper. never fsnching ~ the court
4 gave him sliff dose 90 the san
Quentin medicine. The prisoner be-
gun admlring the interior decorations
~ the court room after being sen
fenced.
The story OF Bakers arraienment
II told by the Riverside Daily Press
OF "a recent date as follows.
J. A. Baker. the confidence man.
who passed on fourteen forged post
office money orders on the National
Bank OF Riverside and got away with
$500. was this morning sentenced
20 san Quentin for term OF ten
years.
Baker was charged with obtaining
money under false pretense. Only
one complaint was filed against him.
Baker made a plea Of guilty.
Baker was not represented by an
attorney. when Judge Densmore
asked him II there was any reason
why sentence should not be pro-
nounced. the prisoner presented q
long typewriter statement TO the
court. hoping 10 have Judge Dcns-
more read H. The court Informed
him that il was too long 20 read
Baker snid he ala not care to make
the statement IN n public court room
because Of u being very embarrass-
ms hut District Attorney Lyman Ev-
ans requested that he read u. and he
proceeded.
The statement was typewriter and
u filled more than half dozen sheets
OF the Jail letserhend paper. Baker,
In che statement. claimed his dual
sex as tho cause OF his misfortune.
He set forth the fact that he had
reimbursed the bank In Riverside and
had given an order directing that his
persQpal property be converted into
cash 20 reimburse others from whom
he had obtained money fraudulently.
The court was not Impressed with
Bakers lengthy recital of his misfor-
ltunes. Judge Densmore minated
That this might interest medical ex-
Iperts. hut the fact that the prisoner
had defrauded the local bank was the
only matter the court could and
would consider.
Judge Densmore told Baker that
he had heard OF many cases where
Equity parties were rendy and willing
Ca return money secured fraudulently,
and that he was not influenced by
this part Of the statement.
The judge said: You not only inn
posed on the bank bat you went ~
far. have learned from outside
sources. az To deceive the salvation
Army officers In your operations.
Your crime shows you 20 be about
the smoothest article we have ever
had 90 deal with Ia Riverside county
There are only two things "a be con
sidered one Is the protection OF so
ciety aud the other Is the degree Of
the crime, Your escape from the Of
ficers and your manner OF escape
makes your plea for mercy appear as
coming from the last ditch, and the
court cannot take II into considera-
ton II IL the order Of this court
that YOU be sentenced 90 san Quen-
tin for a term Of ten years"
Baker never fiinched when SEN
tence was pronounced. He lmme'
diately took n seat beside sheriff
Wilson and began 10 admire the dee
orations OF the interior Of the SUI
perlor court room.
District Attorney Evans asked the
usual questions before sentence wal
pronounced The prisoner gave hi
name as a. ]. Baker. and his age al
I35. He taught school for fourteen
years, and gave music lessons as D
aide issue. He claims he IN iitted ais'
4 for bookkeeping. u was brought OF
i H. the examination that thi9 H. tbs
4 first time he had ever been appre
hendod for crime.
When the prisoner was nrougn
into the court room the audi oriun
! was packed with aitorneFs court a.
nciais and spectators. In tic orow'
we're many women who were curiou
40 500 naher, As soon as he was sen
d fenced the greater part OF the aud
icnco Dispersed.