The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-08-08
TO GRAND JURY
WITHOUT BAIL
Commonwealth Makes Out Very Bad
Murder Case Against Slayer
of Renzo King.

of Reno King.
John Baker was held to await the
action of the Lincoln county grand
jury without bail at his examining
before Judge Bailey in the county
court here Tuesday morning, on a
charge of numbering Reno King at
Sunday, August I'd.
According to all the evidence in
PRODUCED by the commonwealth, the
killing was one of the most "cold-
blooded" murders committed in Lin
coin county in many years. The tes-
timony of Bakers own brother, VIM.
Baker seemed sufficient to send the
accused to the electric chair. And
it was corroborated in every essen
tial detail by the testimony of Levi
Kelly, who was the only other eye
witness to the tragedy.
According to their testimony,
without the slightest provocation for
such an act, John Baker went to his
home, secured big corn knife and
returning to where King, Kelly and
VIM. Baker were, without a word
other than a curse to King, split his
head open with the heavy blade.
According to these two witnesses,
there had been no previous trouble
between the two men. Kelly testi-
fed that King and John Baker had
been playing or scuffling" previous
to The affair, but said that it was of
such a trifing and inconsequential
nature that he paid no attention to it
and thought nothing of it.
The defendant who was represent
ed by Attorney ]. S. Owsley, did not
take the stand. and the common
wealth introduced only a few wit
nesses. A large crowd was present
and court had to be held in the cir
cult court room upstairs, great
deal of interest being manifested in
the case in the West End of the
county where Mr.. King was so well
known and esteemed. His widow and
son, James King, and his brother-in-
law, Sheriff ]. d. Taylor of Casey
county were present at the examining
trial of his slayer. County Attorney
W. S. Burch conducted the case for
the prosecution.
James King, son of the murdered
man, was put on the stand first and
testified simply to the fact of his IA
theirs wounds and death. He has
been working in Cincinnati and was
there at the time of the tragedy.
Levi Kelly, one of the eye witness
es, was next put on the stand. He said
that Sunday morning, August 2, he
and VIM. Baker met Mr.. King at his
barn door. John Baker came by and
all were laughing and talking. VIM.
Baker said something to King about
selling him heifer, and they all de-
cided to go down into the pasture
and look at her. Kelly said that on
the way down there King and John
Baker were playing and scuffling but
no one thought anything of it or
paid any attention to it. They look
ed at the heifer and John Baker went
home and then came back to where
the rest were. Kelly said he was sit
ting under a chestnut tree, King was
standing few feet away and VIM.
Baker was in the lane or roadway.
Kelly said when John Baker came
back, he kelly just looked up as
John Baker passed him and struck
at King with a corn knife. He said
that absolutely nothing had happen
ed before that. He said that King
and John Baker had been playing
and scuffling; not wrestling or fight
ing; and if either was mad he didn't
know it. Kelly said that he told
John Baker: 'Don't do that" when
he saw that Baker was about to hit
King with the knife. He said that
been scuffiing and playing that John
Baker had said to him, why don't
you make this man let me alone; /
don't like to be a playing" Kelly
said that King wasn't mad and if
Baker was, he didn't know it. Kelly
said that after Baker had struck
King, he kelly said to Baker "John
you have killed that man." and Bak-
er replied eyes, and you need one,
too" Kelly said that King didn't fall
after he was struck and that he got
handkerchief and tried to stop the
blood which was gushing from the
wound, and then he and VIM. Baker
tried to get him to a doctor. He said
that King was in his shirt sleeves and
had nothing in his hands when John
Baker struck him. Kelly was not
cross-examined by the defense.
VIM. Baker, brother of the accus-
ed, told very much the same story as
Levi Kelly. He said he had heard no
words between John Baker and King
He told of the trip they made to look
at his heifer in his mothers field
John Baker came by and Sopped a
| few minutes and then went to the
house and shortly afterward came
back. VIM. Baker said he was not
paying much attention to the other
men but heard Kelly say "Don't dc
that, and then turned and saw John
Baker strike King with corn knife
VIM. Baker said he didn't see any
scuffling or playing. He said that
John Baker said &c d you" to
King before he struck him which
were the only words he heard from
anyone except Kelly, and that King
said nothing. Baker said he didn't
think there was anything out of the
ordinary between his brother and
King before that. Baker told prac.
tically the same story as to other de-
tails as Kelly had done and conclud-
ed his testimony with the statement
81 have no idea what was the cause
of it and saw no reason for 1t. He
was not cross-examined.
DIR. M. L. Pipes told of the eondi-
ton he found King in when he was
called to- attend him. He said his
skull was badly fractured and he
was unconscious.
VIM. Burkett told of talking with
John Baker after he had struck King
He said he asked Baker what he cut
King for and he said he did it be-
cause he squeezed him. He said that
Baker told him he hadn't been drink
ing and that he seemed sober to him
He said Teddy Grubbs was present
when this conversation took place.
LATE Ellis also told of converse
ton with John Baker, in the pre-
sence of Bill Burgin. Ellis said thai
Baker asked him to go to the doc