South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-29
OFFICERS TAKE
WALTER BAKER TO
MICHIGAN CITY
Convisted Man Will Await
Death There for Stay
ing of Carl Cook.

Promptly at 1927 o'clock We'd
ssday morning a South Shore car
irew up TO the station at
Michigan St. and LaSalle av. and
the 10 or IL passengers boarded the
car. paying little attention 20 the
three men walking towards the car.
closely abreast OF each other-one
an elderly man. the one IN the mid
die. a pale faced wei dressed.
youthful appearing. short. stocky
figure and the other a middle aged
man. The trio found a double seat
in the car and began talking natur-
ally. all three smiling and laughing
as jests and repartee was passed
back and forth
The man in the center was Walter
Carl Baker. convicted murderer of
Carr Cook. Lap0rte grOceryman,
who was fatally shot in his little
store On Christmas eve. 1918, by one
Of three men who entered the store
for the purpose OF robbery. HIS
companions on the car were William
f. Kerr and Charles Shelton. fire
chief OF Mishawaka. Representatives
Of the sheriff deputized for the oc-
casion Baker was bound for the
Indiana State penitentiary at Michi-.
gan City where ne Will be confined
pending the decision OF the state
supreme court, which will review
the case on appeal taken by attorn-
eys for the defense after Baker was
convicted h. the St. Joseph circuit
court for murder IN the first degree
on Feb. Is. 1920, and sentenced 70
die In the electric chair
Death Warrant.
Accompanying Baker TO the pris-
on was the following death sentence
signed by Wilbur NJ. Warner, clerk
OF the circuit court:
To the Warden Of the Northern Indiana
Prison:
Greetings.
whereas on the 18th day Of Feb. 1920
the abore named Walter Carl Baker was
convicted In the ST Joseph circuit court
OF murder In the first degree that on the
above date the jury assessed as bis pun
-ishment that he suffer death and where
Afterward on the 10th day Of April,
is20 the court ndjudged that the said
Walter Carl Baker suffer death and that
the penalty be inflicted before the hour
OF sunrise on the 10th day Of August A.
D., 1920.
You are therefore commanded TO carry
the same execution by causing a current
OF electricity TO be passed through the
body OF thS said Walter Carl Baker, the
said current 20 be Of sufficient intensity
10 cause death which sentence Is % be ex-
Ocuted before the hour OF sunrise on the
10th day OF August A D., 1870.
Witness nay hand and the seal Of said
court this 28th day OF April 1920.
WILDER VI. Warner
Clerk Of St Joseph Circuit Court, st.
Joseph County. State Of Indiana
Entered Prison.
Baker was safely delivered into
the hands OF Warden I'D. Fogarty at
the prison gates shortly before noon
and was Immediately put through
the routine measuring process and
BertillOn room.
Co-incidsnt 70 the fact that the
aforementioned warrant is the sec
ond death decree 10 be signed I'm st.
Joseph county, the court records
were probed for the first warrant,
signed by George W. Fountain. on
Jan. %, 1897, which doomed Henry
Jones TO be hanged by the neck un-
III he Is dead" The trial Of Jones
was heard by Judge Lucius Hubbard
in the circuit court in South Bend
in January 1897 and the jury re-
turned a verdict OF guilty OF muir
der OF first degree" and sentenced
hirc 10 die by hanging. Judge Lu-
cius Hubbard was the father OF
Judge Arthur L. HUBBARD VINO pre-
sided over the trial that sentenced
Baker to the electric chair.
Copy Found.
The first death warrant was SINH
lar in construction and wording 10
the one delivered 10 Warden Fogar-
~ Wednesday. An exact copy fol-
lows:
To the warden Of the State Prison.
Misunderstanding
Whereas.-On the eth day OF jan
uary 1897. Henry JOINS was con-
victed in ST. Joseph Circuit court OF
murder IN first degree and the jury
assessed as his punishment that he
suffe~ death and whereas after
wards on the 18th day Of January
1897 the court adtudged that the
said Henry Jones suffer death and
that this penalty be- inflicted before
the hour OF sunrise on the 7th day
of MAY A. ID. 1897. you are therefore
commanded 20 carry the same into
execution by causing said Henry
Jones TO be hanged by the neck I'M
III he "a dead.
witness the clerk and the seal Of
said court, the 2sth day Of January
1897.
George W. Fountain, Clerk.