Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-29
EX-POL|CE CHIEF
J.W. BAKER OF DOVER
TAKEN IN CUSTODY
Arrested There Early Today After
Suspicious Actions in c. w.
Lords Office.
SAID TO BE WANTED
IN LAUREL ALSO
special DISPATCH to Every Evening

Special Dispatch to Every Evening
Dover July 29.-Former Chief OF
Police John W. Baker, for whom the
Laurel authorities have been looking,
according to report, has fallen INTO the
hands of the Dover police as a result OF
suspicious actions after he had dropped
into town early today.
Baker is q former chief of police OF
Laurel, as well as of Dover. Where he
has been lately has not been learned.
Night Waterman Dickerson says that
st an early hour this morning. he saw
Baker in the Office of Charles W. Lord,
in the Bayard House, proving about.
Mr.. Lord suffered a stroke of paralysis on
Tuesday night and Is confined to MS
bed. also in the Bayard House. Dickcrson
SAYS he saw Baker going through the
drawers of desk IN Mr. Lord Office,
as If ne was looking for valuables.
According TO Dickcrson, Baker after
prolwing about the office OF MIR.
Lord. went to the latter room, upstairs,
and, on opening the door, his face covered
with a white mask frightened the nurse IN
attendance and caused him to leave the
room.
Dickerson. not knowing Baker, but
seeing him alight from the midnight tram
and sumter up Loockerman street, slowly,
aroused his suspicious. Tie Swallowed
Baker until the Bayard House was
reached, where Dickerson lost sight OF
him The officer supposed he was going
To the Bayard House former hotel, for
a room. Waiting for some appearance
OF q light in an up stairs ROOM and failing
10 sec one. Dickerson kept watch.
Presently he saw light in the office of
Mr. Lord. and, creeping across the street.
saw Baker he saws, examining the drawers
of a desk
Withdrawing from the window. where
he had full view Of the man and his
actions. Dickcrson awaited developments.
BAKER came out and sauntercd on down
toward the postofiicc. az the state street.
Dickcrson got IN communication with
Constable klnRShury and Chief Of Police
Lane Both responded and the trio,
ia an automobile, followed Baker $ tracks
and when near the music store of j. A..
pnwnes. on south State street. nearly
uppn,lte tho post office. they saw him.
unstable kingsburv ordered his arrest.
BAKER pleading that things had been
scttled. supposed, meaning the affair
IN ~usscN county, " which he had been
suspected.
kIngsburv. with the assistance of the
other two officers. took Baker to the
kcnt county ,ail where he was locked up
aw aiting hearing. AZ the jail revolver
was taken from him.
GIVEN HEARING AND HELD FOR TRIAL
Rakcr was arraigned here. this morning,
before Magistrate T.. L. Wood ou two
charges. ono Of breaking and entering the
offices az MIR Lord. IN which he was held
Tor trial IN 81 600 bail. and another charge
uf carving revolver IN which he was
he'd N $500 bail.
On the charge of carving a revolver.
he contended he had permission to carry
a..
ON the breaking and entering charge
he pleaded mot guilty, but when the
nurse attending Mr.. Lord SAID she ldentl-
he'd HIM a. the man who had come to the
room Of MIR. Lord early this morning, he
admitted that he was in the room, but
said he did not wear mask, as she testi-
fed The mask consisted of a torn hand
kerchlcf, the nurse said.
II was proven at the hearing that a
psir OF opera glasses. belonging to the
deceased wife OF James Lord, and in the
possession of &. W. Lord, as admInistra-
tor, which were taken from Baker had
been stolen from the Lord Office. The
glasses were identified by the maiden name
OF Mrs. Lord appearing on the inside OF
the case of the glasses.
When asked If nc could furnish bail
Baker replied that he could not until
tomorrow. He was rcmanded to the Kent
County Jail.
Because OF Bakers record in Dover,
when he was chief of police and his alleged
recent irregularities in Sussex county,
q large crowd of Dover people swarmed
around the magistrates office during the
hearing.