South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-21
Mrs. Baker Tells of Early
Life of Man Charged
With Murder.
VICTIMS WIFE IN TESTIMONY
Spouse of Man on Trial for
Life Also to Give
Testimony.
BY c. ]. COOPER.


Cross-examination Of Mrs Malin-
Ia Baker. mother OF Walter Baker
The 22-year-old youth who is fight
ing for his life in connection with
tne murder Of Carl IT. Cook. Laporte
grocer, Christmas eve, 1918, occu-
plcd all Of the afternoon session of
the st. Joseph circuit court Friday.
The cross examination was con-
Quoted by Special Pros. Ralph n.
Smith. of Laporte. Atty. Smith ap-
parently endeavOred to show every
Conside deration for tlie mother Of the
man being tried for his life, while
at the same time leaving nothing
undone that would aid the state in
its effort 10 send the youth TO the
electric chair.
To Resume Trial Monday.
Court adjourned at an early hour
Friday afternoon until Monday
morning on account Of the illness of
Atty Craig Hood. counsel for Baker
II was at first thought that the trial
would not be resumed until Tues
day. owing TO Monday being a holi-
day. but Judge Arthur L. Hubbard
ruled that the case would be re-
sumed Monday.
Ster by step Atty Smith drew
from Mrs Baker unimportant as
well as important incidents in the
life OF her son. on direct examina-
tion Mrs. Baker testified that Walter
when three years old began 10 have
crying spells. These, she said. were
almost OF daily occurrence until he
was six or seven years old.
Had Childhood Ills.
on cross examination Mrs Baker
admitted that her son had cried
with about the same frequency be
fore he had reached the age OF
three as other babies Of that age do.
on direct examination the mother
said that Walter had been the vic
tim Of practically all the ailments
children are heir TO. and that he
had never been able TO pass the
sixth grade in school. although n
had attended school until he was n
little past fifteen.
No school Complaints.
Atty Smith. however. drew from
the mother the fact that few II any
complaints had been made by schooi
teachers about her son while he was
IN school. and she admitted that
much OF his absence from school
had been because she had kept him
at home 20 help her She said that
she had been forced 10 take in
washing and that it was necessary
very often for Walter 20 20 after
the washings and 10 return them.
,,F
nation Mrs Baker told OF Walters
faintinC spells. She said they were
fiequent until after Walter was II
or rs years old. Under the eNami-
nation Of Atty. Hood there was an
apparent effort to substantiate by
che mother the attorneys plea OF
insanity for his client made 10 the
rury in his opening statement The
ncther's answers TO the questions OF
The lawyers for both the state and
defense were given with apparent
frankness. although the burden Of
q mothers worry for the future OF
her son who is within the shadow
81 death appeared 20 weigh her
down heavily.
Mother on Stand.
However. her tone was firm and
her answers 20 both Atty. Hood and
Atty. smith were apparently given
in an effort 10 tell them what they
wanted 10 know There did not
seem 20 be any inclination upon her
part 20 either evade a question or
10 conceal anything.
Mrs Baker told OF her husbands
frrcgularity Of habit. She said that
he was a drunkard. and that he had
been drinking heavily at the time
Of Walters birth She said that she
and Walters father had separated.
The father Is here and IL is probable
that ne will be a witness in his son's
behalf He had not seen Walter
for Eve years until they met in the
court room shortly before Judge
Hubbard made his ruling for the ex-
clusion Of witnesses.
Three Women Interested.
Two women vitality interested In
the outcome OF the trial have al
ready testified Mrs. Eaker. tho
mother OF the defendant. and Mrs
I,eona Cook. wife of the murdered
man. and third. Mrs Walter
Baker. wife OF the defendant.
Mr.. Cook took the witness stand
Fridav for The third time Twice
before She had been called hy the
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