The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1921-12-01
J. J. Baker On Trial for the Murder of Ralph
Rozell; State Presents Most of Its Wit
nesses; Defense Hinges on In
sanity Plea; Trial Gre
ates Interest

/,
that the defendant Jesse J. Baker
sion of the murder of Ralph Rozell.
The first witness for the People
was Frank Sailing, who resides a
short distance from the Baker home.
Mr.. Sailing testified to having seen
Baker at the Manhattan Cafe Sun
day, July 10th and talked with him
for short time. In their conversa-
tion Mr.. Sailing said that Baker told
him that Rozell had insulted his wife
and that he { (Baker) said: an shoot
the son-of-a-b-." That Baker
was very angry and talking loud.
Mr.. Sailing said he tried to console
him, but with no results. On cross
examination Mr.. Sailing stated that
he was on friendly terms with Baker
and his family and stated that he did
not see Baker have gun when talk
ing to him at the Manhattan Cafe
Sunday. Mr.. Sailing testified that
he went to the Baker home Sunday
morning to get some kerosene and
then returned to his home.
The next witness for the People
was C. F. Schroeder. Mr.. Schroeder
testified as follows: "On Sunday af-
ternoon, July 10th l drove to the ball
game, Ralph Rozell accompanying
me, and also Ben Wilkinson. We re-
turned to town together and after
getting out of the car near the First
National Bank corner. the three of us
started across the street to the drug
store. AS we reached the middle of
the street Mr.. Baker came out and
stopped Rozell, saying as this Mr..
Rozell?" Mr.. Baker then accused
Rozell of being at his home at about
iour O'Clock that morning, and Rozell
denied being there, stating that Mr..
Baker was mistaken. They then left
and went toward the Rozell store.
later saw them at the bank corner,
one of them getting a drink at the
fountain, and l heard Baker tell Ro-
zell that he was mistaken about his
accusations, and from this latter con-
versation was led to believe that
.heir trouble had been settled up"
The next witness introduced by the
People was Mr.. Ben Wilkinson. Mr..
Wilkinson testified as follows. "On
Sunday afternoon, July 10th, rode
to the ball game and came back to
town with Mr.. C. F. Schroeder. At
ter getting out of the car and when
we were in the middle of the street
between the Wellworth store and the
First National Bank Mr.. Baker hailed
Rozell and asked: SIS this Mr.. Ro-
zell?" Baker then accused him of
being down to his house and said:
what were you doing down to my
house this morning?" Mr.. Rozell
denied being at the Baker home and
told him that he was mistaken. Bak-
er was very angry and making ges-
lures with his arms. Rozell then
asked Baker to go to his (RozelPs)
store where he could explain. They
then went up the street north to the
store. l next saw Baker Wednesday
morning, July 18th walking down the
street near the Citizens National Bank
and l heard him say: "If they want
me, they know where to get me-"
Upon cross examination Mr.. Wilkin-
son stated that he was about thirty
feet away from Rozell and Baker at
the time of their conversation Sun
day afternoon. Mr.. Wilkinson fur
ther stated that he did not know who
Baker was up until that time"
The next Peoples witness was P.
R. Mcdowell Mr.. Mcdowell testi-
fled as follows: 81 saw Baker and Ro-
zell standing in the middle of the
street on Sunday afternoon. July 10th,
shortly after the ball game. My at
tention was attracted to them on ac-
count of the loud talking of Baker
and the gestures of his arms. |
heard Baker say "You was down to
my house this morning; l know you
was, because my wife told me so; you
can't pull that kind of stunt off on
me and get away with it" Mr.. Ro-
zell repeatedly told Mr.. Baker that he
was mistaken; that he was not down
to his house, and to come on over to
the store and talk it over; that he
(RozelD didn't want any notoriety.
Baker and Rozell walked up the mid
die of the street opposite the store,
Baker crowding him all the time and
acted as though he was very angry.
They went into the store, where they
remained about twenty minutes. Fin
ally they came out and there was a
different expression on both mems
faces, as Rozell was smiling and Bak-
er lighted his pipe and had apparent
ly cooled down. They walked down
the street together peacefully to the
First National Bank corner, and then
turned west down First street. ]
watched them from the railroad park
and saw them cross the track near
the round house and go west toward
the Baker home. Within about twen-
ty minutes saw Mr.. Rozell come