Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-10-24
FEW CASES TRIED
AT OCTOBER TERM
OF COUNTY COURT
Baker Murder Case Attracts Most
Interest Accused To Be Ex-
amined By Sanity Experts
OTHER CASES OF LOCAL
INTEREST CONTINUED

The October term of Court ad-
iourned rather abruptly on Tuesday
last, owing to the continuance of the
Railroad case.
Probably the case that attracted
the keeneSt local interest in the Octo-
ber session of the Worcester County
Court was that of James Baker,
charged with the murder of James
Carey at point on the B. c. & A.
ltailroad between Willards and Wha-
lcyville. Mr.. Carey was known to
have a large amount of money on his
Iperson, and about $4,000 were found in
Bakers possession after his arrest.
Some doubt as to the sanity of the
accused was raised because of his ac-
tions following the discovery of the
body. His lavish expenditure of mon
cy as he started on a pleasure trip
with his best girl drew attention to
him; and his apparent lack of julg-
ment in so conducting himself as to
compel suspicion, made many question
his sanity. He also confessed he
killed Baker, but entered plea of not
guilty at his trial.
Upon petition of his counsel, the
court granted permission for Baker to
be admitted to Spring Grove Hospital
for the Insane, to be examined for
menal defects by the State Board of
Mental Hygiene. Should he be found
mentally sound, the court has set
December 7 for him to be arraigned on
the charge of murder. The petit
jury will be recalled for the hearing.
States attorney Edmond johnson did
not oppose the petition.
The fact that criminal has not the
keeness of intellect to cover the tracks
Of his crime, is not always evidence
that his weakness in this respect rem
ders him irresponsible for the deed in
question. Too many acquittals on the
ground of mental deficiency have oc-
Cured. The great wave of crime
which seems to have inundated this
country will not recede until greater
respect for the law is created in the
breasts of criminals by a more strin-
gent application of the statutes. If
Baker is irresponsible, he should be
confined and treated. If he is not let
him receive what's coming to him.
The case was postponed because
Miles and Myers, attorneys for the
Road, claimed they were not ready tc
defend the suit under the amended
declaration asked for by the counsel
for plaintiff and granted by the court
A continuance was ordered and tho
case will come up in the March term
of Court. Mrs. Goswellen was ir
Court with her two children, one, ar
infant born after the death of its
father.
The case that consumed the first
three days of the session was that in
volving a question of trespass, the ac.
cused being William j. Payne OF
Stockton, Md. Mr.. Payne was accused
of cutting timber on tract of land
originally belonging to Smith, Moore
and Hargis. Mrs. Foster, executriS
of John Walter Smith; the Safe, Trust
& Deposit Company, Of Baltimore
acting for John T. Moore, deceased
and Marion T. Hargis for himself en-
tered suit on the grounds as above
mentioned.
The case was ably argued on both
sides-Staton & Whaley, and Frank
lin Upshur, for the plaintiff; and Ew-
ell & Child, for the defendant. The
/ jury declared for the defendant. Tho
land in question is located off the stone
road between Pocomoke City and
Stockton.
Other minor cases that engaged the
attention of the Court were the Ham
mond incest case, resulting in an ac-
quittal for the accused.
Herman Gunby received IL months
, in the State Penitentary for the lar
ceny of auto tires from the Farmers
& Merchants Garage, this city.