Evening star., 1927-05-16
STRUCK BY AUTO,
DIR. BAKER DIES.
President of TheosophicaI
Lodge Victim of Accident
in Front of Home.


the Washington Lodge, Theosophical
Society, died today at Sibley Hospital
from injuries received last night when
he was knocked down by an auto
mobile in front Of his home. 1S4l
North Capitol street.
DR.. Baker, who was 70 years old.
had just left the house and was cross
ing near the intersection of North
Capitol and 7 streets when struck by
the machine operated by Theodore Z.
Witmayer of 22l9 Lincoln road north
east. Mr.. Witmayer was ordered to
appear before a coroner's jury at an
inquest at the Morgue tomorrow
morning at 11:30 o'clock.
The injured man was taken to the
hospital. unconscious from injuries to
the head, and with a compound frac-
ture of the left leg. He never re-
gained consciousness. Death occurred
at 7:20 am.
Active i'm Occultism.
DIR. Baker became interested In
ocCultism about 40 years ago and since
that time he had been active in the
occult sciences and had written many
treatises on the subject. He was
president of the old Capital City Lodge
of the Theosophical Society and was
instrumental in founding its success
sor, the Washington Lodge, of which
he had been president for about q
year.
Born in Baltimore in 1S47. the son
Of Prof and Mrs. Charles A. Baker,
DR. Baker received his early educa-
ton in the schools of Birmingham.
Ala, and later graduated in medicine
from George Washington University
here. In his early life he learned the
printing business, and at one time op-
Grated a printing establishment in
Baltimore.
He removed to Washington about
SIS years ago, and for some years prac-
ticed medicine. Later he entered the
Government service, and served with
the Post Office Departmnt for half a
century. Upon his retirement, on
July 81. 1925, reception in his honor
was held, during which Postmaster
General New extended his personal
fluctuations.
Masonic Lodge Member.
DR.. Baker was a member of Column
bia Lodge. No. 3. F. A. A. NJ, mem
bers of which will attend the funeral.
Arrangements for the services have
not been completed.
DR.. Baker is survived by his widow.
Mrs. Mary Avery Baker, an invalid,
with whom he celebrated the fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage March
20 last, and by daughter, Mrs. Mar
garite Zelaya, wife of Don Alfonso Ze.
laya. son of the former President of
Nicaragua. There is also a grandson.
Jose Santos Zelaya, named for the
late President Zelaya.
Is Seriously Injured.
Miss Clara Mason, 81 years old,
t400 Holly street. was seriously in
jured about 1915 o'clock last night
while in the automobile of Frederick
A. Dodge, 1347 Madison street. when
the car was in collision with that of
l.. H. Kloman. 1888 r street. near
Sixteenth and Underwood streets.
Miss Mason received numerous cuts
and bruises and severe head in
jury. while Mrs. Nellie Dodge. AZ years
old, was severely shocked and bruised.
The former was taken to the office
of her family physician and given first
aid. while the latter was taken home.
Kloman was arrested on a charge
of reckless driving.
An automobile in which Stanley G.
Gray. 81 years old. 1886 M street, and
friends were riding collided with the
of Jacob w. Ely, Mont.
gomery County, Md. in front of 2113
Thirty-fifth street last night about
Ills o'clock and later struck two
parked machines. Gray received cut
over his right eye that was dressed at
Georgetown Hospital before he was
placed under arrest to await the re-
suit of an investigation of the acci.
dent. Damage to the four cars was
estimated at 500.
In Train Collision.
George +. Green, colored, 47 years
old, Bladensburg. Md, and his wife,
Mrs. Sarah f. Green. A years old,
were injured late yesterday afternoon
when their automobile was in col.
lision with a Washington, Baltimore
& Annapolis electric train at Fifty
seventh and Dix streets northeast.
They were treated at the Office of
DR.. w. W. Jones. The automobile
was badly damaged
Mrs. Retta T.. Walsmith, 900 Long
fellow street, was driver of an auto
mobile that seriously injured Samuel
Brookins, colored, years old, 705 M
street, in front of 114S Seventh street
shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon, when the boy ran in front of
the car to regain possession of a ball
tossed from the sidewalk. He was
treated at Freedmen's Hospital.
Other victims of Sunday traffic ac-
cidents, none reported dangerously
hurt, were William Fl. Smith. colored,
SIS years old, 800 r street; Paul Gin.
giles. II years old. 2161a Quincy place
northeast, and Helen CornwelI, Is
years old, 1920 Harvard street.