Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-15
GIRLS FRIENDS
SCOFF At AFFAIR"
Declare Miss Baker Had No
Idea of Meeting Man Who
Murdered Her.
BY GRETCHEN s. SMITH.

When Mary Baker closed her desk at
the Bureau Of Aeronautics Friday for
the last time In her life, she did 30
without the slightest idea Of meeting the
man who several hours later is believed
to have lured her TO the lonely spot of
her brutal murder. This is the opinion
Of all those who worked with her in the
department and who for the past eight
years have learned to know and love the
little Virginia girl to a greater extent
than is usually found among persons
who meet in the world Of business.
On all sides, from all those who
knew her, one hears the same remark:
MARY was one of the most lovable girls
in the bureau. She was always bright
and happy, and one rarely saw her
without q smile on her face"
Mary was one of the most depend
able girls in the once" declared Mrs.
Hoyt, chief clerk Of the filing division,
where Miss Baker had worked. THAT
Is one reason I am Convinced she had
made no appointment to meet any one
but her girl friends when she left the
Office Friday evening. She always did
just as she said she would do and was
not the sort Of girl who would have
left her friends waiting for her. / do
not think she had the slightest idea
of meeting the person who murdered
her. And poor little Mary could not
have had chance with the f1end who
committed the deed. She was so tiny
that one could scarcely see her head
ly weighed a hundred pounds! She
would have been helpless against the
strength Of any man."
Happy Over New Home.
That Mary was untroubled by an
affair" Of any sort is also emphatically
claimed by her legion of friends. For
the past three weeks she was so happy
over the new little home in Lyon VII
lage," Mrs. Hoyt further declared. "She
was always speaking about their new
home and the way she and her two
friends were managing it. Last week
she came in so pleased over a new bed.
spread she had bought for her room"
That Mary Bakers interests were
conferred about such finer things os her
church, her family and her home life is
the information given by all those who
knew her best.
Although member and regular at
tendant of the Epiphany Episcopal
Church, Miss Baker was also one of the
most conscientious attendants of the
Burrell class conducted weekly by Mrs.
w. S. Abernethy, wife of the Calvary
Baptist Church minister.
Miss Baker attended my wifes classes
regularly" declared DR.. Abernethy, and
only the other day Mrs. Abernethy re-
marked that Miss Baker had only missed
two Sundays in three months"
Was Fond Of Excursions.
1t Is quite possible that Mary Bakers
mysterious acquaintance, who met her
so Unexpectedly and either coerced her
or induced her to ride with him into
Virginia, may have been some one she
had met on the frequent short trips
which, her friends reveal were of great
est delight to her whenever she had the
opportunity to take them.
Mary was very fond of excursions"
said Mrs. Hoyt. "She loved to see the
country. AS she felt she could not af-
ford to travel she frequently would 60
on the special rate excursion trips held
between Washington and other cities,
know that within the past few years
she has taken one Of these excursions
to Niagara Falls, New York, and once
to Boston. During her vacations /
think she usually visited her relatives
either in Virginia or South Carolina"
All OF her friends, without exception,
soon at the idea of Mary having had
any serious affairs with men. why
Mary Baker was the last girl on earth
to have had affairs" declared another
of her friends. She was pleasant to
every one and had one of the frank
| est, most likeable natures, ever knew"
Anything good that you can say
about Mary Baker is not too good for
her." volunteered q woman friend of
Miss Baker, who has been closely afili-
ated with her In her work for the past
! eight years.