Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-14
Jury HOLDS BAKER
IN W|FE'S Staying
AFTER CONFESSION
Calm, He Stays Off Stand as
Police and Doctor Give
Resume of Crime.
REFUSAL TO RETURN
LED TO SHOT, HE SAYS.
Woman Left With Children, Then
Returned Them-Fatal Row
Occurred on Visit.


Albert C. Baker, who shot and KILLED
his wife April and yesterday sthren-
6ered to police, was held for the grand
jury by coroner's jury today.
Baker was not called to the stand
nor were his two children, Jackie and
Mrs. May Baker, in their basement
apartment, at 307 o street.
Detective Sergt. GeorgG E. Darnell
gave brief resume Of The confession
Baker wrote for police yesterday.
Policeman Testifes.
Only two other witnesses testified
second precinct, Eestifed that he was
dispatched to the O street address
where he learpfed from the elder boy
Victor, that His father had shot his
mother DR. Samuel Taft OF Emergency
Hospital, who pronounced the woman
dead, testified that the woman did not
makk statement. since she was un-
casascious.
II sergt. Darnell testified that an un-
for the gun used in the killing. A sec
ond search will be made today, he told
the jury.
Baker Calm &C Hearing.
Baker, worn and haggard from his
IS days Of wandering, was taken to the
District Jail to await the grand jury
hearing.
During Darnell's testimony Of how
the shooting took place, Baker showed
no outward signs Of nervousness and
remained calm.
yesterday, after wandering about the
streets Of the Capital and the wood
lands Of nearby Virginia for IL days
Albert c. Baker surrendered to police
He freely confessed that after living g
life Of poverty and domestic strife he
killed his estranged wife, Mrs. MAJ
Baker, as the climax to an argument
in their basement apartment o07 @
street.
IN his confession to police yesterday
Baker said he bought the gun after
he heard rumors that hts wife was
keeping company with another man. He
said he intended to accost the man and
strike llim-if he retaiiated, he said.
he intended to kill him. Later he tossed
the gun into clump Of woods near
Georgetown, he declared
Yesterday police took Baker % the
spot where he was supposed to have
thrown the gun away He couldn't
find it-neither could the police.
Baker nearly bumped into Inspector
William G. Shelby, chief Of detectives.
when he walked in to give himself up
yesterday. The chief was on MS way
to lunch when Baker entered the front
door of police headquarters. Shelby
recognized him from pictures in the
police hles. He stepped aside to let
him pass and then followed him up the
stairs to the main bureau, where he
gave himself up to Lieut.. Charles
Weber
Then police took him upstairs "a
the homicide squad room, and he gave
o written confession.
Lost Job, Then Wife Left.
IN his confession 2aker said he was
married in 1915 and that he lived q
happy life until several years later.
His wife, he said, couldn't get along
with HIM. He told how he lost his
job In January. 1Es wife took the
children and left ~ said.
A short tine IssAr, the confession
revealed, he csstB3e4 another position
and asked hi6 we 20 return with his
children ana lkS9 with him. She
brought the children to him, but re-
fused to live sAere herself.
He became angry with her, he said
and one day when she came to see
the cniidref1 he begged her to stay.
She refused. he said. and he killed her