Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-03
Unemployed Man Fails to
Keep Promise to Surrender
at Lawyers Office.
MOTHER LEFT FATHER
MONTH AGO, BOYS SAY
Quarrel and Fatal Shooting Follow
Her Refusal to Return Home.
Death Gun Missing.

Albert c. Baker, As years old, who
last night shot and killed his wife,
Mrs May Baker, 40, the mother OF his
four children. failed to surrender today
despite report to the police that he
would give himself up at a lawyers
office.
Baker, who fed Immediately after
sho- ting his wife while three Of the
four youngsters were playing in an
adjoining room OF his dingy basement
apartment at BOT o street last night
was expected to appear at the office
Of Rocert l. Miller, SOB D street.
Surrender Promised by Two.
Miller, an attorney, said two men
called at his home at about o'clock
this morning and, after telling him
about the shooting, promised to bring
Baker to his Office at ii O'clock.
Miller informed police Baker nteno-
ed to surrender and members oil the
homicide SQUAD we're stationed outside
of the D street Office and at strategic
points in the neighborhood. Early TINS
afternoon. however, Baker had not yet
appeared. r.;
Miller expressed the opinion the fusl-
tive did not realize he had killed MS
wife at the time the emissaries VISITED
the lawyers home. He added tnat II
was possible Baker had changed ms
mind about suTrendering when he reao
the morning newspapers and learned OF
his wife's death
Three Children Present.
The shooting occurred in the kitchen
of the two-room fiat, in which Baker
and the three youngsters-Victor IL;
Albert, jr., 10. and Jackie, 8-hsd been
living since his wife left him about
month ago.
Although Mrs. Baker is said to have
been living in the 1900 block TWeiitn
street. she had been in the habit OF
visiting her husbands apartment every
day. during his absence, to care for the
children.
Quarrel Follows Visit.
Baker returned to the fiat unexpect-
edly Yesterday, however. according TO
the children, and found his wife there.
He begged her to return to him, they
said, but she refused.
A quarrel followed, the youngsters
kitchen, leaving her husband and the
children in the front room.
Baker entered the kitchen moment
later, the children continued, and fred
at his wife, who was standing in front
Of the sink. With a wound in her
back, she ran from the fiat, screaming:
I'm shot!"
Father Flees From Scene.
in, ~ q
house three doors away, where she col
lapsed
Meanwhile. Baker had fed, after
warning the youngsters not to follow
him.
The children ran from the apart
ment, however. and one OF them asked
a neighbor. who had heard the report
OF the revolver, TO summon an ambu-
lance.
Mrs. Baker was taken to Emergency
Hospital, where she was pronounced
dead.
Police Immediately began a search OF
the neighborhood, but no trace Of
Baker was found. His description was
broadcast TO all precincts, however.
Children Hunt Father.
In the excitement, the children had
wandered away from the fiat. not real
lzing their mother was DEAD ana Try
ing to find their father. They were
found several hours later in the w. B.
g. A. Station, where they had gone 10
rest and seek refuge from the cold.
The shooting, according to the
youngsters, was the climax of a series
of quarrels between their parents, who
had separated because they couldn't
get along"
Baker had been unemployed for some
time. After working in various dcwn-
town department stores, it was said, he
had recently obtained employment at
the Agriculture Departments Expert
mental Farm in Fairfax County, Va. He
had lost this position a few days ago,
however.
The Bakers Oldest child, Edris. Is,
has been living with her mothers
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