The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-11-24
TORTURE VICTIM.
BID TO PARTY.
BY MRS. BERRY.
Promised Good Time, u
Witness Says

fifth wife Of DR.. Kent w. Berry
60-year-old society physician, was
described in court yesterday as
having promised "a good time" to
Irving Baker, 81, if he would come
to the Fourth of July party al
which, she says, Baker criminally
attacked her.
In another sensational turn, the
handsome Baker was provided
with alibi witnesses who placed
him far from the lonely country
road on which Mrs. Berry Swore
she was assaulted at 6 O'Clock on
the morning Of last July 5.
RECESS OBTAINED
The fireworks exploded with
such damaging effect to the de.
tense of DR.. Berry, who with three
other men is accused of kidnapping
and mutilating Baker last August,
that the doctors counsel immedi-
ately asked for and obtained a
recess.
Gene Prime, an attendant at
Bakers garage, testified for the
State that he overheard Mrs.
Berry urge Baker to attend the
all-night outing at Mud Bay Camp.
If you come to the party will
see that you have a good time, Z"
he quoted the doctors wife IS
saying.
Baker, called to the stand as a
State rebuttal witness, testified
that he rejected attentions Mrs.
Berry forced upon him.
She entered his automobile un-
invited, after the Fourth of July
party, he insisted. and sat very
close to me-"
UNHAPPY WITH DOCTOR
"She told me she was not
happy with Dr.. Berry," he con-
tinued, that she was very, very
fond of me and thought we
would make q wonderful pair.
She said she had had no chill
dren and wanted them, but that
the doctor could not have any.
She said they were not happy
because of the difference in
their ages.
IT listened to her story and
then told her I was very happily
married, with two children, and
just wasn't interested"
Stanley Courmier, caretaker at
the camp, had earlier sworn that
Baker left Mud Bay alone in his
car at 6 a. m, July S. Prime said
that at 6:15 Baker drove into the
Olympia garage. Mrs. Berry's story
is that she accompanied Baker
from TIE camp, that at 6 a. m.
he forcibly overcame her and at
tackled her in the parked car and
then drove off alone.
From leaders of Olympia society
the State also adduced testimony
that DR.. Berry had openly accused
his wife of being unfaithful to him.
TOLD TO "SHUT UP"
Mrs. Evelyn Pratt, member of
Olympia's country club set, testi-
fled that at dinner with DR.. and
Mrs. Berry, the physician repeat
edly charged his wife with un-
faithfulnesS.
Odd Mrs. Berry say any
thing?
A.-She said to the doctor, will
you shut upP Will you keep
quiet?"
Mrs. Chris Bakken and Mrs.
Margaret Abel, top-flight golfers,
told Displaying with Mrs. Berry in
q golf tournament at ChehaliS on
July z. They saw no bruises on
the doctors wife, they said, and
she apparently felt so fine that
she won a first and a second prize
In the tournament.
Winifred Keplinger, 19-year-old
maid at the Berry home, testified
what happened after the tourna-
ment.
Referring with great care to a
diary which she brought to the
stand, she told Of being in the
front room of the Berry home at
4 p. m, when the doctor, much up
set, entered the house.
81 DIDN'T DO IT."
HE told me to send Mrs. Berry
to him." she said, land for me to
stay in the back yard. Then I
heard q commotion in the house
and Mrs. Berry screaming, I
didn't do it. didn't do it,"
Odd you see any bruises on
Mrs. Berry the next day? A
She had a black eye.
Even as late as the night Of July
IS, Miss Keplinger went on, the
doctors suspicious remained un-
satisfied.
On that night, she said, Mrs.
Berry had attended a card party.
Arriving home later than her hus-
band, she went to the BerryS' bed
room, and shortly afterward the
maid heard screams.
Q.-Cogld you hear blows? A
Yes. I could hear him striking
her again and again, and she
cried, LET go Of my arm. Leave
me alone. You're breaking my
arm"
Q.-What happened then? A
They went into the bathroom and
he yelled, Did you do it?"