Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-18
Baker
Continued From First Page.

Baker, Jr., was at the planCaClOn
big house where she has entertained
some of the worlds highest society
figures. The Duke and Duchess of
Windsor were visitors there two
years ago.
The coroner's jury was told that
Mr.. Baker, known to intimates as
Beans" arrived late Sunday night
from Nassau, Bahamas. He was
met at the airport by Mr.. Whid-
don, operator of drive-in tavern.
| il Mr. Whiddon, accompanied by his
wife and Mrs. Griffin, who is car
hop at another tavern, drove MIR.
Baker to the plantation.
After the party reached Mr..
Bakers home, he volunteered to-
conduct the Windows and Mrs.
Griffin back to the main highway.
Mrs. Griffin got in the jeep with
Mr.. Baker.
Several roads lead from the plan
tation house and wind through the
woods, but nearly all come out at
the highway.
MIR. Baker went around one side
of the house and the Whiddons
around the other when they started.
They became separated and the
Whiddons reached the highway first.
Mrs. Griffin testified Mr.. Baker
fired q shot to attract the Whiddons'
attention.
Lost Control Of Jeep.
Soon afterwards. she said, Mr.
Baker lost control Of the jeep and
it crashed into an embankment.
Mrs. Griffin reported she was tossed
from the vehicle and lost conscious
ness for a while. When she recov-
cred, she saw Mr.. Baker in the road.
He was groaning, she said.
She ran for help, she told the jury
and found the Whiddons. They re-
turned to the scene Of the accident
with her and saw Mr.. Baker lying
at the side of the road. He died
before he could be moved.
Mrs. Griffin said Mr.. Baker put
the pistol in the pocket OF his coat,
which she was wearing, after he
fired the shot in the jeep-but that
it wasn't there when she ran for
help.
When she and the others came
back, they said they found the pistol
on the ground and put in back into
the pocket. Later, they gave 1t tol
the sheriff.
Called From Airport.
Mr.. Whiddon said Mr.. Baker called
him from the airport after arriving
about 10 pm. Sunday.
They had a midnight supper. Then
Mr.. Whiddon, his wife, their child
and Mrs. Griffin escorted Mr.. Baker
to his country home. They SAID
there was very little drinking dur
ing the evening.
The divorce testified Baker made
no improper advances and there
were no unpleasant incidents dur
ing the evening.
Young Bakers wife, the former
Alicia Grajales of Mexico City was
flying to New York, The Bakers
were married in 1913 but had been
living apart for some time. Mrs.
Baker is a member of . wealthy
Mexican family.
Mr.. Baker was a World War II
flyer, an amateur aviation enthusi-
asst and an avid hunter. He was
the son of the late George F. Baker,
who died 10 years ago while his
yacht was rushing him through the
South Pacific toward a Honolulu
hospital.
Mr.. Baker repeatedly married
Miss Grajales over the stern OBJ
jections of his mother. He met the
Mexican beauty at party in New
York in 1941 while still student at
Harvard. She had appeared in sew
eral Mexican films and at the time
was said TO be uncertain whether to
take up acting or modelling.
without notifying any of the
Baker family the young heir and
Alicia took out a marriage license
at City Hall in New York. They
were married quietly at the Baker
home in New York and Mr.. Bakers
mother repeatedly Immediately took
his wife into the family fold.
Grandfather Founded Fortune.
The family fortune was founded
by Mr.. Bakers grandfather-George
F.. Baker. He was an associate OF
j. P. Morgan and was known as
the Sphynx of Wall Street. When
he died in 1881 at the age Of 81 he
left an estate of more than $780,
100000 to his son, George r.
Baker, jr.
Mr.. Bakers grandfather was one
Of the Nations greatest bankers.
He started his career as a clerk in
the State Banking Department at
Albany, and when he had saved So
600 he helped friend expand his
brokerage business into the First |
National Bank.
It became one of the biggest
moneymakers in the banking busi-
ness. A bankers bank, it never So
licited small accounts but went after
business of other financial institu-
lions and played an important role
for years in international finance.
When Grenville Bakers father
died on his yacht in the Pacific in
1887, the young heir inherited a |
trust fund OF $685., 066. He was the
younger son and youngest child.
He grew up with the Long Island