The Confession of Baker The Nation’s Notorious Criminal
James A. Baker, a famed yegg, details a nationwide crime spree from Atlantic to Pacific. The confession, introduced at Philippi trial, traces a long string of robberies from late 1907 to early 1908 across New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and California, yielding money orders and cash after each station theft. Baker’s sworn account follows elaborate travel, various aliases, and repeated rail and express company thefts culminating in a Washington to New York arc and arrest.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James A. Baker
Yegg
United States
Phiipps
Welcome
Kincaid
New York
D. Miles Rigor
Philippi
Baker
Jack Raymond
Memphis
Tenn
Raymond
Thomas Station
Baltimore , Ohio
West Fortieth Street
Jack
Philadelphia
Bellevue-Stratford Hotel
H. G. Wilson
Oakland
United States Express
Washington
Pittsburg
Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Railroad
Hayes
Baltimore & Oho
Castle Shannon
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Ogden
Boothwyn
Jersey Station
Carlton Hill
N. J
Wells Fargo Express
Canal Street
Jersey City
Adams
American Express Company
Adams’ Express Company
Market Streets
Wells-Fargo
Phladelphia
Wells- Fargo Express
Homestead
Wheeling
W. Va
Offles
Justice
Strasburg
Columbus
Era
Ohio
Chicago
Auditorium Annex
R. ©. Neal
A. C
Pacific Express Company
Santa Fe Railway
California
Broadway
Southern Pacific Railroad
Omaha
Schlitz Hotel
Jackson
Waterloo
Nebraska
Tlinois Central Station
Pennsylvania
No. 129
Johnson
Capital
Union Pacific
Lehigh Valley
Baltimore
Union Pacific Railroad
Mascot Hotel
Lackawanna House
West Street
Boung Brook
Lehigh Valley Railroad
Bound Brook
Lackawanna
Smith O'Neil's
Brooklyn
Fulton Street
Boston
Essex Hotel
R. D. Neal
Adams Xpress Company
Wells Farjgo Express Company
Provdence
R. I
Crofton House
New London
Bay State Limited
Belmont Hotel
C. R. Robertson
Nevada
Chattam Square
Rigor
Clarington
Baker’s Confession After Train Station Shootout and Fire
James A. Baker recounts a fatal shooting at Welcome station on December 29, 1907. He describes confronting a gunman, the weapon firing, the victim’s death, and his own flight and arson to conceal the crime. He later renounces ownership and reflects on guilt, mercy, and a dying statement sworn before God. A separate note mentions a cow swallowing a broomstick during a veterinary operation at Iron Mountain.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James A. Baker
Moundsville
Welcome Station
Wheeling
Welcome
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Porter
J. A. Baker
Noll
Nizht
Thareon
Tony
Hell
Philippi, W. Vs
Cow Recovers After Broomstick Lodges in Throat
A Minnesota cow inhaled a turnip causing a lodged object in the throat. The owner pushed the stick into the stomach, breaking the broomstick with about 20 inches missing. Surgeons later found the remaining stick behind the cow’s right shoulder and, after rib spreading, removed it. The cow is convalescent.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Minn
Chicago News
Pain Relief Ointment Ad Claims Quick Cure All Aches
An advertisement touts XXX ANSORBENT as the greatest and quickest relief for internal cramps colic and external pains. It promises to cure cramps rheumatism and sprains, with use claimed to prevent ever needing another ointment. Sold by druggists and country merchants with a guarantee.
The Man and His Job by Hapgood on keeping cool
A short essay on temper and its impact in business and court settings. It argues calmness wins, the cool witness outperforms the heated one, and suggests listening, speaking plainly, and letting others vent to gain advantage and maintain moral and physical well being.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herbert J. Hapgood
Stock Exchange
Gentry Bros World Dog and Pony Show Here Saturday
Gentry Bros will exhibit Saturday, June 6, featuring their world famed dog and pony act. The show, directed by Mr. Gentry, promises a bigger, stronger program with three European acts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fetterman Ball Grounds
Gentry Bros
Mr. Gentry
Europe
D. I. Elliott Dead at Sutton
Dr T I Hilott died at his Sutton home in Braxton county on Sunday May 31 after years as Flemington resident and local physician. He was father of U S Marshal Charles D Elliott and of Mrs Mary E Hughes, with an aunt relation to Mrs M Cochran. Funeral set for Sutton on Tuesday June 2.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daily Sentinel
T. I. Hilott
Sutton
Braxton County
Flemington
Charles D. Elliott
Fremington
Elliott
Mary E. Hughes
M. Cochran
Timber supply and pulp demand strain U S resources
A New York Sun piece analyzes U S timber reserves and consumption. It estimates 450 million acres bearing commercial timber remain, with declines under various harvest rates. It compares lumber, pulp, paper, pencils, and industrial uses to illustrate the vast yet shrinking timber base.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
United States
New York Sun
Colored school commencement at Brinkman's Hall
The Grafton colored school commencement was held Thursday evening May 28 at Brinkman's Hall. It was praised as the best rendered in the school's history. Rev L A Miniffee opened with prayer. Miss Sadie Mays led exercises. Nannie Stone graduated with high honors, daughter of Mr and Mrs Leonard Stout of Railroad Street. Rev Virgin Carter presented the diploma and commended Miss Mays as an efficient teacher and offered aid for Miss Stout in securing college entrance next term.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Grafton
Colored School
Brinkman's Hall
L. A. Miniffee
The
Colored Baptist Church
Sadie Mays
Nannie Stone
Leonard Stout
Railroad Street
Virgin Carter
Warren M. B. Church
Mays
Stout
Father's Boose Fatal Tragedy Near Enterprise
Virgil Martin, 17, is jailed in Clarksburg charged with the murder of St J Ive known as Bud Tee, 20, near Nutters Run. An onlookers’ Decoration Day celebration ended when a beer keg dispute led to a stone throw to the temple, killing Tee. A coroner’s jury ruled Tee died from the stone, Martin was arrested after the coroner’s inquiry, as the father menaced authorities with a rifle during arrest, and Tee’s family faced hardship as the main breadwinner was killed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clarksburg
Virgil Martin
St .J. Ive
Bud” Tee
Nutters Run
Enterprise
Martin Boy
Martin
Ice
Tce
Dr. Nutter
George Harrison
Martin Stewart
William Tee
Odell Knob
Stewart
Wit Won the Day in Odd Naturalization Hearing
An Irish saloon keeper recounted a humorous exchange with a judge during his naturalization exam. Asked who would succeed the President, he guessed the Vice President and then the duties holder. When pressed for the next line he quipped the undertaker would get the job, prompting the judge to grant the application.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ireland
Hyen
Bank Stock Brings High Price at Public Auction
Daily Sentinel reports twenty shares of First National bank stock, owned by Gertrude Reynolds as administratrix of C. W. Reynolds, were sold by auctioneer Hiram Gaines beside the courthouse for 420 dollars per share. Purchaser was Joseph Mason of West Main Street. An additional share of Printytown Telephone Co. sold for 135 dollars, stock originally cost 15 dollars. The rise is linked to free exchange with Bell Telephone. The article notes local farmers own the property near Pruntytown and mentions stray firecrackers piquing curiosity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daily Sentinel
First National Bank
Hiram Gaines
Court House
Gertrude Reynolds
C. W. Reynold
Printytown
Jopseh
Printytown Telephone Company
Bell Telephone Company
Ine
Pruntytown
Also Mentioned on This Page
James A Baker
Atlantic
Pacific
Parkersburg
Powhatan
Pete
Hutchson
Bowery
Ben
Iron Mountain
Walter A. Wood
Man
F Gentry
Niagara
J. W. Spencer
Lage Erie
Foster
Spencer
Dit
I. Elliott
Taylor County
Brinkman Hall
Ion County
Wit
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