Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1905 — MAN WHO HAS A PAST [ARTICLE]

MAN WHO HAS A PAST

Ex-Senator Baker, Charged with Trying to Bribe Members of the Legislature.

BAD BREAK AS TO MARRIAGE

Dakota Divorce Matter* Finally Straightened Out-Town Marshal Who Won’t Be Fired.

Marion, Ind., Feb. 24. O. A. Baker, charged l with offering a bribe to a member of the Indiana legislature, lives in Marion. He i# an attorney of some ability and practiced law in Marion for several years before being elected to represent Grant county as senator In the general assembly. After serving one term as senator he accepted the position as attorney for the American Tobacco company, and has represented the company in the lobby of the Indiana legislature about eight years. 1 aker created a gensatlon about six years ago by a romantic to a Russian countess. How Baker Met Hie Fate. He met this young woman white engaged in settling the estate of a Russian who died here, and he had difficulty In finding his relatives. Finally Miss M. F. Marta, countess of Nazemow, wrote him that she was a relative of the dead Russian and she came to this country to prosecute her claim, and in this way Baker met her. She was infatuated with him, and Baker went to Fargo, N. D., applied for and obtained a divorce from his wife in Marion without her knowledge. Baker and the countoss were married at St urges, Mich., where the countess lived for about a year and where a baby was born to her. Ilftker remained with the countess a part of the time, but continued his law practice in Marlon.

Hiii Story Is Made Public, The countess then removed to Madison, Wis., and Raker furnished her a home. The child died and tbe countess became lonesome, demanding more of Raker’s time, but he remained In Marion a greater part of the time. Her continued demands for his presence finally resulted in his marriage becoming known on Jan. 11. 1899, two years after the marriage. He admitted all of the facts, applied for and was granted a divorce from the countess and remarried his wife, who then and now lives in tbe lieautiful Raker residence on West Second street, in this city.

Send* the Counteu Back Rome.

The countess of Nazetnaw was enraged w'hen she learned of the aetlon for divorce. She declared she had been disowned at her home because of her marriage to Baker and that her mother had died df grief because of her marriage. Baker sent her back to Austria and has since lived with his wife and family in Marion. Baker has two daughters, both of whom are married tc business men of Marion, and it was for their sake that he procured a divorce and remarried his first wife.

THEY CAN’T LOOSE THIS MAN Town Marshal Hold* HU Job In Splta of Extraordinary Effort* to Remove Him. Windfall, Ind., Feb. 24.—At a meeting of the town trustees there was an attempt to adjust the trouble in tbe marshal’s position, where two men are claiming the right to draw salary. J. S. Murphy, regularly elected to the position, had his salary recently reduced from $25 to $1 a month, in order to force him out, but be continued to act The board then appointed George Frankie deputy marshal at $25 a month, and he began acting In that capacity. Finally tbe boardl voted to pay Frankie in full to date and dispense with further service, but Frankie holds that he was appointed for the full term. Murphy, the regular marshal. is still at work, and he will hold until May, when he will bring suit to recover salary at $25 a month.

TkmteM to Whip SB Editor.

Indianapolis, Feb. 24.—John B. Cockrum, head of the railroad lobby la the Indiana legislature and general counsel of the Lake Erie and Western railroad, threatens to horsewhip Delavan Smith, of Lake Forest 111., because of articles in Smith’s paper, The News, assailing the alleged methods of the lobby. The News publisher a cartoon representing Cockrum as entering the etate house with envelopes filled with money, presumably for the legislature.

Be Want* That Stock LRted.

Richmond, Ind., Feb. 24.—City Clerk Taggart has notified the administrator of the estate of the late James Morrisson to appear and show cause why stock In the Morrisson-Plummer Drug company, of Chicago, which Is owned by the estateand In the administrator's hands, should not be listed for taxation. The city claims the stock has not been listed for a period of several years end the city clerk’s estimate of taxes due Is In excess of SIO,OOO.

Aatl-Hallway I'm Bill. Indianapolis, Feb. 24. — The Indiana house of representatives has passed tbe Davis anti-pass bill, which prohibits tbe issuance of railroad passes to any citizen of the state by a vote of 35 to 9. For tbe issuance of such a pass a flue of from S2OO to $2,000 may be assessed. For the acceptance of a pass a fin* of from S2O to S2OO is provided.