Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Francis M. Baker, 1907
02 Aug 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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BAKER, FRANCIS M.
(20 Mar 1907, Wednesday, Elk City Record, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
F. M. Baker Shoots Himself at His Home Northwest of Elk City, Friday.
F. M. Baker, an old man about 65 years old, shot himself at his home four
miles northwest of town, Friday March 15.  He shot himself through the
forehead with a thirty-two revolver, resulting in instant death. When he
was found he was in a sitting posture against a back house.
His wife who was the only person near was in the house and did not hear
the shot.  The cause for this said affair is said to be craze over
financial affairs and his old age.
Mr. Baker was a good citizen and greatly respected by his friends and
neighbors.  He owned the farm where he died and was insured in A. O. W. W.
(21 Mar 1907, Roger Mills Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK (Roger Mills
Co until Nov 1907):
Shot Himself.  Mr. F. M. Baker shot himself at his home near Elk City,
Friday, of last week, dying almost immediately.  He had tied a
handkerchief over his eyes and seated himself near a chicken house, when
he fired the leaden charge through his brain.
The cause is not known, unless it was brooding over financial troubles. 
He had been compelled to pay security debts to the amount of about $7000
of late, which is reputed to have left him in an embarrassed condition, so
we are informed.
(Mar 1907 Unidentified Newspaper):
A Suicide.  On last Friday morning at 10 o'clock F. M. Baker, living four
miles northwest of Elk City, committed suicide by shooting himself in the
forehead with a revolver.  An inquest was held and the body was buried
Saturday afternoon.  Despondency over his financial condition is supposed
to have been the cause of the suicide.
Mr. Baker was in his 70th year.  He attended to his usual chores on the
farm and then wrote a letter to his nephew, at Elk City, telling him of
his intention and requesting him to come out and attend his burial, which,
he wished to be at Elk City cemetery.
In his letter, Mr. Baker explained to his nephew that there was nothing
but trouble in this world and that he was tired of life.  While the action
of Mr. Baker was premeditated, he surely must have been temporarily insane
or not in his right mind.  When one's reason is temporarily dethroned they
should not be censured, for they are not responsible and we should not
censure too severely the unfortunate one.