OBIT: Holley BAKER, 1917, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 

POLICE PRISONER DIES AT ALTOONA HOSPITAL
Holley Baker, of Hollidaysburg, Succumbs to Internal Hemorrhage

  Holley Baker, aged 40, of 604 Blair street, Hollidaysburg, died at 
Altoona hospital at 2:30 this morning following his admission from the 
police station a short time before.
  Baer [sic] was taken into custody at 11:45 o'clock at Eleventh avenue 
and Sixteenth street, by Cornerman Swanger.  The man was said to be 
intoxicated and was lying on the street near the Strand theatre.  At 
city hall he was placed in a cell and was apparently only stupefied by 
the liquor.  He was able to talk a little.
  At 2.10 o'clock, Baker was found lying in his cell, bleeding from an 
internal hemorrhage.  He was placed in the patrol and hurried to the 
hospital  The man sank steadily and failed to respond to treatment.  
Death ensued fifteen minutes after he was admitted.
  Deputy Coroner Rothrock was apprised of Baker's demise early this 
morning.  The body will be turned over to a local undertaker today.  An 
autopsy will likely be made to determine the exact cause of death.
  Baker was employed as a laborer and was well known in the county 
capital.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday Morning, February 3, 1917

HOLLEY BAKER DEATH RESULT OF ACCIDENT
Falling Down Cellar Way, He Was Pierced by Sharp Brush Handle

Holley Baker, the Hollidaysburg man who died at the Altoona hospital at 
2:30 o'clock Saturday morning, came to his death as the result of an 
accident.  This was discovered in an investigation conducted by Deputy 
Coroner Chester C. Rothrock.  He has decided to hold an inquest in the 
case.
  The investigation was begun following the removal of the remains to 
the undertaking establishment of Thomas B. McFarland at Hollidaysburg, 
where a puncture wound of the left groin was discovered.  This was 
reported to Deputy Coroner Rothrock, and he with Dr. E. B. Miller, went 
to the undertaking rooms, where Dr. Miller found the wound to be one of 
several inches deep and two inches in width.
  Deputy Coroner Rothrock, accompanied by Chief of Police Bowman, of 
Hollidaysburg, came to this city and started an inquiry.  They 
discovered that Baker had sustained the injury by falling down a cellar 
at Eleventh avenue and Sixteenth street, about 11:15 o'clock, after 
coming out of a restaurant.  The officers conducted an investigation 
and found at the bottom of the steps a window brush handle about eight 
feet in length and the one end sharpened.  This was covered with blood.  
The supposition is that Baker in falling down the steps struck this 
handle and that it punctured his groin.  He extracted himself and 
crawled to the sidewalk, where Cornerman Swanger found him in a 
partially unconscious condition.  They learned at the police station 
that Baker was thought to be drunk and that in his stupefied condition 
he could not tell he was hurt.  When the warden found blood oozing 
through his boots and thinking he had suffered a hemorrhage, he was 
removed to the hospital, dying a short time later.
  Baker left home Friday evening with Edward Houck to come to this 
city.  The pair boarded a Logan Valley car and it is said became very 
noisy, but when the conductor threatened to put them off they quieted 
down.  Houck claims that he can remember nothing that he and Baker did 
that night.  They became separated during the night and Houck returned 
home shortly before 12 o'clock.  He went to Baker's home and found that 
he had not returned.  Baker's family then tried to locate him in this 
city.  Baker had been drinking much of late and some time ago caused 
some trouble at his home while intoxicated.  One day last week he 
visited the county commissioners while under the influence of liquor 
and requested assistance for his family.
  The deceased was born at Hollidaysburg and was the son of William and 
Barbara Baker, deceased, and was aged 48 years.  His father was for 
many years tipstaff at the Blair county court house.  Holly secured his 
education at the Hollidaysburg public schools, from which he graduated.  
He is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Ella Zimmerman, of 
Hollidaysburg, and the following children: Mrs. Anthony Filler, of 
Lakemont Terrace; Mrs. Ira Querry, of Lakemont Terrace; Catherine, 
George, Hale and Fay, at home; also by these brothers and sisters: 
Harry, of Huntingdon; Dean, of Ohio; Lewis, of Altoona; Robert, of 
Juniata, and Mrs. Crawford Lingafelt, of Hollidaysburg.  
  The funeral services will be held at his late home, 604 Blair street, 
on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30.  Interment will be made in the 
Presbyterian cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, February 5, 1917

Hollidaysburg.

  The time for holding the funeral services of Holley Baker, has been 
changed from 2:30 until 2 o'clock this afternoon at his late home, 604 
Blair street.  Interment will be made in the Presbyterian cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday Morning, February 6, 1917

INQUEST INTO BAKER'S DEATH
Deputy Coroner Rothrock Will Conduct Investigation This Evening.

  An inquest into the death of Holley Baker, the Hollidaysburg man who 
died in the Altoona hospital on February 2, after being found at a 
stairway at Eleventh avenue and Sixteenth street, will be held this 
evening at 7:30 o'clock at Lafferty & Tobias' funeral parlors by Deputy 
Corner C. C. Rothrock.  
  About twelve witnesses will testify at the probing of the county 
capital man's demise, the official said last evening.  Several of them 
had been absent from the city or so engaged that they could not appear 
since the death of Baker, which has resulted in the inquest being 
delayed.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday Morning, February 13, 1917