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Story
December 7, 1955
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
In Talladega, Alabama, 50-year-old John Baker is questioned over the suspicious fire death of his 70-year-old mother, Mrs. Lourene Baker. He claims he tried to douse the flames with teacup water, but police note kerosene smell and timeline inconsistencies.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Man Questioned
In Fire Death
Of Mother
TALLADEGA, Ala.- (ANP) - A Talladega man being questioned here this week in the strange fire death of his 70 year old mother, told police he tried to put out the flames by pouring water from a teacup.
John Baker, 50 was taken into custody after a doctor called police to the fire scene.
Although Baker insisted that the fire had occurred only a half hour before, officers said they found Mrs. Lourene Baker's charred body sitting in a partially burned cane-bottomed chair.
There was no fire in the room but a strong odor of kerosene, investigators said.
Baker amazed doctors last summer with his miraculous recovery after his head was split in an axe fight.
He told officers he saw the fire through a crack in an adjoining room, tried to enter to save his mother but the chair blocked his entrance through the door.
Baker said he then went outside to get water, poured it on the flames with a teacup and called the doctor.
The doctor summoned police.
In Fire Death
Of Mother
TALLADEGA, Ala.- (ANP) - A Talladega man being questioned here this week in the strange fire death of his 70 year old mother, told police he tried to put out the flames by pouring water from a teacup.
John Baker, 50 was taken into custody after a doctor called police to the fire scene.
Although Baker insisted that the fire had occurred only a half hour before, officers said they found Mrs. Lourene Baker's charred body sitting in a partially burned cane-bottomed chair.
There was no fire in the room but a strong odor of kerosene, investigators said.
Baker amazed doctors last summer with his miraculous recovery after his head was split in an axe fight.
He told officers he saw the fire through a crack in an adjoining room, tried to enter to save his mother but the chair blocked his entrance through the door.
Baker said he then went outside to get water, poured it on the flames with a teacup and called the doctor.
The doctor summoned police.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Mystery
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Misfortune
Family
What keywords are associated?
Fire Death
Mother
Questioning
Kerosene
Talladega
What entities or persons were involved?
John Baker
Mrs. Lourene Baker
Where did it happen?
Talladega, Ala.
Story Details
Key Persons
John Baker
Mrs. Lourene Baker
Location
Talladega, Ala.
Event Date
This Week
Story Details
John Baker, 50, questioned in the fire death of his 70-year-old mother, Mrs. Lourene Baker. He claimed to have tried extinguishing the flames with water from a teacup after seeing fire through a door crack, but investigators found her charred body in a burned chair with kerosene odor and no active fire.