Paradise, Wallowa County, Oregon
Vernon Baker was fatally shot at about twelve o’clock Monday night by Harry Swisher near Paradise. According to Swisher, who has recently purchased the Bob Turner place, he suspected that someone from the Joseph creek region was trying to make way with some of his mules, and started out toward Joseph creek, accompanied by Erick Smutler.
They soon came face to face with Vernon Baker with three of Swisher’s mules, one of which was packed. The men attempted to take Baker back to Flora, but Baker resisted and declared the mules to be his own. They followed him to the Ed Enyart place, where they stopped him, Smutler keeping him covered with a revolver, while Swisher went into the Enyart house to phone for the sheriff.
As he came out of the house, Baker put spurs to his horse to escape, Swisher called for him to stop, and when he did not he opened fire; the second shot hitting him in the back of the head. He died soon after, a sheet was placed over his body, and the sheriff called.
Sept 1922, Wallowa Sun
Contributed by: Larry Rader