War department records were introduced to show that the only Pennsylvania Jacob Baker who served in the Revolutionary War was not a colonel or a general, asthe legend said, but a private. The official records showed that this Jacob Baker had been sentenced to 100 lashes for "desertion and trying to join the enemy" instead of the heroism attributed to the legendary figure.
A Philadelphia lawyer and title abstractor testified he searched for many days among the records of Philadelphia but found no Jacob Baker funds or estate undistributed.
He said he traced the holdings of 209
Jacob Bakers from 1682 to 1910 and could find no unclaimed fabulous fortune.
Smith said his invest ed that the land on Hall of Philadelphia is deeded to the city. by William Penn in 1680
Boston chemist testified during the trials that the paper on which a Ppurpoted will of Baker—was written was not made for. almost 1 half-century' after its 1939 date. will, according to the goverr.- ment, was used to dupe "heirs" into supporting the fund fe tlement" of the estate.
It was estimated that the prosecution of the perpetrators of the fraud cost the government approximately $1,000 a day during the days that the trials were in session:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.