The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-02 00:00:00

THE ALTOi TRAGEDY.

niederick Baker is known at Guildford as a man
of cosiderable intelligence; but his h ibits were of j
the most dissipated character. Ile was for some
time secretary of the Guildford Institute Debating'
Society, but his irregular habits induced the com-
mittee to request him to resign the office. His
animal and bibulous propensities during the last
three or four years were matter of common remark
in Guildford, and he was looked upon as a " ne'er
do weel," past all hope of reformation. Notwith-
standing his well known profligate habits, he was
at times a great professor of religion, and partook
very regularly of the sacraments at Trinity Church.
There is no doubt that he was very carefully brought
up and instructed in the truths of religion by pious
parents, and until four years since he was a very
pious, steady young man. At that time he was
paying his addresses, and was engaged to be mar-
ried, to a highly respectable young person who
was in the service of Mrs. Haydon as lady's maid,
but his advances were suddenly checked.
by certain communications which some persons
thought it their duty to make to the young waman's
parents. The girl's brother also interfered, and the
match was broken off. Young Baker was exces-
sively indignant at this intervention, and talked
loudly about actions for slander and the like, but of
course nothing came of them. From this time,
however, he was a changed man. He gave way to
drunkenness and other vices, became utterly reck-
less, and never seemed to have the least regard
either for character or appearance. He was sup-
posed to have been intimately connected with
the Guildford " Guys" and to have shared iu
their most dangerous proceedings, but on this
head nothing positive is known outside the im-
mediate circle of the " Guy" fraternity. For some
time after going to Alton he was a total abstainer
from intoxicating drink, and would not enter a
public-house under any circumstances whatever.
At length, however, he relapsed into his old habits
of recklessness and dissipation. About two months
since Mr. Phillips, the hon. sec. of the 'Working
Men's Institute at Guilford, who was also an active
promoter of the debating society, in conjunction with
Baker, received a letter from Baker, dated Alton.
In it he said that Mr. Phillips would be glad to hear
that he (Baker) had entirely reformed. his course of
life, that he abstained from drink, went to bed at
eleven o'clock, and rose at seven. He added that
his employers were very kind to him, and that
he spent his spare time in boating and reading
good authors. He regularly attended church, and
experienced great comfort from the ministrations
of an excellent and devoted clergyman. He felt
much happier in his mind since he had altered his
course, and he was assured that there was a bright
future before him. He said that he wrote thus
to Mr. Phillips because, as connected with the
old debating society, he was satisfied that it would
give him great pleasure to hear of this reformation ;
and he concluded by trusting that the great God
would give him grace to persevere in the right path.
Had this been written under the influence of real
conviction, it would have been a very touching
episode in this young man's career; but when we
learn that at this very time he was pursuing a
course of secret vice and dissipation, we can only
regard it as a transcendent specimen of duplicity.
In writing to another friend about four weeks since
Baker says—" My quiet life here at Alton has en-
abled me to reflect upon the errors of my past life.
I have quite reformed. I drink little,. go to bed
ear:y, and do not neglect my Sabbath duties. I
often think of my foolish conduct at Guildford, but
I have prayed to God for His grace, and I now
feel that a better course is open to me. lam very
happy here, and my employers are exceedingly
kind to me. Remember me to all old friends,
and tell them that Fred. Baker is not now a drunken
sot, but, by God's grace, a steady, respectable man.
This is a quiet old town, and does not offer the
temptations of Guildford. I know that you will be
glad to hear of your old friend, and that is why 1
write." It is said that on a former occasion, when
some of the young man's misdeeds became known to
his father, the poor old man became almost dis-
tracted ; and we are informed that the communica-
tion of this dreadful intelligence has been succeeded
by an utter prostration of the nervous and mental
system. His wife has been dead some years, and
poor Baker is tended in his solitude and bereave-
ment by an affectionate and pious daughter, on
whose behalf the sympathies of the neighbours are
earnestly enlisted.— West Surrey lones.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

VICTORIA CLUB BETTING—Tins DAY,

Members assembled in strong force, and some animated
speculation in future events took place. The main feature
of the doings was the increased favouritism of Hermit for
the Leger, who in " one hand" was supported at 5 to 4 to
win a "monkey." The friends of Achievement would have
accorded the filly support at anything over 7 to 4, which
however went begging. Neither of the outsiders were iu
request. For the Leamington Stakes Beeswing was
backed for most money, and both Pintail and Mail Train
seemed in genuine request, Irbil() Regalia, after finding

support at Bto 1, Locally.) unfriended at 20 to 1. Tito °the:
quotations aro sufficiently indicated Lolo►v without anj
further comment:

LEAMINGTON STAKES.
9 to 4 agst Boeswing (taken and offered)
6to 1 agst Pintail (taken)
Bto 1 agst ➢Mail Train (taken and offered)
20 to 1 agst Regalia (taken, after Bto 1 had been
taken freely)
GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.
10 to 1 agst Laneret (takui awl offered)
11 to 1 ngst Seville (taken)
20 to 1 agst Vigorous (taken) •
23 to 1 agst E ist Lancashire

ST. LEGE a.
500 to 400 agst Hermit (taken)
7 to 4 agst Achievement (offered)
15 to 1 agst Julius (offered)
20 to 1 agst Vauban (offered)
25 to 1 agst Fervacques (offered, take 30 to 1)
1000 to 30 agst Marksman (offered)

CESAREWITCH.

50 to 1 agst Armourer (offered)
60 to 1 agst Sportsman (taken)
1000 to 15 agst Aggravator (taken)
1000 to 10 agst Wild Moor (taken)
1000 to 10 agst Acrobat (taken)
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
800 to 16 Seville (taken)

JOHN STIRK
25, WELLINGTON-STREET, STRAND,
Executes Commissions on all the races to any amount
The full market odds laid.
•
Price list daily.

MR. GEO. WEBB executes commission; by letter only,
at his residence, 125, Queen's-crescent, ilaverstock-hill ;

and has lists posted daily at the City Arches ; also through
his Agent, Mr. F. Butler, near Meux's Brewery. No con-
nection with any other person using the same name.