Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1834-09-29
EXTRAORDINARY CRIMINAL TRIAL
t',om tlt Niagara ConIicr I sept 3

tjom Inc Niagara CoHficr sept ;.
At the Court OF Oyer onl Fermlncr, held in this
village last week. Judge Gardner presiding, an in
dc mcnt pending against piefpont Baker tor Per
Jary, was disposed oflhc jury finding him guilty
When the jury came IN with their verdict, how
ever, tho bud was flown The prisoner iudg
INK pretty accurately what ms fac woul be at
lhelr hands, departed the Court without leave
white the Jurors were out, and has not since been
heard of.
Tho forcing case excited considerable ncrcs
in this quarter, lroniIs great peculiarly. 1t was
ndeed IA very strange one and much doubt
whether HE criminal records of the State can show
- parallel We have taken very full minutes OF
the tcsun, ny, and shall publish port in shpr
time Al present VIC deem brief notice of The af
air suaielcn'.
In 'larcu 1888 a compliant was preferred by
Vi l. Prize, NJ of this ylIlage, against Baker for
lprIllrl IL making certain affidavit b fore the Sur
roaal" OF lr'e county. An Indictment was found
AGAINST Baker, GA this complaint, by the grand Jury
of hnt comfy, on which no was tr,l At Butluo IN
JIna following Pccvous to the coming on of tins
trial, however, Baker, II would seem, deemed it ne.
ccsslry to his escape from conviction to couoterac
he testimony Of pr'rc and, accordingly, on the
night OF Sunday If April, he procured the aten
dance OF three 'rsons ~ back bedroom attached
TO his Office, for The purpose of hearing a converse
ton which he stated 10 them ne expect, d woB5d
take place between him and Prlcc that evening
whiIr fourth pelson was stationed IN the Street
To identify HIM MS he CAME TO and returned from
kei S office. a few minutes after these per
sons were thus stationed, Baker came into his of
hce. IN which thcre was no light and WINS shortly
followed by another person, who the concealed wit
nesscs suPpo ell from his voice to be Price A
conversation IN low tone then held between
them, near v Indow that separated the two rooms
which went entirely 10 exculpate Baker, ami the
parties separated On the trial at Berno, Price
was closely questioned to the holding of tins
conversation but he soemnly denied all knowledge
of or participation in II, and repeatedly aud firmly
protested that he was not at Bakers office on he
evening of the llh April, nor at any time subse.
quen TO the finding ofthe Indictment IN the DR. eiino
March Baker then introduced the witnesses VII,
heard the conversation, who unhostalingly doclnr-
cd that they had no doubt that the individual who
responded 10 the defendant was Prlcc-thc watch.
man in the street also testifying thar he saw a nan
mufhcd in cloak, and depart from the Office
who he was somewhat positive was HIM Baker
was acquitted ana Immediately followed up his ac-
7uItial by commencing SUIT against Price for Il
malicious pro ccuion,
Justly alarmed by the strange turn which the af
fair had taken, an conscious that some deem yillai
ny had been pracIsed, Mr., Price on his return to
Lockport, caused the individual who had sworn so
positively TO his identity through the aid of II dull
starlight ard reflection of candle from the oppo
posiio side of the street. be arrested for consp,
rscy, NC. In the course the investigation which
ehsneu, baker was examined as a witness and ties
'lhed ina, Prlcc was IN his Office on the llth "A.
pfh. In the progress Of these proceedings, how