The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-01
From the Journal Of Commerce
STIRRING TINES IN ARKANSAS.

| From the Journal Of Commerce.
STIRRING TINES IN ARKANSAS
! Prior 10 the 18th of October Samuel G. Trow-
! bridge, VIM NJ. Wilson, Amour Hunt, Ira c. Whit
temore, William Caldwell, Tapley H. Stewart, (bro-
thJr Of Virgil A. Stewart the hero of the famous
hIurel disclosures AMI several other persons, had
been arrested in Little Rock, suspicion of having
been concerned in stealing about $4,000 of Real
Estate Bank money from the office of J. ID Fitz-
gerald, Justice of the Peace at that place, the
night of the 25th of August; also of having been
concerned in counterietng Little Rock Corporation
Tickets, and United States gold and silver coin, and
in robblng Mr. Keats store Of about five thousand
dollars worth of jewery, some twelve months since
The five persons first mentioned, had undergone
preliminary examination, and been committed for
further trial. William Caldwell escaped from custo-
dy after his arrest but being goaded by hunger
guilt restitution, and hot pursuit, he found it eXpedi
surrender, and confessed himself guilty Of the
charges preferred against him The Little Rock Ga
zete states, by way Of fend off against the comments
of Eastern editors that the rngleaders OF the
ed gang and nearly all the subordinates are from
Ohio Pennsy lvania, New York, and Maine; and that
most of them have resided but few years in Ar
| kansas 1t also ntimates that other crimes
charged against the prisoners besides those above
| enumerated.
These astounding disclosures, in connexion with
1 the arrest, and examination OF the supposed crim
| mails, produced might be expected great eX-
citement al Little Rock, and sense of danger
which caused the better psrt of the citizens 10
! cert measures for the common defence. Among
other things night patrol established, in which
the most respectable citizens acted watchmen, for
the purpose of arresting all picous persons and
preventing the conhagration OF property by incend
aries.
On the night of October 7;h, saws the paper above
mentioned, two separate guards were inadvertently
placed at the house of William Caldwell (who was
then running at large) with view to detect him. as
it was known he was lurking about the city These
different guards were ignorant of the presence OF
each other at Cadwells house The night was clo.-
dy and dark and the guards were completely drench
! ed with rain, which was almost constantly falling
during the night. MIR. \ B. Thomasson was men,
Der Of the one guard, and hlr. Edwin y Baker
member of the other Mr.. Baker VS. shot by Mr.
Thomasson, through mistake, and died in a few mi
nutes Below publish, at the request Of Mr.
| Ihoma son, extract from letter written by him
to his brother which plains the circumstances at
tending this lamentabe occurrence. Mr.. Thomas
son is worthy and much respected gentleman, and
is acquitted by public sentiment, of all criminal de
sign, for it is well known, that he and Mr. Baker
were friendly TO each other TO the last No
would impute improper motives TO him, who knew
with what intense grief he reflects upon that fatal
event.
MIR. Baker a merchant Of this city, and had
be- residing here for about four years. He was
we believe native of Hartford, Connecticut, and
was about twenty-s ven years old. He had been
married but year or two, and at this tire his
derstand, in the city of Boston, at the iresde of her
parents A let er was des pached 10 her on Friday
morning, conveying the heart-rendlng news. How
| indscrutable ar the ways Of Providence Thus
fell an esteemed, vrtuous and intelligent citizen in
the of his country His loss is deeply felt
and his death has cast gloom the public mind
which was sufficiently evnced by the large concourse
of persons who attended his funeral Notwithstanding
! tue inclemency of the weather
The following Is the extract alluded to above
| Caldwell who was one Of the first that was an
pretended broke from custody and ma e his escape
| II was TO watch his house. and reake him. If he re-
| turned, that myself and friend, Mr.. REYNOLDS were
| appointed. We stationed at the after end Of
the house Of Mr.. Blackburn, the next house to Cald-
wells. Between the houses is a partition fence
which leaves an alley on each lot between each mans
house and the fence, Cadwel's house stands ON the
street. has front door and gate for the aey, which
atches into the corner of has house, There i, gate
through this partition fence, at the back end of the
! buildings. Unknown to my elf and REYNOLDS there
was guard placed on the other side Of Csldwell's
house, which is an open lot The night was very
dark. Near one O'Clock Reynolds and myfelf ascer-
tanned that some person had entered Caldwels house
We took possession of this back gate. After con-
sulting some minutes, returned, awoke Blackburn
! and passed him through his front house into the
| street. TO watch the front door | then returned TO
! REYNOLDS at the gate. We were undecided for some
minutes. | then came in front along Blackburns al
lev to confer with him. He adiudged it best to place
me in front, a situation which gladly accepted ow-
ing as believed to its being the less dangerous
According, then, 10 the suggestion Of Blackburn |
came in front and passed Caldwell's gate and, as
came to the door, was hailed by voice directly 10
front in the words "Nbo comes there: !" | in
s,any replied zone Of the guard Move, and
| III shoot youn He instantly replied "Laurie (Dr
| Laurie, particular friendly | then called him TO
me. Knowing the necessity of being prompt with
such man as Caldwell, (who had been represented
TO me being expert in the use OF deadly weapons
! and desperate man, returned instantly to the
gate and cried out TO Blackburn and REYNOLDS "Do
| your do a noise has been made" In an instant,
| leap was made from door in Caldwell's house,
along the alley, and rush for the gate. | saw my
danger would have 10 contend in the open street
with desperate foe, equal terms, unless | could
intlmidate him, aud stop him at the gate. Before he
made the second step called TO him with a voice
and IN manner not to be disobeyed at such time
| stop, or Iirouh Kill hnI
He needed it not but burst through the gate
by this time, had retreated some four feet from the
gate in front of the house. lie rushed from the gate
ran rather around me, and entirely past me when
he stopped, wheeled, and his pistol cap exploded |
pulled trigger With deadly intent and shot him with
Unfortunately too deadly aim. He proved TO be
one fmy best friends L. Y, Baker. We both evil