The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-22

| about eighty miller, and with a small amount Of
manual labor can be made an easy route for pack
mules wagon route cannot be obtained short
Of much labor previously bestowed.
Persons coming going this route should stop
at the springs mentioned as being at the foot OF the
steep declivity as, in coming from the desert, ami
mails would be too much fatigued, and the day too
time to encamp in the "Jacu@" valley an / per-
sons leaving that valley to 60 east, would not find
tme during that day. to reach the waters of either
Laguna without too much fatigue to their animals.
The desert is much better known to Others than
myself, and cannot, therefore, describe it to ad-
vantage. ! did not make an exploration OF New
river below where the road leaves it, but persons
who have been along it consider II advantageous,
to those crossing the desert with animals, to follow
the New river down lin going east) towards the
Colorado, and those coming this way, to strike oil
from the Colorado 10 more southerly course than
the present road takes, and strike New river as
soon as possible, and follow it up to the little
Laguha Ihe Mesquit are found in abundance
along New river, and grass is said to be found in
in some places.
Baker.
-, From the San Joaquin Republican, May 81
The last penalty Of the law executed on
George Baker, on Thursday last, the 18th instant
The majesty of the law has been asserted, and the
soul of this poor victim of unruy passions has been
launched into eternity. He was native of Ireland.
generous disposition, which have become prever-
bially characteristic of his race. The gallows
were erected at the back of the Methodist Chapel,
near to the spot where they formerly stood. The
prisoner was brought to the place in charge Of
the sheriff, DIR. Ashe, and deputy sheriff, Mr.
Blount; and precisely ut three o'clock he mounted
the steps which led to the drop. The deputy
sheriff having read the warrant, the prisoner, who
betrayed the utmost composure, stepped forward
and in voice that at onse clear, unbroken, and
even athletic in the nervous sense OF the word gave
his confession. lie said:-'My friends, | am we'll
aware that upon occasion like the present, il is
generally expected for persons placed in the untor-
tunate position in which now stand, to make de-
claration of the motives which may have prompted
to the commission Of a crime, the mode by which
it may have been executed. Now, for my own part,
as now stand, in the most solemn moment of nv
life, may say that am neither guilty nor inno-
cent of the crime for which have been condemned
That the man for whose death | am responsible,
fell by my hand, have never, at any moment, at
tempted to deny-but that he provoked his own
death am sure; and will relate to you, in as few
words as possible, fer what and how the man met
with his death" Baker then proceeded to lay be-
fore his hearers the particulars of his movements
on the night when Corney received the blow of his
(Mickey's) knife from which statement it appears,
that on the day of the l4th OF October, he had a
difficulty with n named Gas we understood him
to say Bowman, and being aware that he BOW
man) was armed, he borrowed pistol of man
named Caldwell, which he carried with him until
night, when Caldwell called for the weapon, and
q
knife and accordingly, about9 O'clock he went into
the ST. Charles Hotel and obtainedit He next pro-
ceeded to the Ell Dorado. AT this time man
named A. Turner, man named Smith, a man
known by the name of Twenty one, and fourth
perso had difficulty at the FL Dorado, in conse-
quence of some irregularity in the game, and
smith made use of an expression which was calcu
lated to excite the passions of the rest. He
Mickey then tapped Smith on the shoulder, and
attempted to pacify him, and induce him to with
draw his words; but he received the following an
swer-and he remembered the words most dis.
tinctly =" know thee, Mickey" "Well," said
he, in reply, sdid you ever know anything bad
about me I" The other then made use OF highly
improper language. He (Mickey) did not remem-
Der playing that night /; but begged them to play
friendly and not quarrel He then returned to the
St. Charles Hotel, and drank several times with
Bowes and others. He had been there some time,
when some person proposed that they should play
at cards. Afterwards, when turning the corner of
the FL Dorado, he met two men, one of whom was
the de ,eased and one Of them remarked" There
goes two id Texas sons of BIS; wish had
as many of them as i could kill at a pieayune
piece" Now, it was we'll known to all that he
was an lrishman-born and raised in Ireland; but
he was confident that the imputation was intended
for him. lie went up to the man who made use of
this language, and asked him what he wanted
to say TO him, to which he received reply which
was very undeserved and he (Nlickey) knocked the
man down. The man got up, and, closing on him,
was seized by him Mickey by the collar. Corney
then fred his pistol, which passed his head In
nis;, of which blow he died Baker then proceeded
at some length to describe his subsequent proceed
Ings, by which it appeared that he was fired at by
smith, the ball passing between his legs, and he
fired again. wounding Smith in the He soon
after went to the Dickinson House, and stayed up
all night, drinking and playing cards. He then
continued to say -" On the following morning,
a friend advised me to leave town, but said 'No'
the law would justify me in what | hal DONE
When got up, my friends again asked me to leave
the town, as the young man was dying, but | still
refused. Bowman have not since, he having
left the place. II was through him that | am placed
in this unfortunate position. And now, finally,
hope that my fate will be warning to all who
are present, not in any difficulty to use deadly
weapons too rashly. From this cause | placed
in this unhappy situation. | must say, before |
close, that Arch Turner had nothing to do with
the act for which suffer, he having stool several
yards distant when the act committed. |
should wish, il Turner returns to Stockton for
all to know that he was quite innocent Of the act.
| wish, before all of you, to return my thanks TO
the Sheriff, DIR. Ashe, MIR. Blount, and the officers
of the prison, for the kindness | have received at
their hands during the time have been in their
charge also thank my lavyers-it is little else
that they have receved-for all they have done for
me. May God bless you all, and have mercy upon
my soul"
In a low tone, he was heard commencing his
soul TO God the signal was given, the shaft gave
way, and his soul was launched into eternity.