Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-09-27
Statement Of b. r. Baker


Having been requested TO give statement of
such incidents as came under my observation on
the day Of the election, / would state that |
voted at the courthouse soon after breakfast
The crowd at the entrance TO the polls was very
large. While waiting for an opportunity to vote,
an lrlshman was pursued through the hall Of
the courthouse by an angry crowd, but escaped
by making y dangerous leap through barricad-
ed door or window. l Was admitted into the
voting room through side door; found the vot.
ing going on quietly, and. so far as can Judge,
there was not n foreigner IN the room. After
voting, went 10 my store, on Main street, and
remained until after ten o'clock, \. NJ, when
the various rumOrs of assaults and disturbances
induced me TO go to my residence, which is on
jefferson street, opposite the courthouse, and
/ from my front steps commands fair view of
| the public square. There | remained until IL
o'clock, T. NJ
| During the day there were the most dreadful
rum0rs constantly in circulation of the number
of Americans who had been killed in the upper
wards A number Of boys came TO the court
4 house and armed themselves with muskets. and
marched up town. Soon after party of men,
also armed with muskets. under command of
Capt Stone. marched in the same direction
| l saw no assault committed until about
o'clock; about that time large crowd passed
around jefferson street, on the north side, led
by two men who had prisoner between them
covered with blood, and followed by 4 numer.
Gus crowd of men and bows, armed with blud-
geons and brickbats, and one with pitchfork
and another with shot gun. When near Sixth
street they met n we'll dressed man. Ono Of tho
crowd struck him blow and raised a cry o.
"More him -" he ran into the court house ward
and attempted 10 shelter himself under th'
stand erected for public speaking; but was
knocked down and beaten to death.
: The stand and benches In the vicinity wer
J occupied at the time by number of gentlemen
but. so far as / could see. none of them mad
any attempt TO protect him.
! Those who killed him Immediately took NJ
} the body and carried it, with whoops and hur
rahs, to the Jail yard.
J In conclusion, would say that, during tn
whole time from ] | \. NJ. to III p. NJ, / saw bu
two foreigners, except those in. custody Of III
) police.
have several Irish and Germans, in my en-
; ploy all Of whom, when spoke to them abou
q voting, previous to the election. informed m
they did not intend 10 vote, FOR fear of gettin
into difficulty. b. F. BAKER.
G LoursyILE, Sept. II, 1855.
D Statement Of J. B. Baker.
i On Monday morning, August 5, 1855, Wa
h at the Sixth Ward polls, when aud where | ga
: several persons chased down the courteous
! steps and run off the ground Hon. William
n Thomasson, in one OF these onslaughts, thre
4 himself between the ASSISTANTS and their victim
- thus saving him from further harm. Brickba
were hurled at the man, but luckily did not h
him. A little later in the day another persc
was similarly chased. when Mr. Thomasso
again interfered, and in the melee was knocks
: down. About 10 O'clock was standing ne
the door of the polls in the court house. when