The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-05-25
Local A fairs.


SHOOTING OF HENRY K. TIRRELL BY 81.
E. BAKER.-The domestic and pecuniary
difficulties of Mr.. Baker, which have been
the town.talk for week past, eliminated
yesterday in his shooting Mr.. Tirrell, on
board the Ocean Wave, on which the lat
ter gentleman had taken passage for Lake
City, where at present resides.
The circumstances, as gathered from those
who witnessed the affair, are as follows:
Mr.. Tirrell came down to the boat early
in the morning to engage his passage, and
was soon followed by Mr.. Baker, who was
under the impression that Tirrell was taking
his (Baker's) wife away with him to Lake
City. When Baker came to the levee, and
saw Tirrell on board, he asked officer Good
ing to 90 on board and ask Tirrell if he was
going to take Bakers wife away with him.
Mr.. Gooding did so, and received an answer
that he was not. Baker soon came on
board, and as Tirrell was talking with a
gentleman in the cabin, Baker stepped up
and asked the gentleman if he knew who he
was talking with, and went on to say that
Tirrell had robbed him of large sum of
money, broke up his family, seduced niece
OF his, (rirrell's,) and other remarks very
derogatory. One of the clerks told Baker
that such language must not be used on
board the boat, and if they had any difficult
ties to settle they had better go on shore to
do it, or remarks to that effect.
Baker and Tirrell then went out, and stood
near the guard rail, officer Gooding between
them, Baker evidently under high state of
excitement, with one hand in his pocket,
from which occasionally protruded the end
of pistol. After some further conversa-
ton, Baker suddenly drew the pistol Ia re-
volver) and fired, the ball passing directly
in front of Mr.. Gooding, leaving portion
of its wadding in his bosom, and struck Mr..
Tirrell in the feshy part of his arm, above
the elbow. Baker was Immediately secured
by Mayor Prince and Mr.. Gooding, and ta-
ken to the City Prison, exclaiming that
Tirrell had robbed him of his wife and child,
his property, &C., and that he had nothing
more to live for, and cared not for the con-
sequences of his rash act.
He was arraigned in the afternoon before
Justice Gibbs, on charge of assault with
intent to kill, and pleaded not guilty, and
the examination was postponed until this
morning at ten o'clock.
The cause of the difficulty may be found
in the charges which he preferred against
Mr.. Tirrell, previous to the shooting.
1t appears that Baker married daugh.
ter, or ward, of Tirrell, and for all that is
publicly known, lived happily with her,
Baker subsequently failed in business, and
from assets which did not come into the pos
session of creditors, had at one time in his
possession several thousand dollars in gold,
which, according to his own statement, he
had been using in buying up his paper as he
had opportunities, and in supporting his
family. 1t appears that the gold had been
much tronble to him, and that he had at
times buried it in the ground, and then Sc
GREETED it in his house.
About ten days ago, as Baker alleges, MIR.
Tirrell came up to make him visit, and
while in the house, found the gold and car
ried it away with him. Baker charged
Tirrell with the theft, and tried, without
success, to get Tirrell indicted before the
Grand Jury. The domestic troubles con-
sequent upon this, induced his wife to leave
him for time, and take up her residence
with a sister, living near the city.
These allegations of Baker are denied, Of
course, in every particular, by Mr.. Tirrell
but Bakers mind has been so excited fol
the past week that the unfortunate denoue
naent related above was not entirely unex.
pected by his friends. He seemed to think
that Tirrell was not the robber only of bis
money. but of his domestic prospects and
peace for life.
Whatever opinions may be entertained in
regard to Mr.. Bakers management of his
financial affairs, the fact cannot be disguised
that in view of all the circumstances, as
they are developed, of the provocation, and
consequent state of mind he was in, that be
has the sympathies of the whole community
Daily, 18th.
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE BAKER AND TIR-