The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-07
AFFRAY At FOND pU LAC.
shooting of GensrAi q. 5. Hamilton b


khO0ting of General q. y. Hamilton by
n. A. BAker-A Dfsg race al ARatt-
Origin ana Particulars Of the Fracas.
From the Fond dW Lac Wfsl Commonwealth, My b.
Last Monday evening the peace and quietness
and equanmty of Fond du Lac, a city that was
never yet dsgraced by mob, or witness before
to any worse disturbance OF the peace than COM
mon assault and battery, was rudely broken In
upon by an encounter between two prominent
citizens who have nursed, for many years, a Bit
ter personal feud to wit:-Robert A. Baker,
Cashier OF the Farmers and Mechanics bank,
and General G. g. Hamilton, which resulted in
Mr., Baker firing two shots irom a pstoi with
which he was secretly armed, at the General, both
OF which hit him. one in the groin, and one in the
left temple, but neither OF them striking a vital
part.
the Young Mems Association Rooms in Reup-
ing's block. The General, as Presi lent of the
Association, bad opened the polls, the voting
had commenced, several had passed in and out
and persons we're running up and down stairs TO
and from the crowd above and below. After the
voting had progressed several minutes, the Gene
raj started TO GO down upon the street. and in
doing so passed Mr.. Baker on the stairs, who
was coming up. One version OF the story Is, that
when Hamilton was two steps below him, Baker
turned and hurled at him a gross epithet.
Hamilton, on the impulse OF the moment,
wheeled and caught Baker by the lett collar,
shook him some, and said, "You little villain,
what do you meanW
Whlle they were in that attitude Baker with
his right hand reached into the inside left breast
pocket of his coat, Immediately under Hamil-
toms band, and fred his pistol down through
his own coat, without d1a Sine the weapon from
his pocket, the range Of the barrel being, most
fortunately for botn parties, below the Generals
abdomen. the ball taking effect In the lett groin
and passing down, as the physicians suppose,
the large bone of the leg. They then bad a
struggle for the pistol, for an instant, but the
shot paTalyzed the leg of the General so that he
had not the use of Il, and he lost his balance
and fell down the stair, roll ing out at full
length upon the stone step.
AT the instant of his 6ouchng the step, and
while he must have been at least fifteen feet
from Mr.. Baker, second shot was tired, which
passed through the crown and riiS1 of Hamllton's
hat, just grazing the left temple. He assisted
to his feet by p. l.. Morse, asked by him and
others II he was hurt no one comprehel lodlng for
some seconds that he was really wounded,
though they knew two shots had been fred. Our
recollection is that he made no reply to any ne,
he being probably unconscious OF the question,
though he walked almost alone to LelfeTts store
Mr.. Baker was Immediately arrested by Police
Officer Van Norder, and was soon turned over
to the custody of the Sheriff. The only persons
on the steps Immediately within reach of the
General and Mr.: Baker, were j. W. Carpenter
and Father Bishop though there were Others
close by. or course neither of them could com.
prehend the encounter so as to aid in preventing
It, but Mr.. Bishop says rs soon as the shots were
fred, he grasped Mr.. Baker, and said TO him:-
ing here forW We understand Mr. Baker re-
plied:-"He insulted me twice on the street to-
day, and | won't stand it,"
After it was known that shots had been fired
and the General wounded severely, if not fatally.
of course the most tremendous excitement |
eDsued and hot indignation freely expressed
that the treasured wrath of personal leud
should make Mr.. Baker so far forget what was
due TO the dignity, decency, and civilization of
a peaceful community, and to himself az gem
tleman, as to arm himself with a deadly weapon
while moving among us, intending to use, or
being betraye ed and provoked INTO using it so
=" the imminent danger of the
ives OF his neighbors and friends IN JDe Inmo- |
diate vicinity. The moral worth and stamina OF
Fond du Lac, OF all parties, most unhesiGatinglI
the arming and shooting, Whatever
anv might conceive had been the wordy provo
cation. o,. |
Mr. Baker was kept in custody by the Sheriff !
during the night. Tuesday he was brought De-
fore Justice Bissel, on a warrant issued by him.
Before proceeding 10 an examination, the case
was sworn away from Justice BisseH to the
nearest Justice, which, in the absence of Justice
Kellogg, was Justice briggs. The Circuit Court
heing in session, and the District Attorney and
the principal lawyers having business in the
"~~"t the examination OF Mr. Baker was ad-
iourned for nlne days, and he was Ieleaeet on
h ali. The examination will be held on Thurs
ay, the 7th OF June