Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-24
LOCAL n nc w =.
The Trial Of Lafayette c. Baker for False
Imprisonment and ExtOrtiOn.
ABOUT THE /" PARDON BROKRR-
AGE" BUSINESS.
Mrs. Cobb Essays 20 Earn an Honest
Living.
MRS. COBe-HER STORY.

This morning was the time fixed for the
trial Of Lafayette c. Baker, late Chief Detective
Of the War Department, indicted In the Criminal
Court, on the complaint Of Joseph R and Lucy
l.. Cobb, charging him with false imprison me mt
and robbery.
The Court met at ten o'clock, when all the
trtieS appeared. Messrs Frederick p. Stanton
aud A. @. Riddle, for the defence District At
tornpy Darlington and Joseph II. Bradley, jr.,
for the prosecution.
Mr. Bradley said he appeared In place Of his
father, who was detained at home by sickness,
and II necessary he would make an AFFIDAVIT to
have the case postponed. .r
After some discussion between counsel, II was
decided to try the accused now on the first in
dictment for false imprison msnt and extVrtion.
The following named gentlemen were then
sworn as jurors In the case Hiram Wright, O.
C. Henning, Geo. y. Gulick, Leonard Clarke,
James W. Barker, Christian D. shryock, John
N. Young, Edgar e. stever, John Markriter, Jas.
English, John Z. Chappell and Jas. S. scaggs.
District Attorney Darlington opened the case
to the Jury on behalf OF the prosecution.
The defence reserved their opening until the
close OF the evidence for the Government
The hrst witness sailed was Mrs. Lucy d. Cobb,
who testified that her husband was named Jos.
X Cobb; resided at the st. Charles hotel on the
sth day OF November resided at the Avenue
House. Witness recognizes Baker. On the Sth
day Of November, about O clock p. m. some one
raped ut the door she opened II two gentlemen
were standing there they walked In the room
L. O. Baker was the first one who entered did
not know him at thEt time. He said "Mrs. Cobb, /"
three or four times. al have been looking for you
some time .... e..
Witness inquired who he WAS. He ma 10 no
answer My husband then inquired who he was.
He said he would show us who he was NY
husband again asked him who he was. He re.
piled he was Gen. Baker, of the War Department,
and that he arrested us both. Ny husband asked
him by whose authority. He said he needed no
| authority. My husband demanded a warrant.
lie said he had no warrant, and needed none
Ny husband again denied his authority. He
told him he eould not hRyeit He said he would
hAVeit, and have 1t before he left the room.
| told him again he could not have 1t.
| Mrs. Cobb to tAed lie said he would take us
| to his headquarters. He said We could 40
| quietly OT'hs would take us. he told me TO pack
| up my duda and come along with him; he would
| put us where he would not have any more trou-
| BILE with us, and he would break up this pardon
| brokinR institution. He asked us II we were
going along with him or whether he should take
us put on my bonnst and furs My husband
AlsO prepared himself He put MS 10 a carriage,
| aud from there we drove to his headq carriers.
There he put me in n hack room, up stairs, and
kept my husband up stairs. He came up BtAirs
| In the room where was and said - | have ono
| questions TO ask yon aud you are, compelled TO
| khsWsE them - ! told him that WoulI depend
| upon circumstances, n.l
This 1rSt question, that he 'aaked me was,
whether or not owned Aoy property 10 Penn
bylyinia, below Harrisburg. The answer was,