The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-18
THE ScAFFOLD.

Executlon OF Ottawa G.. Baker In Omaha
His Confession Of the Triple Crime.
tomaha tvsb. "A, correspondence Of the Cincinnati
Commercial
Valentines day. set apart for the execution Of Ottawa
a. Baker, convicted for the murder Of woolsey d. Hg-
gins opened upon US with clear sky, the shining
tragedy. The unmigsssd triple crime, now con- on
mystery heretofore s.tached to il, caused sa
the arrival OF several hundred persons yesterday, from
foroed BY several thousand from Coacil Bluffs and the
entire farming population OF the vicinity OF Omaha
From seven A. n: tll the time Of execution steady
sctream OF human beings foot, horseback car
,ragss, old lumber wagons. omnbuses and nondescrpt
vshoiss poured through the streets, the hills By
WHERE In hollow surrounded by these hills, the sca.-
fold had been erected.
Ottawa G. Baker the criminal. was young man OF
twenty five feet tan inches high light xio6
.sromiDent Roman nose, born In Richmond Va, and
was employed By VIM. King 1 Co, wholesale gro
the night OF November a. 1865, he murdered Hs gins
the bookkeoper then sleeping 10 the same bed robbie
the safe and SGT the building on fire.
For the past three months the prisoner visited
daily BY Father Eagan, Of the Catholic Church. and
Sisters OF Mercy. The prisoner became pentent aud
finally confessed his crime. He slept soundy last night
hsarty breakfast this morning. snd after several
hours religious devotion was led out of jail at noon,
placed In closed carriage, surrounded by Sky fire.
men armed with muskeis and driven toward tho place
of execution, arriving there about O'Clock p. NJ
Between SIX and eight thousand people occupied the
ground, including several hundred women who ap-
yeared anxious for good view your correspondent
NJ sCaHoiu prisoner taken out
OF the CARTHAGE the police and special guard forming
oquaie The prisoner looked very pale; walked up the
etsps leading to the platform with nervous trembling
-etep, and leaned upon the railing surrounding the
platform. Hc was dressed IN q black suit his
face shaved Clean looking like gsntsel law student
Bakers hand and caused hfn TO knesI both praying
Cor about five minutes VIXEN the prisoner Slowly
with down asst eye De babe the sheriff and his
Gel good by and taepoe commenced another prayer
Nntls the oar wss houssd Then the fatal trap went
down, Causing djra to fall seven feet slight
kpfH Nv an lyA - thn 10 UnFaf
foody Gry sylrendered TO the clergy alter hang.
ing twenty mnutsa me neck had been broken 10 the
fall but Che face looked slightly discolored- Baker
wros confession some weeks ago. but begged the
tessornot TO publish II tl after his death. This clears
up.nuch mystery. Il shows him 10 be- the party who
burned the extensive block Of buildings before commit.
u94 the murder The following Is the substance Of The
III rat planned the horrible crime IN the old store
but vas prevented, BY unfavorable circumstances al
ths fatal night AggnE w., sleeping ,s in the bed
hose, made two attempts, and was about giving up
when the idea that Higgins might be shsmming sleey
saused me TO carry the resolution into effect ! nrs
.ptruck him blow scrocs the forehead with HI
drew Q long breath, whom finished by striking hin
another blow. then opened the SAFE took the money
cut Of the building and concealed whore found
returned tho house FIRE, and then mysel
through the arm and gave the alarm Of fire murder
- a. the house WAS full OF smoke. I also had
hrs to Hsllmsns old warehouse, previously to proven
the deposit In bank. had NO idea the IRE would con
sumo the intro block"
Baker also confesses some thefs, commcnds the Jus
tce of his trial and fate, asks pardon Of Judge Jury
prosecuting attorney and Sheriff. thanks the jaors 70
sheir lsn,sncy and kind treatment and hopes he will
friends and relatives. 10 rumorsd that he served u
both tho Confcderate and Union armies . scout