New Orleans Republican., 1868-03-19
TRIAL OF GOVERNOR BAKER FOR
PEKJURN,

Hon. r. II. Shannon, United States com.
missioner, yesterday commenced the trial
of Governor Joshua Baker, charged with
the crime of perjury in subscribing to the
test oath when he accepted the office of gov
ernor of Louisiana.
Henry Dennis is the person who made the
charge, and his evidence is substantially as
follows
Was one of the working party who placed
distractions at the mouth of the Atcha-
falaya, having been sent down there BY his
young master, who read an order from Gov
ernor Baker for hands to be sent down to
the work; Governor Baker was down at the
work assisting in it; there were present IN
all about a dozen white men, among whom
were Samuel Casey, Leclair Fuselier,
and Mr.. Mosey; after working at the
distractions for two or three weeks
witness ran away, because the fed
erals began to throw shells at the works
from Grand Lake, and he thought it was
about time to be doing something to get out
Of danger; has been living in the city
about two years since his discharge from
the army, working at one time upon steam
boats, and at another time in cotton press
and in distillery no one spoke to him
particularly about making the affidavit;
when he heard that GOV. Baker was ap-
something about this matter, and he at last
concluded to make the affidavit a colored
boy, whose name he did not know, showed
him the way to the commissioners office.
When the Yankees came in the bayou the
Confederates had a gunboat called the Diana,
which they blew up Gov. Baker had q
hand in it, and said that she should be
blown up before the Yankees should have
her he heard Gov. Baker say at camp Bis
land, near Pattersonville, that anything he
could do to help the confederacy he would
do it saw Gov. Baker often about that
time, July 1862 Gov. Baker furnished
clothes to the rebel soldiers.
The court held at first that although the
charges in the affidavit were limited, 1T would
save time and the trouble of making out
another affidavit or amending the original
to take all the evidence that could be
| brought out in the matter.
Dennis left shortly after the Diana was
| blown up. He had heSrd the governor say
| to rebel soldiers that he would support the
| Confederacy. The colored people up there
used to talk among themselves as to who
/ were Union me1, but they did not consider
that Governor Baker was one. Howard and
Frank Smith, and old DR.. Allen were con
sidered Union men, and some of the swamp
ers were also Union men.
Henry Washington testified that in 1862
he lived on bayou Teche; resided at Frank
linz heard that distractions were being
placed in the Teche at or near camp Bislandi
| was ordered to assist on the work by my
mistress, Mrs. PackWood; when 1 went to
camp Bisland l was ordered TO report tC
Judge Baker, who ordered me to report tC
Alfred Lockley; Judge Baker had twenty o.
his men at work; he said the distinctions
were placed there to keep the id Yankees
from coming up the river; / lived clever
miles above Fraklin; never before that tim
heard of Judge Baker; both of my younl
masters were there; Judge Baker was su
perintending the erection of the works a
the lake and at camp Bisland; Judge Bake
threatened to punish me because | had
fuss with one of the men.
The examination will be resumed this
morning at O'Clock in the senate chambe
of Mechanics Institute.