The Shasta courier., 1868-03-14
. Desperate Outlaw-He Commits over
Forty Murders.

Inc Memphis Tenn. Post details the ca
reer OF desperate named Baker, which
reads more like fiction than fact. 1t saws !:
~ Il called himself g. Col. Baker of the Con.
iederate Army" but it is said he never held
commission in that army. He was in the
re2ei service as private soldier or guerrilla,
ana we believe was also at one time in the
onlon army. He was in Texas before the
war and married in the region of his present
exploits. After the war, he had no DISPOSE
tion 10 settle down to make an honest and
peaceable living. but ranged about, depreda.
tions and outrages Of the most infamous char
acter. His conduct was so outrageous that
zen. Reynolds, commanding in Texae, issued
an order declaring HIM an outlaw, and direct
ed that he should be killed wherever found
lie mas lately been roaming over. the country
IN the northeastern corner Of Texas, and oc-
caslonally in the Indian Territory and South
western Arkansas, sometimes alone and at
other times accompanied by other leaders and
desperate characters.
"A detailed account of all the outrages of
this desperate villain would fill a volume.
lie Is SAID to have committed upwards of 40
murders. AT first his murderous acts were
confined to United States soldiers and nc
groes; but he has ceased to make distinctions,
and no class is exempt from his atrocities.
AT one time he rode up and killed two soldiers
VINO were unsuspicious of danger and unpre
pared tor an attack. AT another time be
deliberately shot a colored driver. A squad
OF men were sent out by military command
er to capture him, and met him on the road
well mounted and armed, and held n conyer.
satlon with him, but either from not knowing
him or some other cause, suffered him to
n pot M to1 H.. i i
post at Boston, in Bowie county, Texas.
issued circular offering reward of 5000
for his head. Baker, in return, wrote a pro.
clamation, signing it Col. Baker. C. S. A. -
Offering $500 for the commanders head. He
proposed to capitulare on certain conditions,
among which were the following: That all
United States soldiers should leave the South;
that all rebels should be repaid for their loss
es during the war, and that the Southern
C)nftdercy should be acknowledged. Oflate
he has announced that he will not spare the
rebels. He says they have submitted to the
Yankee, and have dared to censure his acts.
and he will treat all alike.
This desperate assumes an air of bravado
and defiance, and has intimidated the peo-
pie OF the region which he curses with his
presence. A ferry privilege on Red river,
which would have brought round figure,
was recently put up at public sale, and was
Knocked down at $40, because he had given
notice that be didn't want any body to bid on
it, and he then made the purchaser transfer
the privilege to him. Among the latest and
most fendish acts Of this desperate villain
were number of murders committed on
Sulphur Fork in Bowie county, in the vicinity
of his father-in laws residence He went
with two companions to the house of an old
man, an acquaintance and friend of his faith.
er.inlaw, and deliberately shot down two
colored men who came to the door.
The old man then went out to demonstrate
with him, when he said, with a malignant
smile, Old man, you are of no account you
have outlived your usefulness :" and, pre-
senting his revolver, fired, inficting a fatal
wound The poor man fell to the ground,
and has two daughters ran to his assistance,
when Baker knocked one of them down, aud
left her bleeding and senseless. He then
went to the fire place. and remarking that the
old house had stood long enough, took a
shovelful of Goals and threw them upon bed
Another daughter pulled the bedclothes off to
extinguish the fire, when he drew a knife and
cut her in the most horrible manner. After
committing these diabolcal acts, and treat.
ing the affair as though he considered it
good joke, he left and went to his father-in
laws house, telling him that perhaps he had
better go over to his friends. as they were in
some trouble over there. When the neigh. |
bors went to the house, the old man and one
of his daughters were dead. 1fa
This crowning act of afro ious crime arous
ed the citizens, and party was organized to
capture and kill Baker. He, however, made
his escape, and is still at large.
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