The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-13
From the Memphi. Post. !

From the Memphis Post1
From gentleman cOnversant with the facts in
the case, we have obtained some particulars IN re-
gard to the deeds Of desperate who infests
Northeastern Texas, which seem more like the
creation Of fiction or the record of events in the
dark sges, than like occurrences Of the present,
and which, but for the reliability of our informant
and his opportunity of obtaining the facts we
would be inclined to reject as incredible. History
hardly affords parallel to the atrocious con-
duct OF this fendish villain. Highwaymen aud
bngands in other countries, impelled by the
thirst for gold. may have committed as many
deeds OF blood, but murder with them was not
the sole object. With him il seems to be sort
OF diabolical pastime, ia which he takes delight,
as other men would do in the killing of game.
He Is one OF the class of villains whose innate
deprayity and fiendishness given develop
ment by the opportunities Afforded by the war,
and who have taken advantage of the unsettled
state Of afairs since, TO give full scope to the
wickedDess of their malignant hearts, which was
before kept under restraint by the force of Law.
The name Of the desperado is Baker. He calls
himself Col. Baker, of the Confederate army"
but 1t is said he never held a commission in that
army. BE was in the rebel service private
soldier or guerilla, and, we believe, was also a
one time in the Union army. He was in Texas
before the war, and married in the region of his
present exploits. After the war, he had no dis
position to settle down to make an honest and
peaceable living. but ranged about, committing
depredations and outrages of the most Infamous
character. His conduct was so outrageous that
General Reynolds, commanding in Texas issued
an order declaring him outlaw, and directing
that be should be killed wherever found. He has
latterly been roaming over the country Ia the
northeastern corner OF Texas and occasionally in
the Indian Territory and southwestern 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 iii a volume. He is said
to have committed upward of forty murders At
hrtt his murderous acts were confined to United
states soldiers and negroes 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 who were unsuspciOus OF danger
and unprepared for attack. At another time
he deliberately shot colored driver. squad
OF men were sent out by military commander to
capture him, and met him on the road well
mounted and armed, and held a conversation with
him, but either from not knowing him or
from some other cause suffered him TO escape
unmolested. The commander OF the post at Bos-
ton, in Bowie county, Texas. issued a circular
Offering reward of two hundred dollars for his
head. Baker, in return wrote a proclamation
signing it "COl. Baker, @. s. A." offering four
hundred dollars for the commanders head, Hs
proposed to capituate 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 losses during the
war, and that the Southern Confederacy should be
acknowledged. OF late, he has announced that
he will not spare the rebels. He says they have
submitted to the Yankees and have dared to CEN
sure his acts, and he will treat all alike. This
desperate assumes an air of bravado and de-
fance, and has intimidated the people of the
region which he curses with his presence. A
ferry privilege on Red River, which was recently
put up for public sale, and which would have
brought good figure, was knocked down at ten
dollars, because he had given notice that he
didn't want anybody to bid on 1t, and he then
made the purchaser transfer the privilege to him.
Among the latest and most fendish acts of this
desperate villain we're number of murders COM
mitted on Sulphur Fork in Bowie county in the
vicinity of his father-n-law's residence. He
went with two companions TO the house of an
old man. an acquaintance and friend Of his father.
in-law, and riding up. deliberately shot down
two colored men who came to the door. The old
man went out to demonstrate with him, when he
said, with a malignant smile, Old man, you are
of no account; you've outlived your usefulness"
and, presenting his revolver, fired, INJECTING a
fatal wound. The poor man fell 10 the ground,
and his two daughters ran TO his assistance, when
Baker Knocked one of them down, and left her
bleeding and senseless. He then went 20 the
fireplace, and remarking that the old house had
stood long enough, took shovelful of Goals
and threw them upon a bed. Another daughter
pulled the bed-clothes of to extinguish the fire,
when he drew a knife and cut her in the most
horrible manner. After committing these diabol-
ical acts and treating the whole affair as though
he considered it a good joke, he left aud went
to his fathern-law's house, telling him that per.
haps he had better 60 over to his friends as they
were in some trouble over there. When the
neighbors went to the house the old man and one
of his daughters were dead.
This GROWING act OF atrocious crime aroused
the citizens, and party was organized to capture
and kill Baker. He, however, made his escape
and 10 still at large. 1t is to be hoped that the
effort to rid the country OF such malignant fend
may not be abandoned.