Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-13
A DESPERATE TEXAS OUTLAW.
He Commits Over Forfy Marfer.


j. The following rensrkSble and apparent a.
thenic story we lind IN The Metaphis Po~f
"lrom a gentleman ecnversant with the facts
IN the case we have Obtained some particulars
IN regard 70 the des-ds of a desperate who in
Tests Noriheastsrn Texas, which seem mor,s
like the creation Of fiction or the records of
events in the dark ages, than like occErrcncrs
OF the present, and which, bat for the relIsblh
" OF our Informant, and his opportunity OF
obtaining the facts, we would be Inclined % ra-
lect a. incredible. History hardly affords a
parallel 10 the atrocious conduct OF thls heisd-
lsb villain. High waymen and briCands in other
countries impelled by the thirst for gold. may
nave eommiueo as manv de~ds Of blood, hGt
muru'r with them was rot the sole ohlect Mfn
hlm II seems To b. a sor: OF diaJoliCal pastiule.
IN winch D. takes delight a. other men would
DO in tbe killing OF game. He l. one OF the class
OF Villains whoss innate depravity aud tend
ishness was given deVs lOpinent br the oppor-
tunities afforded by the war. and who la -.
taken advaniage of the unsettled state of affairs
since 70 give iull scope % the wlcLedness OF
their malignant hearts. which was before keos
under Restraint by the fOrce of law
"The name of the desperate l. Baker re
calls himself Colonel Baker, OF the Con fa.l.r-
az arm but It ~ said he never held commits
sion IN that army. He was in the rebel service
a n private soldier or guerrilla and We beliey.
was also al one time IN the Union army lie
was in Texas befors The war, ana married in
the region Of his present exploits. Afr the
war he had no disposition 10 settle dewn to
make an honest and peaeeahle living, bu,
ranged about committing dspredaiions and out
RACES OF the most Infamous character. His con-
duct was SO outrageous that General Reynolds
commanding IN Texas, issued an order declar-
ing hlm an outlaw, and directing that he should
be killed wherever found. He has lasteriy been
roaming over the country in the northeastern
corner of Texas, and occasionally in the Indian
Territory and Southwesrrn Arkansas. some
times alonr, and AT other times accompanied by
other desperate characters.
"A detaild account Of all the outrages OF thfs
desperate VILLAIN would NIL a volume He ~
said TO have committed upwards of forty mur-
ders. At nrst his mUrderous acts were con-
fined TO United States soldiers and negroes: huI
he has ceased TO make distinctions. and no class
II exempt from his atrocities Al one tlm. he
rode up and killed TWO soldiers who " ere aa-
suspicious Of danger and unpTepared for an
attack. At another time he deliberately shot
eolored driver. squad ~ men were sem ont
by military commander 10 capture him.
and met HIM on the road we'll mounted slai
armed, and held conversation with hlsn.
hat either from not knowing HIM. or from
some other cause, suffered him to escape nm
molested. The commander of ths post az
Boston, in Bowie county, Texas. issued A cur
culsr, Offering reward OF two hundred dollars
for his head. Baker, in return, wrote a procla-
nation, signing IL Colonel Baker. &. =. A.
Offering four hundred dollars for the cornmana-
er's head. He proposed 10 capitulaie 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
Confederscy should be acknowledge. OfIate
he has announced thai he will not spare IA.
rebels. He says they have submitted 70 the
Yankees, and have dared 10 censure has acts
and he will treat all alike.
This desperate assumes an air Of bravasio
and defiance, and has inundated The people of
the region which he curses with his prpSeuce
A ferry privilege on Red river, which was re-
Gently put up for public sale, aud which won Ia
have brought good figure, was knocked down
al ten dollars, because he had given notice than
he didn't want anybody TO bud on IL. and he
then made the purchaser transfer The privilege
10 him. Among the latest and most nendi 81
acts of this desperate villain Were a number Of
murders committed on Sulphur Fork. an Bowie
county, in the vicinity of his father-in-law's
residence. He went with two companions 10
the house of an old man, an acq uaintance and
friend of his father-in-law, and. nding up. de-
hberately shot down two colored men who
came TO the door. The old man went oat 10 re-
monstrate with him, when he said. with a ma
hgnant smile, sOld man. you are of no account;
you We outliyed your usefulness and present.
ing his reyolyor, fired. inficting a fatal wound
The poor man fell TO the ground. and his two
daughters ran 10 HE Assistance. when Baker
knocked one OF them down and left her bleed
ing and senseless.
He then went 10 the fire. place. and remark
ing that the old house had stood long enough.
took shovelful OF Goals and threw them upon
bed Another daughter pulled the bed clothes
on 10 extlngulsh the firP, when he drs a knife
and cut her In the most horrible manner. After
committing these dIaoollcal acts. snd treating
the whole affair a. though he considered IL a
good joke, he left and went 10 his sather-ia-
laws house, telling him that perhaps ne had
better go over to his friends. they were IA
some trouble over there. When the neighbors
went TO the house the old man and one OF his
daughters Were dead.
This crowning act ofatrocious crime arous sad
The citizens, and party was organized 10 cap
ture and kill Baker He. however. made hrs
escape, and IL still Al large. Ii l. 10 be hoped
hat the effort 10 rid the country of such ma
ngnant fend may nor te abandoned"