Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-27

The TRIAL OF Col. BAKER FOR INDECENT AS
SAULT.

SAULT.
LoNpov, Aug. 3-Ever since the assault
By Col Valentine Baker on Miss Dickinson
it has been topic OF Eager conversation.
Ii has been talked over among every class
Of people who ever talk about anything ex-
cept the crops and the weather. IL has
been pretty much the same in the highest
and the lowest classes. Not, you will say,
precisely toe subject one would choose
iOr discussion in mixed company. Perhaps
not, but people are g shade less particular
10 such matters here than in America-less
prudisb, ii you like-abOut commenting on
matters which involve mention OF the re-
latiOns between the sexes. Be that as 1t
may, the Baker case has been talked over
wiIh a. leas. q much freedom as the Beech
er case was among you, and the details of
the former werelnOt much sweater than those
which Engiishmen have 50 long found
an easy means of reproacn to Us.
Col. Baker : position was very brilliant
one in his profession. and a very good one
in society. 1t Is the fashion to speak of him
as Sir Samuel Bakers BROTHER, but fancy
that in the army Sir Samuel was best known
as Col. Valentine Baker, brother. lie was
one of the few officers who, without incur
ring the reproach OF being bOokworm,
made tie study OF war in some sense scien-
tifc. Competent judges thought him avery
capable soldier not merely brave. which
most men are. Perhaps his actual services
at the Cape and III the Crilnea made him
less famous OF late years rsan his adven-
lures during the war OF $50. lie Is Colo
mel Of the 10th Hussars-the Prince Of
Wa!es's regiment-and he took that oppor-
tunity to study cavalry tactics with the most
famous practitioners Of modern times, the
Uhlans Of Germany. Pcople spoke of him
something "a, s,tive-and-twenty years ago, the
lamented Capt. Nolan was spoken of. His
relations with the Prince of Wales were 80
intimate a. to give rl-e to the story that the
Prince had used his personal etiDrts TO pre-
vent the case from coming to trial. Ii was
believed, and the Prince, who must have
known il was believed, seems to have taken
no pains to have il dI>be.ieyed. There were
queer reports about the pressure put upon
the young lady's relatives. lI Is difficult to
imagine how such propositions could be
made But Col. Baker was oneo of the suite
chosen to accompany the Prince on his In
dian tOur- lie WAS popular among his
brother o.fceTs-so popular that they stood
BY him IN a way that almost brought dis
credit on the army IN way that almost
seemed to imply a determination to yindl-
cate Col. Baker, right or wrong.
Putting aside Col Bakers war friends
and the officers who thought the honor Of
the army might BE- upheld by compromise
in behalf Of dishonor. the general feeling
about the case has Oeen a right one. The
condemnation OF Col. Baker has been near
ly unanimous admiration and respect Tor
Miss Dickinson have been not less 80. The
clubs are supposed 70 be the home OF cynical
>keptic!Sns about women. but even IN the
climbs the name Of thas heroic and stainless
girI mas been treated with respect. The
worst thing ever heard said about her was
that she ought to have seen what Col. Ba-
ker meant sooner. and have stopped talking
with him The comment i absurd, Tor all
the evidence shows that Bakers conduct
changed all in moment, and that Miss
DickensOn resented the hrst approach To
familiarity. The Judge who tried the case
expressed TO more Khan most people nave
thought when he repeiled the Suggestion
that this libertine attempt had denied her'
=. | say distinctly it has not and that she
walks out Of tni- court as pure and as lnno-
cent a. .ho ever vas and a. undehed as she
ever WIZ ray. more. that the courage and
spirit she displayed have added new ray
OF glory . her youth. her innocence, and
her be.,l.tv'--ln outbreak of manly feeling
which not even the spirit OF decorum per-
vadIns an Essii>h court could prevent the
audience from applaading-
The sentence passed On Baker - thought
TO err on the side OF mercy. The reasons
which Mr.. Justice Brett gives for not send
ing hin, To hard labor seem To most people
reasons the Other way. iliah rank, brill
liant reputation, services u ones country,
are all reasons that ought 70 have saved Col.
Baker from crime. bu5 not reasons which
ought to shield him from the penalty oil the
crime. But it is idle 20 deny that social In-
fiuences are strong with the English bench
The constant disclaimer OF them would prove
it. A Judge thinks twice before he sentences
- an officer and gentleman TO quite the
same fate which he would unhesItatlngly
iniliet on a man who was neither. ana,
having thought twice. he does not do It, 10
Col Baker himself it cannot make much
difference With or without hard LABOR
twelve months in jail mean ruin TO him. lt
means ,f course being clshiered from the
army. His career IL ended. Even friends
must fall of from him-the very friends
vino. wrongly but oravelY, stood beside him
in the dock. The one thing they can re-
member to his credit is his conduct after
the outrage No attempt was made 10 dls-
credit Miss Dickenson. Mr.. Hawkins was
careful to tell the jury that the instructions
he had received on tn:s point came ir1m
Col. Bakers own lips. lie added. IN bare
iustiee TO himself. that had the defendant
Instructed him 10 AXE different course
his services would not have been at his
command. That is right, yet 1t had better
have been left uusaid. lnquIry had shown
at once that Miss Dickinson seharacter was
absolutely unassailable, and the slightest
hint in a contrary sense would have been
destructive to whoever made IL.
A good deal might be said on the acqut-
tai OF Col. Baker on the most serious charge
of the three-that of assault with intent 10
yi,late-and on the means By when u was
ob,ainsd. If Mr. Justice Brett's statement
of the law on this matter be good, u i u.in
cnlt 10 see on what evidence c'hsicii"n
conjd ever be obtained. To justify u ne-
cordiny, to him, jury must he -s'i-i'i.
NOT mei civ OF an intent, in the ordinary
sense hut an intent 10 accomplish hi- pur-
nose no matter what force u.isht b. ne'''s-
sarv. That may be the isw ,ontii ~ i--ih'Fo
MIGHT as well 20 uo AtS ~ all against thH'
narr,rnlar off.n-e To- ilry Convicted c Tor
an indecent assault -iIap'y. a"i nr ","''
course wa let open O. trcei - the Juus'-
Oce NOR remark oniv l. Is The existing
..;iw.v ~ ,teu, OF unclnnseted carriages
unnrovided with tnern- I'll siguaiins '"e
0uarj. which made in,s oGiras. PoSs.".s
Sunnose the syate.n existed. and the outrage
had bsppened in Ansries. What honii.e'
should We nos have heard against the lln-
nsrfsct civilization which leit passengers
% thus unprotected Cor. n. Y Tribune
Doncan Sherman & Co. offer their crsdi'.
or. tbirty-three and u third per cent. o.
v .rs;r claims. in installments-if they are
willing to settle on such terms. They y,,s s,,. =.
rrobe6ly be glad to get even so maen ~
that.