The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-03
From the Oshkosh, (wis) Northwestern, oct. IS.
MOB MURDER.
Particulars Of Lynohing Affair at Stevens
Point, Wis

circulation, since the shooting of Sheriff |
Baker, in regard to the circumstances that |
led to the terrible affair, that your reporter |
has interviewed the Coultwrights in order |
to get their story, which they gave sub |
stantially as follows; About twenty years
ago Amos Cartwright and L. Hanchett |
entered into partnership for the purpose
of carrying on the lumber trade. They
purchased what is now known as the Big
Plover River, consisting of mill and con-
siderable pine lands. They ran out what
lumber they manufactured on the river.
Courtwright usually went out with it to
market, and Baker, then young man,
made more than one trip for him. Court
wright and Hanchett were In business to-
gether but short time. tCourtwright
bought out Hanchett, giving him a mort
gage on the property to secure part of the
payment. When the motgage became due
Cartwright was unable to pay it, and
judgment was obtained, and he was unable
to pay that. So he sold his interest in the
property to McDill & Co. for "a, 900. This
was after the death of Hanchett, and the
administrators of the Hanchett estate
claimed that one-half that amount should
be paid to them in settlement of a sum that
they claimed against Cartwright outside
of the securities, on the mill property. This
claim Courtwright refused to pay, on the
ground, as he claims that it was settled
previous 10 Hanchetts death, but was
never cancelled.
Suit was commenced, and, as Court
xrr;efkt baI 60 tk.,t 10 hol
been settled, judgment was obtained,
and the farm where the shooting was done
was held liable on that Judgment, although
Cartwright claims il was bought by his
wife The court ordered the farm sold
and the proceeds 10 be applied on the judg-
ment. The farm was bid for by j. o. Ray
mond, who had married Hanchett's widow.
Cartwright still insists that it is an unjust
claim, and as the farm was the only prop
| erty in the world that he had any claim to,
he was determined to hold il In defiance of
everything, for he knew not what TO do in
his old age If that was gone Isaiah, the
one that shot Baker, is brother of Amos,
an old bachelor Of about sixty: He claims
that he did not intend to shoot the sheriff,
but that it was young man, A. Sidmore,
who stood by the sheriff, that he intended
to kill. They have both seen better days
Amos was at one time deputy sheriff, and
he knew what the duties of an officer were.
Drinking and gambling, they claim, have
been the cause of all their losses, and their
desperate, hardened appearance would GER
tainly ccrroborate that statement. How
ever much they may think they have been
I wronged, there is not even the shadow of
anything to justify them in shooting an
officer in the performance of his duty,
more especially such man as Baker, of
whom there is not one who can say that he
ever went farther than his duty called him,
even in case like this. He was accus-
toned to danger all his life, as pilot on
the river and as a member of the Eight
zenith Wisconsin during the war; He was
severely wounded at Shiloh, brave to a
fault, and cool under the most trying cir
cumstances. Portage county lost on that
fatal Monday man whose like 1t may take
years 10 replace. ~
From the Oshkosh Northwestern, oct. 20.
STEVENS POINT, Oct. 10.--The sun this
beautiful autumn day rose on one of the
most sickening sights ever witnessed in
this part of the country. Just one week
from yesterday Sheriff Baker was shot, and
this morning his murderers were found
hanging TO the branches of pine tree
about . mile from the court house, from
where they were taken at an early hour.
There had been considerable talk for some
time that such would be their fate, and the
u sheriff had taken every precaulion to make
the prisoners as secure as careful watching
and iron bars could make them.' For feal
that he would be captured and the KEY
taken from him, he locked the doors an(
hid the keys, leaving Officer Wheelock, OF
the police force, in charge of the Jail, .wht
kept close watch until about one o'clock
when thinking all danger past for the
night, he fell asleep, and jim about an houl
was awakened from his slumbers by two
men, who grasped him by the arms, ant
: cautioned HIM to lie still Or they woult
, silence him. They stood over him durin,
the time that the remainder of the cr0w(
Ewere forcing their way into the Jail. The
of half inch boler-iron strapped on boil
sides with five-eehths bar iron. This doc
T they could not unlock, SO they cut off tn
! top hinge aud bent thu door lack almos
. double. and forced their way through tn
I opening thus made, and unlocked each sue
, cessive door to the prisoners cells, the sam
key fitting them all. How or where the'
got q key TO fit, is only known to the partie
who used il. When the cells were reache,
: the prisoners were dragged out, and force,
0 through the opening made by bendin
a the outside iron door. All the while thi
!. was gong on, the Jail was guarded on tn
y outside by about sixty armed men. and tn
3 noise and confusion on the outside was ter
: rible. The prisoners, of whom there
r quite number, were all the time yellin
!. Murder u at the top fof their voices
Wagons were in readiness to convey til
men to the place selected for their execu
: ton. 1t was some time before the officer
! were ready to follow them, and it was sur
u rise when they were found about mil
= south from the court house, and abou
= twenty rods west of the road that lead
. direct to Plover.
Z As soon as it was discovered where the
10 were your reporter FASTENED to the spot
= and the sight that met his gaze he neve
!, wishes to sec again. There were tw
Q brothers hanging from the same tree,u oil
l. men, both of them having seen three. scor
9 years. And, to make the sight still MOI
q sickening, their clothes were completed
V covered with blood, which showed this
they fought desperately for their llvel
q lsaish's eyes were wide open, and his pos
= ton was such that the sun shone SQUARED
% in his face. Isaiah was the one who she
i Baker. HIS neck and face were distorted
= Amos, 1t is supposed, was nearly dead bt
I fore the rope was put around his neck.
b The tree upon which they we're hun
q was pine, about ten inches in diameter
y and whose branches extend over the roao