Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-09-04
COL. BAKERS PUNISHMENT.
Utter Pecuniary and Social Ruin-His Only
Future.


A London correspondent of the New
York World writes No one can ques-
ton the justice of Colonel Bakers con
viction, but its consequences are terri
BILE. He must be dismissed from the
army, and if the precedent in the case
of Major B. is followed, as it proba
bly, will be, he will lose the value of his
commission, which is between $4,000
and $4,000. He must pay the fine of
$500 and all the costs of his prosecution,
which will not be less than $500, so that
the pecuniary loss which he will suffer
for his ofense will be all of 910, 900, or
$4,000. This, however, is the least
and slightest of his punishments-his
family is rich and the money can easily
be spared. But then comes the twelve
months imprisonment in the Horse
monger lane Jail. True, the judge
was merciful enough to order that dur
ing his Imprisonment he should be ex-
empt from the physical degradation of
working with the thieves and other
felons who are his fellow prisoners he
is to be treated, it is supposed, like a
debtor. But the moral degradation re-
mains, and it will be practically ineface-
able. [ am told that his name will be
stricken from the roll of the clubs OF
which he was q member, and that upon
his release from prison he will find every
door closed against him. Much surprise
was excited by the remark made by the
Judge in sentencing him, to the effect
that he might efface the stigma of his
crime and degradation by some splendid
act of service to his country in the
uture. But how can he do this if, as is
now said to be certain, he is to be cash
tered from the army "for conduct I'M
becoming an officer and gentleman 2
Colonel Baker was magnificent officer.
Prince Frederick Charles of Prussis
not long ago said that there were " only
four great cavalry officers in Europe,
and of these Colonel Baker was one
He was esteemed throughout the whole
army his fellow-oflicers looked up tx
him. The commandment chief, thu
Duke of Cambridge, was warmly at
tached to him. On the very night afte
Colonel Bakers unhappy meeting witt
Miss Dickinson he was present at din
ner given by the duke in fact, it wa
to attend that dinner he was coming t.
town. After the dinner he made littl
} speech in honor of the duke, which s.
charmed his royal highness that as tn
colonel sat down he slapped him on tn
shoulder and exclaimed "Baker, yo'
are the best fellow that ever lived
The affection which the Prince of Vale
bore for him is well known, and, in
word, there was no officer in the BIRTHS
5 army who was at once so deserving an
so certain of future promotion and glor
. as this now disgraced and ruined mar
He has thrown everything away, and fo
what2 l have heard some severe crit
: cisms upon the manner in which hi
counsel conducted his defense-ol
rather, did not conduct it, for there wa
, positively no defense made for hin
All that they tried to do-and in tbs
they succeeded-was to prevent his col
: viction on the graver count of the il
G dictment Had he been found guilt
+ of that it would have been felony, an
# he would have been sent to penal serv
D tude. The counsel for the defens
Q showed nervous desire to avoid cas-
ing any reaectionsupon Miss Dickensol
> and in this they were probably pruden
. L hear it suggested that when Colon
' Baker comes out of prison he may go @
/ to Egypt and offer his service to I'll
rs Khedive.