New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-18
Colonel Bakers Trial.

extraordinary one. and besides filling th'
court room with magistrates and dlstln
guishel members of the bar and society
attracted an Immense crowd in the stree
which had to be cleared before the tris
could proceed.
Colonel Baker was indicted on three
counts, attemp: at rape. indecent as.aul
and common assault. Tho whole cas-.
hinged on the testimony OF Miss Dickinson
utmost coolness. calmness and ciearness
and both direct and csoss examination:
were conducted with the most perfect cour
tesv. On hes testimony he was acquitted
OF the first count and found .2ui!ty on the
two remainiD: ones, after fifteen minutes
elaboration. Testimony was then heard
on his character, and he was sentenced to &
years imprisonment and fine Of S2500.
Some peculiarities of Euglish aisi prias
practice appeared in the ease. For instance
the jtry being one in a criminal case where
the sheriff is specially careful! 20 do his
duty, and the .ule Of the common law com
missioners followed. il was "good" jury
That .s, the sheriff selected the names from,
not merely the lower class Of qualified free.
men. but :rem the better class. including
some wao would be qualified to serve as
special jurors. A special Jury is one whe-e
tie sheriff nominates lis. which is eeduced
by the parties each striking of certain
number Of nance. This jury was taken
ca-uzlIv IN >h. ori{Da mo ', and m obo l.
lenges were made, though each eide had the
privilege. They were Of highly respect
abls clas.-al: substantial tradesmen or
men OK independent means.
Another noticeable thing occurs in :he
opening address OF Sergean: Parry for the
prosecution. Il: may be-" ne said that
some of you have discussed the case a 8 it
has appeared in the papers: bu: invite
you 20 dismiss from your minds any i'm.
pressions you may have imbibed upon it,
and decide the case according to the evi-
dence. lcsmay be difficult tor you to do SO,
bnt. according to my experience, jufies al
ways endeavor TO do so." Fancy Morris
opening the Beecher case with those words!
Justice Brett's charge was quits short
and remarkably diree: and positive in its
Instructions. The Jury were TOLD. almost
in rs ,ns ny words, that they must convict
on the two minor counts. On the graver
charge ne reviewed minute,y all the evil
dsnce of the young lady. with whom. as ne
saiT. every one must have the strong gest
sympathy. bur. as he told them, they must
u 20 >ha ,nnst ,parcifDi Uoc-fruot;np or %ba
defendants acts. and that he was innocent
if his intent was merely to secure a consent
and not to resort to violence. and as there
was only doubtful evidence on this point
from her. i. was almost equivalent to an in.
struetion to acguit.
In his address 70 the defendant Justice
Brett said 10 him, "Yon have had wha.
every ons must admi. 70 nays been. a calm
and dispassionate trial: and tha: jury OF
whom some :eas was expressed, have
anowI how TO discriminate between the
charges made against you. They have most
honestly. mos: teaciessly. most properly ab.
solved you from the heaviest part OF the
charge. though they have found you guilty
Of that Of which no one can doubt you to be
guilty" A recusal OF :he evidence would
satisfy any one that this was an absolutely
statement. The Justice continued:
'As to the young lady, have heard it said
that she ought no: to have remained SO
ong II a railway carriage alone with 8
nan: Ouc it seems 20 me that this suggests
, state of socie:y which, happily. does NOT
.xist IN any part Of it. 1t seems to suggest
ha: a detense;ess woman in public con.
'evance in this country, if she is alone in
aiiwa- carriage with a man. may expect
o suffer some outrage from him. /: is no:
rue of any part of society. from: the high.
'st 20 the lowest
The,s is still less foundation for such
Imposition in our country. No where else
u the world do women: from the young
choo! girl and the delicate and refined LADY
o the maid Of all work or the humble
move about as freely as
e.e. In eyery place they are confident
he presence of a man means assurance of
rotec.ion: that all the opposite sex are in. |
tinctiveiy governed By the rule Of the gen.
vOman. because she is woman. not be- |
ause she is a fortune. title or beauty" !
'ut sometimes outrages Dis occur, and. IS |
I England. they are not confined to the |
)w, the ignorant or the bruta! In most of |
bese cases Che otienss is as rank as that of !
'olonei Baker: but who believes an Amer.
an cour: and jury, KNOWN; all tn facts
efore trial. would bring the culpris to such
peedy. complete and exact justice as did
le court at Croydon! On this point we are
AZ behind our English cousins.
Coione! Baker committed his otfense,
hich can be we'll described in the American
,rm Of '!improper liberties" June II. Au.
ut 3 he went TO prison to expiate his
Tense, and he will remain till his time has
Zpired. and afterward unit, the fine and
,e costs Of prosecution are paid. the i'm
tisonment tor the costs being limited to
lree months. What blinded his eyes and
llled his moral sense, and induced him, q
arried man of fifty. to torture a helpless
,uns lady, an utter stranger: with kisses
I'd !ewd actions. will never be known. It
Of no consequence. He did it. He must
ldergo his punishment. and the brothers
the lady. one an officer, one barristey
Id one physicia8, are to be commended
+. insisting on the prosecution.
Colonel Baker is fuined. The protests Of
the colOnels in the army can net save
II. His brilliant career, his splendid
lents, vast, indeed, unequaled knowledge
military detail, will be of no further serv.
} to his country. The Horse Guards may
L innU Uhera 70 find another To fill his |