The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-01-30
TORCH AND FAGa0r.


'h HNhAsN
Comfy,
A reporer Of the News visited Milam
county, and makes the following re-
port OF the burning near Cameron.
a recital Of some of the circum-
stances attending the murder of Mr.. j.
Nj. Baker, by the negro Williams, who
was subsequently cremated for the act
In Milan county, may be Of interest
in connection with few of the prom
inent incidents developed during the
trial OF the murderer and his subse-
quent tragic death. Mr.. Baker was a
small farmer OF Bell county, "A young
man, very industrious and very tenn
perate, well thoughtof 10y all his neigh
bors. lie brought to ROckdale on n
small wagon bale OF cotton and three
or -four hides He sold the cotton for
S4l net, and the hides for SD, the sum
amounting 10 $50. He purchased In
Rockdale a saddle, at n cost of about
Sl3; sack OF salt, 81 20 a calico dress,
Sl.25 two cans Kerosene, 500; soda,
5Oc,; ferriage on his return, 25c. These
expenditures would leave him east in
his pocket about S36.
THE UNsUSPECTING VICTIM,
seated in the front of his wagon, driv-
ing leisurely along, well satisfied with
his bargains, anticipating the pleasures
Of return to his home and the greet
iDgs of the loved ones, he is heard by
the people whose houses he passes on
the way side TO be singing merrly, rs
he cracks his whip, For the whole
distance from Rockhale dark shadow
Is following him closely. The negro
Williams, who has watched the trader
in town, on II horse, armed with
double-barreled shotgun, is observed
by the same people, who have noticed
Williams riding few hundred yards
behind the farmers wagon. The
wagon sheet hanging over the rear of
the bed from the bows prevents the
farmer from taking notice of his pur-
suer.
THE MURDER,
In hollow, near field, six miles
from town, the negro increases his
pace, approaches the wagon, observed
ny plowman in the field rapidly dis
mounts gun in hand, gains the rear of
the slow-movlng wagon, raises the
wagon sheet behind and discharges Il
load OF shot into the body OF the farm
er. The horses are frightened, but the
tlend running rapidly to the front of
the wagon, discharges the remainder
of the load into the face of the dying
man, jumps upon the dOuble-tree, and
with his knife cuts out his pocket con
! tanning his money and a spaying knife,
one blade broken and handle notched.
He then mounts his horse aud rides
oil, and is found next day with this
spaying knife and S35 in his possession.
| The farmer is buried. The negro is
Immediately indicted 1.-THE grand jury
being in session-and in about twelve
days of the murder he is tried, found
guilty, and the sentence Of the court
pronouncing death by hanging on the
next Friday or the Friday following
the next, is considered sure as fate.
But another fate followed faster and
snrer. The prisoner is conveyed from
| the courtroom, where the verdict has
just been rendered, to the Jail.
DURING THE TRIAL
the interest attracts great crowds.
They crowd the court room and the
aisles, and in compact mass stand even
over the jurors and witnesses. a great
number of them are strangers to the
people of the town, and even to the
Sheriff. who is now u candidate for a
third term, and would be supposed to
know nearly all the voters in Milan
county. They are some Of them wit
nesses from Bell county, and Others
friends of the deceased, Baker, and his
| brother, who is greatly interested in
the trial. When the prisoner is con-
| Quoted by strong guard from the
courtroom TO the blacksmith shop to
| be irOned, dense and surging crowd
surround and follow him and enter
the shop, closing around the prisoner.
Men, with their ears attentive, hear
| the muttered exclamation that hang
ing is too good for him, he ought to be
burned" From the shop to the Jail he
is followed by the crowd, and when
the doors close upon him many remain
about the walls, peering through the
CRATES.
THE JAIL
is new brick structure. 1t has double
brick walls and double doors. Inside
the inner brick wall is Il square iron
cage, divided into four compartments.
Between the cage and the inner wall
there is corridor of width sufficient
to permit the guards to pass around
the cage. The prisoner is placed in a
front cage at first, but owing to the
number of persons about the jail, and
to prevent assistance in case of at
tempted escape, he is in short time
removed TO rear cage, the double
doors in the brick walls being consid-
cred the 'front.', which contains no
other prisoner. Sharp eyes at the wia-
dow notice the removal, and note the
location of the prisoners new quar-
tiers. The heavy walls, the two-inch
iron. barred cages and ponderous doors
constitute one of the best and most Sc
cure prisons in the State. The sheriff
has pledged his word the prisoner shall
be executed. He retires after night to
his home, leaving the keys of the
cages in the hands of the jailor and
guards. who are stationed in the corri-
doris about the cages. The doors are
bolted.
JUDGE LYNCH OPENS COURT.
At five minutes past twelve at night
a large number of persons, including
several youths under age, surround the
;ou ouietly They come to the door