New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-13
RAKER,s DEATH DOUBTED.

DER AND BAKERS TRIAL
The announcement of the death OF Lewis BAKER.
at one time charged with the murder OF " BIZ
Poole il not credited by any who knew
him in this city. 1t is asserted that he
has not lived abroad long at time, aud that he had
no reason TO change his name. Some interesting
"reminiscences are given of the occurrences which
led to POole's death aud Of Bakers three trials
"B1Ip PooLEs ALLEGED MURDERER
GOSSIP CALLED FORTH BY IHE REPORT OF LEWIS
BAKERS DEATH-THE FIGHTS THAT RESULTED
IN THE KILLING OF FOOTBALLS WITH FoRAhh
ACQUAINTANcEs OF BAKER
The reuorted death ut Paris Of Lewis Baker,
the reputed murderer Of Bill PoOe, was the subject
OF much comment yesterday in sporting circles where
Baker has been wen known fOf many years ana every
where, 80 far coaid be ascertaned' the [epoI1
was discreted It not certainly kpo" R tlat BAKER
was not I'm Paris but IL confidently stated that ne
had not lived there for any length OF time
that he had been in this country qui'e
Tecently; that he had resided IN TINS
ity neay ali ,e time since his trial for the murder OF
Poole ana had taken active part In politics. hsd ac
eunulated property, andhad been familiar hs1e Ia mo
poo room ana on the race through all these years.
that be had never thought Of changing his name "he
here and there e0nl6 be conceivable reason Tor DDS
doing 80 while abroad. On the other hand the os'en
announcing his death implied that The nan JaeASop'
n resident Of Paris and known to American reslaenlSlor
many years.
Baker was natye OF Wales and came to this country
an his boyhood and was hst known as police ouloef'
appointed by Fernando Wood When the American
party was fret brought into prominence baS'I
was eonsDcuOus oRe Of aus hler "
ponsnts John Mortissey also champion OF the
opposition to the KnoR-NothiDg purity and IN TINS way
he and Baker becaDel strong friends Among tho
American party was Poole. Ninth Weird man. WHOSE
reputation was principally eonhBed 70 his SKIN IS
fighter HIS fame In this line was CONSIDERABLY
dened By an encounter be had with horrssey Old one
Of the piers along the north River IN the summer Oh
1855 NmrIssey received severe beating, as he was
eopparatiyely without the assistance Of friends whhe
Poole was surrounded by scores of ms followers TIE
news of the fight aud principally Of Aorrisseys aeieat
was widely circulated throughout the city. Nearly
year afterward Poole n the Sahwix Hall barroom
ON Broadway During the evening, Baker, Paugeen,
notorious rufan Turner, and few more OF Morusseys
friends entered the RaoOn general fight ensued, AMI
over thirty bullets were fred pr0miseuonsY' Pooe
wac shot In the breast and died in about week Sew
era other parsons who were IN the saloon al the tne
were also injured PoOle's dying words were 81 DIE
true American" This remark was considered
BY the KnowNothing party illustration OF
Poole,s devotion 20 their cause, and they be-
came strong 90 their denunolation OF ms mur-
dorer About 10000 Of the party attended his funeral
Il was difficult 20 learn who tired The shot that killed
POolp
from the country and sailed for SD0in with which eoun
try there was no extTaditi0n treaty George Law a
wealthy resident OF the city, who took active interest
fn the search Tor Baker fitted out the GraPeshOt TO fol-
low the Isabella Jewett In which Baker had secured
passage. The vessel 0yertaken and Baker was
brought to this CITY for trial
A. Oakley Han was Attorney at the time. In
making few observations yesterday about bis eonnec-
fion with the trial ne said The details of that ease,
which Is now Deariys quarter Of century old, have
nearly all passed from my mind remember
however that after the third trial, one fact
was clearly established in my mind, and IN
that OF the Acknowledgement Ogden Hoffman,
We had indicted Che wrong man. Pooles friends were
the agressors ana escaped uppuDshed. contrast OF
the histories Of the two parties subsequently, to that
time Is greatly in favor Of Baker. Many
Of Poole's followers have since been sent to prison
II the law had been properly executed Poole would not
have been murdered. 1t was only short time before
the row occurred that he indicted for shooting
man tried very hard to keep him confined, but one Of
the Judges released him bail Before his trial was to
have come of he was dead.
.sThe first trial continued Mr. Hail. lasted month
There we're tbirty-fye witnesses examined AZ that
time the law dad net allow man 20 testify
IA his own behalf. This made the testimony
All one-sided because all Bakers friends we're indicted
along with him. IN all think there were seven. The
barkeerer's testimony was rather amusing. He had
been a soldier in the Mexican war; and described the
scene as regular battle. He said that bullets were fly
ing IN every direction The jury remained out all night,
but disagreed although the majority were for conviction
Among the minority believers IA Bakers innocence was
Matthew ByFnes whose views on The case cOud Dol Dc
changed second trial was begup, but was not con-
ervbody seemed have made az their minds about he
sSss wS ana s ss5 e" s aTd as Sffi last t RS
bad in Hew6uss. where tho laIy ssan ,al, a 10,
tie stand his version of the fight as he subsequently re-
lated Il me- Ibeleye he would have peon 9eanttea.
Poole party AGAINST MOrrissey Baker said he Was in
weighed into the saloon on tea pgs. ana sOas as;,
that could stand ysrT 9s LIQUOR TOOK On l I9Is
too Inueh brandy and wafer eRd vas carried home
when the Sight was begun u was Thought l oRrlssey
After tssf We saiutsd each s6er pleasantly but never
had much conversation With bim. Tbs last line saw
other on Broadway The story s not tine thai ne lved
abroad ever his Teesse. f6ere was nothing 70
should change his meme TO that Of Jackson" 1851
coAnaENTs BY FoRMER ASSOCIATES,
A man VINO was acquainted with Baker during the
war said yesterdays III seems rather singular that
Daker lived abroad be should have changed his name
All during the war mosg genial companion, but
NO enc ever alluded 70 the ARRAY m Stanwix Hail.
either in his presence OF when he was absent
He therefore eOnld not have thought that bis
name was constantly associated with the murder of
spa vas the Ss s%a S ssRsgsl sSnvsTs5
Think vas engaged in sgIne gam ling mouse. ne e
flis city and enfefeQ {De pOupCM uflug ~
which lie became very successful Tor time Jim
weeney and be become great friepds Through Jim he
became connectcd atb Peter Sweeney i1aYe been told
that be made Considerable money ont OF the ring manp
uailons At one nme ne was a'Teaf friend OF EDWARD
Moore Bh0 was tben road master Alter the ring was
broken lp. missed him from heG-1OrK and lave DOT
f5foTnaton was sought from Inspector Dilks con
Ae history y Beesr que B e ss d 'Td
Then the world is we'll I'd Of rascal The dispatch
Was shown him. upon wlieh be exclaimed, " This isn't
fhe man. He said tnat Baker certainly had not
lived in Paris long, for be had knogn OF him 10 ths
city until quite recently, Whsfe ne was Salu W
have an Interest ~ some gamoing houses
He had been connected With The Tweed King
mNOn- W. rllnd I,, me