The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-20
Especial telegram to the Dispatch.1

noon to-day for the murder OF Agnes
Stands in August last. The execution was
strictly private, and very few persons went to
the place. Baker maintained bis composure
! TO the last, and assembled the scafold with
! firm step. He spoke few words to those
around him, again coDfessing his guilt, and
expressing regret that he bad committed
, the crime. He said if he had his life to 60
over again he would not do such deed:
| that he was blinded by passion: his father
| in-law, Jim Rose, was the cause OF his
crime. He expressed himself as ready to
| die. Bakers neck was not broken by the
fall, and he was stranoled to death.
The Circuit Court OF Sussex county con-
vened On the 1t OF Hon. ,. s.
Wesiger presiding. Baker was convicted
on his own confession, and as soon as the
verdict was rendered pudge Weisiger
passed the sentence of death, December
! 18th being fixed as the day OF execution.
When the sentence was pronounced Baker
appeared perfectly unmoved and indiffer-
emf, and remained so to the time OF execu-
ton.
The crime for which Frank Baker was
executed was committed on the night OF
the 1st Of August OF this year. and was one
almost unparalleled in brutality and tiend-
ishncss-at least In this section Of the State.
The scene Of the tragedy was an humble
home in Sussex county, about two miles
| from Stony-Creek station, on the Petersburg
and Weldon railt Dad, where lived James
Rose, colored farmer. Some few weeks
before James Rose and his wife Maria Rose,
whose relations were not what those Of 4
husband and wife should be, had bitter
quarrel, and Rose drove his wife from his
house. She carried away with her her little
boy, aged about six or seven vears-a son
by Rose-and took up her residence with
| Frank Blkcr, her son by former husband,
only mile or so distant. Her anger vas
naturally kInded by the treatment she had
received at the hands Of her husband, and
il was shared BY Baker. This feeling was
increased BY knowledge OF tie fact that
Rose had taken to his house-ostensibly as
cook and housckecper, but really, it was
believed, as mistress, 4 young woman
named Henrietta Stands, who had an in
faut named Agnes, about eighteen months
Of age.
On the last day of July or the first day OF
August, James Rose came to Petersburg TO
attend 10 DuSlUpsS, Tue u lilSGEt !DU W VI UlCli
occupied couple OF days. 1t was during
his absence ttiat tue terrible murder at his
house was committed. The details as re-
lated BY the little boy above mentioned, who
it seems was forced to witness the crime,
were substantially "a follows His story
was told with the simplicity OF cE'ld, and
vet in Il manner 20 connected and straight
forward, to the officers and citizens who had
the case in hand that there could be no
!, doubt Of its truth. Every statement made
Ly the boy was fully corroborated by subse-
auent DEVELOPMENTS. He said his mother,
Marin Rose, and his haIf-brother. Frank
Baker. went 10 the house Of James Rose on
the night above mentioned, carrying him
with them. The absence OF Rose was
known TO them. Arriving ut the house,
the woman (Henrctta Shands) could be
seen in her room through 4 crack IN the
door. Through this crack Baker fired once
or twice at her. The shots did not take
effect, probably by reason OF the narrow
aperlure through which the aim was taken.
The door was then broken open and Baker
rushed in, followed by his mother. Ba-
ker seized the frightened woman aud threw
her TO the floor, and there held her
securely while Maria Rose, who was armed
with n heavy piece OF iron. fragment or 4
Whcel.tirr, beat her violently over the head
and face The piteous cries and appeals Of
the roOr victim were poWcIlcss 10 stay the
hands Of the iiends, who were bent upon
her murder. The beating was continued
until it was supposed Henrietta Stands was
dead, and her body was then dragged out
into the yard. There, some faint signs OF
life being shown, the beating on the head
was renewed until .ifc became extinct.
Baker then went into the house again and
seized the innocent Child, and in its murder
the very acme OF !iendi>hnrSS was displayed
TIE child was thrown into the hollow Of IN
old stump near the house, and was literally
buried alive. Dirt Was thrown upon the
child, rammcd down upon the body, and
chopped through with spade. OF course
death, under these circumstances, soon
came 10 the relief Of tie baby.
Steps were then taken 10 couceal tie body
Of the murdered woman, and here the boy )
statement was again cnrrcb0rated. The
BODY was dragged for some distance until Il
hole in the woods was reached. caused by
the uprnoliug OF tree. into sls II was
cast. But the hole was found too small to
efiectual!r conceal the body, and it was
drawn out and carried several hundred
yards further and thrown into pond,
where the water closed over 1t. 1t Was upon
the information furnished by the little boy
that both OF the bodies were recovered. tie
went with the officers and pointed out tic
places where they had been concealed. This
was done on the day following the murders,
after the arrest ii Baker and his mother.
Baker ana Maria Rose were lodged in the
county jail. aud on the 7th day OF August
Trey we're indicted for murder by the grand
iury. AS vas their privilege under the law
they elected 10 be tried in the Circuit Court.
Baker, in the meanwhile, made full free
aud voluntary confession OF his ouilf, and
in said confession declared his mother inno-
cent. and assumed be whole responsibility
of the crime IL should here he stated that
Baker was indicted for The murder OF the
child, and Maria Rose was indicted for the
murder oi the woman. The deed caused
great excitement in the county, especially
among the negroes.
Baker KEEP. his little brother with him all
ni-it 1T the house III which the tragedy oc-
! cured. He stated thai IT one time he
thought al killing bin, but the child's in-
uocence prevented BIN ircm further steep
ing bis hands in blood.
| The Circuit Court Of Sussex county con-
Gcued on the 1t day or Noyem5cr-ii"n.
$. S. Weisiger presiding. Baker wa con-
yicled on his own confe, sion, and as soon
IS the verdict of the jury was rendered
Judge Weisicer passed sentence OF death
| December 18th being fixed IS the day OF
/ execution. 4 large crowd was III the court
room at the time. and the impressive sem
itence OF the Court yisi5!y atiec;ed many.
s.! Baker, however. was unmoyed and >'oild
as rock. He manifested the most perfect
indifference, 81 lch he maintained uplo the