San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-02-22
The s,egaIn Horror.

Antonio correspondence to the Gal
weston Nacs
There is grea, deal Of natural and
legitimate curiosity to know something
more of the details Of the murder OF
Hollomau than has thus far been
vouchsated the public through the
press. 1. is known that Hollomau was
murdered, aud that Baker is under n
arrest ios it, and this is pretty near oil
that Is known. The Guadalupe Times
states vaguely that the testimony
against Baker is merely circumstan-
tial, which is not imparting very much
information. when its opportunities Tor
obtaining it are taken into considera'
ton. 1t is Of great assistance to tue
officers Of the law away from the scene
of the murder, that oil the details be
given. 1t is interesting to the pubic
to know on what circumstantial evil
depce Baker is held, and what IA bis
defense. is Of possible benefit to
the accused who proclaims bis inno-
ceuce, that the testimony taken before
the examining court be published as
it may lead to the conviction OF the
real culprit. Your correspondent not
having access to the records, has done
the next best thing he could, which
was to ascertain from reliable party
what the facts arc. My informant is
perfectly responsible party, who
states nothing but what is on record
at Seguin. A colored woman testified
of being close to a fence, quite close to
which two men passed, one Of whom
she recognized as the accused, Baker.
She also overheard their conversation.
Que Of them objected, but tho other
urged him, saying: "You promised to
help me out" or words to that effect.
She shortly after heard q stifed cry
like man vomiting. One of the two
he'd white stick in his hand,
There we're tracks Of q man running
from the scene of the murder through
q cotton field, the earth of which was
quite soft. The heel ct one Of the
boots was very peculiar, being worn
away on one side. A pair Of boots be-
LONGING to Baker. with mud and COT
ton on them, also the bark of cedar,
such as was in the field, near the
scene of tie murder, and having the
peculiarities requisite to make track
like the one in the field, were obtain
ed and introduced in evidence. There
is circumstantial evidence in favor OF
the theory of the pick-handle and the
mask having been obtained from the
store of the brother of the accused.
No pick. handle had been sold for
some time previous. The one found
near the body was quite new. No
other store in town had masks except
Bakers brother. The defense rely on
an abb, several persons testifying to
having seen the accused at an hour
that made it improbable for him to
have been at the place of the murder
at the time it was committed. SO
much for the evidence.
There is reason to believe that there
we're three engaged in the murder,
two of whom directly participated AID
third who stood on the watch at a
corner of the fence. The one with the
mask suddenly halted the victim while
the other with club struck him from
behind. 1t was not the intention OF
the cowardly scoundrels to leave life
in the victim. but they were scared
away by the approach Of some boys.
1t is also stated in the Guadalupe
Times, in effect. that there was no dis
position to take the law into their OWL
hands. I have heard this contradict
ed by several reliable parties. The
excitement was intense, and SO con
WINGED were the people of the guilt O.
Baker that it was with difficulty tina
they could be persuaded to allow thu
law to take its course. The trial viii
probably take place either in New
Braunfels or in San Antonio. NJ
other motive than jealousy existed
Miss Lizzie Short being engaged to b
married to the deceased, whom sh,
preferred to Baker.
THE report Of the Courier Jourua