The Mineral argus., 1884-05-22

kAA9C VI - AAAAa HS&@@
A friend of mine who happened to be
in the train, has given me this descrip-
ton, accompanying it with the remark
eff the judge had seen her then, per-
haps he wouldn't have been so hard on
Baker"
1t may perhaps be only fair to remark
here, without wishing to say aught
against the young lady, that her repu-
tation among those who knew her was
one that would lead a person into calling
her free in her manner with men.
At all events the train went putting
on again and seemed all right until 1t
stopped at Chapman Junction. Then
the passengers were thrown into a great
state of excitement by the intelligence
that when the train had come dashing
up to the platform, the door of Colonel
Bakers compartment was wide open,
and the colonel holding fast with n
hand to Miss Dickinson, who stood hat
less upon the step outside. A great
commotion followed. With many tears
and sobs the golden-haired beauty told
her story, the gallant Baker was taken
into custody, the young lady's relations
telegraphed for, and the train went on
its way again.
Briefly, Miss Dickinson's story was
that she did not know Colonel Baker
even by sight; that the train had hardly
left Working when he entered into con
versation with her; that her short re-
plies had no effect, but that i'll spite OF
her GOODNESS his manner became more
familiar and his language improper,
his offensive actions eliminating in his
stopping down and grasping her by one
of her ankles that therupon she jumped
up and tried to set the alarm III motion,
but being intercepted by Colonel Baker,
and not knowing what else to do, she
sprang to the door, burst it open, aud
swung herself out upon the steps, the
train going at the rate of forty miles an
hour that Colonel Baker sprang after
her, and unable to draw her back
into the compartment, held her firmly
from falling, as she might otherwise
have done. In reply, Colonel Baker
had not a word to say, except
to give an absolute denial to the whole
story or at least Miss Dickin-
sons version of it. The af-
fair happening during the height of the
London season, and Colonel Baker being
so prominent a member of society,
the CONSERVATION it created in all quar-
tiers can be imagined. Many people
simply wouldn't believe it, and Miss
Dickinson was sharply criticised, by
women especially. No young lady ev-
er travels by train alone in England
at least, no parent who has his daught-
er's safety at heart would permit her to
do so-and that was advanced as ex-
cuse enough for whatever happened.
But at length at the Croydon Assizes,
before Mr.. Justice lush of the Queens
Bench. Colonel Baker was tried for
criminal assault, and Miss Dickinson re-
peated her tale under oath. Naturally,
in q case of the kind, a woman, if she be
a lady, and especially if she be pretty,
has it all her own way. In England,
too, a man can't testify in his
own behalf, and the stunning
beauty of Miss Dickinson cap
tured every heart. What were a mans
past services to his country, or future
career, put in the balance with an in
iured oma like that, even though her
story lacked a tenable corrOborative
circumstance to bear out her unsupport-
ed statements? Colonel Baker was de-
Tended by Mr.. Hawkins, q. c., the
leading criminal lawyer at the time, who
has since become a judge of the High
Court of Justice, and I remember that
his defense was thought to have been
far from an able one. Among many
points missed by him was failing to lay
any stress on the fact of Baker holding
M ns.1.-r1, fparn fo11IDn Had he
been the scoundrel she described him
or had he any reason to expect she
would accuse him of anything, he
would not have been SO anxious to save
from injury the only witness against
him.
However, Colonel Baker was convict
| ed, and sentenced to a years lmprlson
ment in Maidstone Jail, and a fine o
five hundred pounds. Until then public
opinion was. in a measure, suspended
but upon his conviction there was
any punishment evere enough for him
no degradation sufficient to show tn
public detestation of his conduct. ii
was cashiered from the army, losing M
commission money-the same being tn
modest sum OF six thousand pounds h
was expelled from his clubs, and dis
graced in every way. The Queen, t
show her special resentment, sent TO
Miss Dickinson to come and see her q
Buckingham Palace, and commlserate
with her. In fact, she tried to make
heroine of her. But she coundn't max
that go. If people we're down upo
Baker, they had a lingering, admiratio
for him that made them dislike the caus
of his downfall. And besides, Their
were people who knew Miss Dickinso
pretty we'll, and though Colon'