River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-05-15

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 atthe Croydon As sizes,
before Mr.. Justice Tush of the Queens
Bench, Colonel Baker was tried for
criminal assault, and Miss Dickinson re-
peated her tale under oath. Naturally,
in a case of the kind, woman, if she be
lady, and especially If she be pretty,
mas 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
jured woman 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 / 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
Miss Dickinson from falling. 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 years imprison-
ment in Maidstone jail, and fine of
five hundred pounds. Until then public
opinion was, In measure, suspended;
but upon his conviction there vast
any punishment severe enough for him;
no degradation sufficient to show the
public detestation of his conduct. He
was cashiered from the army, losing his
commission money-the same being the
modest sum of six thousand pounds he
was expelled from his clubs, and dis
graced in every way. The Queen, to
show her special resentment, sent for
Miss Dickinson to come and see her at
Buckingham Palace, and comm1serated
with her In fact. she tried to make
heroine of her. But she coundn't make
that go. If people we're down upon
Baker, they had a lingering, admiration
for him that made them dislike the cause
of his downfall Aud besides, there
were people who knew Miss Dickinson
pretty we'll, and though Colonel
Baker, neither at the trial nor
in any public manner, ever
said word to injure her, it somehow
got whispered about that she had given
more encouragement to his advances
than were in keeping with modesty, and
that the anklegrasping episode had been
a rather natural result of a request from
her to button her boot So, altogether,
though she succeeded in running Nalen-
tine Baker, she pretty eflectually ruined
herself into the bargain. There is one
thing that / have heard, and | give II
for what it is worth: 1t has been SAID
that Colonel Baker got into a rather
similar scrape III India once. The
prince of Wales stood his friend through
the hole trouble, but when it was over
he could do no more. He went to
Bakers cell before his term of contine-
ment began, and babe him goodbye,
and that was the last of him as gentle
man.
Baker underwent his sentence like a
stole, and upon its termination left
England and offered his services to
Turkey. The war of 1876, with Russia,
was Just on, and the Sultan was only
too glad to get such q man. He was
mate pasha and given the command of
the cavalry, and from that day to the
present Valentine Baker has been in the
Sultan's service He introduced varl-
Gus reforms, and improved the Turkish
army in a way and with rpidity that
has excited the admiration Of Europe.
When Suleiman Pasha was defeated he
covered his retreat in 4 mastery man
ner, and with twenty-five hundred men
kept thirty thousand Russians in check.
Since then his advice upon Eastern sub
iects has been eagerly sought by the
British government. His recent labors
in Egypt are too well known to require
comment. A man who can do such
things in the face of what would crush
most men must necessarily win
the admiration of his fellow
beings, and especially of
his countrymen. A reaction in popular
feeling long since set in, and now it has
eliminated in pronounced movement
in favor of his being reinstated in the
army. Naturally there is considerable
opposition. In the main it may be said
to come from officers inferior to him IN
every way, who fear his superior ability.
The Prince of Wales is working hard;
but the Queen, true to her obstinate
prejudices, so far remaines obdurate.
Letters by the hundred, pro and con,
from people of every description, many
from ladies GALL of whom are on Bakers
side), fill the columns of the daily and
weekly press and if nothing more comes
of it. it will at least have afforded people
something to talk about and quarrel
over. If the most sensible opinions
prevail, the man will be restored to his
rank and position. He has been pun
ished enough for, at the most, half
hours folly, and England's army is to
weak in generals to spare such one as
he would make.
London, April 3, 1884. CockAIGNE