The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-06-02
A BAD BREAK.
Charles Baker Gets Into Trouble
in Kansas.

There are few persons in Pettis or John
son county who are not acqusinied with
Charles II. Baker, who, for a number of
years, acted as station agent at Smithton,
Mo-, and who afterwards made considera-
BILE money in the grain trade.
Mr.. Baker is q whole-souled, liberal, gen.
erous hearted young man, but Of very i'm
pulsive and restless temperament, snd I'M
fortunately, fond of gay and even reckless
company, belonging TO one Of the best fami-
lies in the country, and only recently mar
ried to one of the most estimable yousg Ia
dies of Pettis county. There was every rea-
son to hope that with his natural grest
abilities and pleasant surround.
ings be would become one of the foremost
ss well as most useful and respected cIti-
zens. Unfortunately. however, his fondness
for improper associations and drink led
him away from the better paths, and snx-
ious to amass fortune quickly in spite of
his generous disposition, he recently went
to Paols Kansas, leaving his family here.
Thus deprived OF their presence and infu-
ence he seems to have fallen so deeply
into the snsres and entrapmepIs of bis new
surroundings as to have utterly forgotten
all the better impulses and teachings of
home influence. The first information his
friends here had of his downward career
was through the Western Spirit, a weekly
paper published at Psola Kansas, which
contained the following:
"The attempted burglary Of Condor,
Carrel & Co.'s safe last Monday night re-
suited in the arrest of c. FL. Baker, who is
now In Jail. For several months a gang
l., h., -, L. IA,
GERS have been on the slert to take them in.
John Morehead, an insurance agent here,
got the confidence of the leaders, Charley
Baker and Ed Price, a barber, and with
them planned the robbery of several bust
ness houses and the county treasury. For
many days il was known to the officers and
twenty or thirty men around the park that
Condor, Carrel & Co.'S was decided upon
for the first break. There it was expected
considerable doodle could be had. Sew
eral different nights were set to do the job,
but each time something turned up TO pre-
vent the deed. Last Saturday night the
q. A. r. festival in the court house brought
too many people near the hardware house
to safely try the thing; and Sunday night
YVES unfavorable for some cause or other.
But on Monday night the robbery was al
tempted. By arrangement Morehesd and
Baker were to do the inside work.
and Ed Price, the barber, was to stand
sentinel on the street In front of the
store. He would not agree to 20 inside.
About midnight Baker bored the panel out
of the back door al place that be could
reach the cross-bar which was removed and
the door opened. He with Morebead went
In, Baker going right TO the show case to
get a supply of revo!vers. Morehead
dropped down by the safe when, at his
sign j, Jack Shelton, Sheriff Shoemaker
and Clint Roscoe, who had been secreted In
the back ware rom came In and throwing
open tn ir bulls-eye lantern, advanced on
Baker. He at once threw up his hands
and submitted to the shackles without re-
sistance. Marshal Huff, Waterman Hart,
b. I. Carrel, Milt George, L. E. JonesIsnd
others were In the store at the time of the
capture. 1t is supposed that Ed. Price,
who is the sharpest rooster of the gang,
smelt rat and skipped before the hour for
the work. He has not been seen since early
that night. Suspicion rests on other par
ties, who were not implicated i'm this last
robbery and it will be unhealthy for them
from now on In this neck of woods.
c. ii. Baker came here from Sedalia last
all shout the time of the fair and run a
hack. He afterSard sold his team and
during the winter ran a saloon in the base
ment of the Krutz block"
No publicity was given the matter at the
time, in hopes that there might be some
mistake or that pallia'ing circumstances
would be developed, which would, even
under the circumstances, exonerste Baker
But last week the case came up for trial,
and resulted in verdict of guilty, as will
be seen from the following clipping from
the same psper:
Judge Wsgstsff sentenced C. III. Baker
to twelve months in the county Jail, 500
fine and 10 remain incarcerated till fine and |
costs were paid. Baker WIS convicted of
larceny for breaking into Condor, Csrrel & |
Co.'s sore and stealing a revolver. His |
sentence is the heaviest that could have
been given under the verdict rendered BY |,
the jury"
Mr.. Baker is yet young m an, and it is |
TO be hoped this terrible experience will be |
the means of arousing him to full sense |
OF :he dangers which menace him, If he |
does not break away from old habits and |
associates. and cause him to do so and yet |
become the sterling citizen and useful man
his intellect and connection places within |
bis easy grasp.