Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-03-08
4 SLAUGHTER PEN.


The Wife and Baby of Moore Baker,
New Jersey Farmer Drained by
Black Burglar, Who Is. In Turn, Killed
with His Own Weapon by the Husband
and Father-A Second Miscreant Shot
and Killed While Endeavoringtto Escape
SoMERvILLE, n. j., March "A hor-
rible tragedy occurred cary yesterday
morning at the home of Moore Baker,
near Franklin Park, in this county.
Mr.. Bakers wife and 1-year old baby
were murdered. and their murderers,
Willard Thompson and Henry Baker,
both young negroes, were killed by the
frenzied husband and father of the
victims. Baker is a powerful y-built
young farmer, of about 80 years and is
quite well off. He married louisa
Evans three years ago. and baby girl
was the result of the union.
Henry Baker, the young negro, has
worked for Moore Bakers father for
years, and has often worked for the
son also. Wednesday afternoon. when
he quit work for the day, he asked Mr..
Baker for a loan of two dollars. Mr..
Baker asked him if he could change a
500 bill. and, upon the negro saying
no." he produced the bill and showed
it to him. This money was what the
negroes were after.
At about 1 o'clock yesterday morn
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Baker were awakened
by two negroes standing at the foot of
the bed. They were recognized as
Henry Baker and Willard Thompson.
thompson was armed with an ak
which he had taken from the wood
pile in the rear of the house, and both
negroes were in their stocking feet,
their shoes being found on the back
stoop in the morning.
The moment Mrs. Baker saw the
negroes she screamed. Thompson
leaned over the footboard and struck
Mrs. Baker on the head with the ak,
cutting fearful cash and killing her
instantly. He then went around to
the crib and struck the baby twice
with the ak, each time making deep
wound. The little one made con-
vulsive spring toward its mother and
expired.
In the meantime Mr.. Baker had
jumped out of bed and grappled with
the negro, Thompson, who still held
the bloody ak, and frightful strug-
gle ensued for its possession. Mr..
Baker finally overpowered the negro
and attacked him with the AK. Seven
times he sank the ak in the negro's
head before the latter fell to the floor
dead.
Baker then dropped the AK and ran
for his double-barreled gun, which,
loaded with No. buckshot, stood in a
corner of the room. Selling the weap.
on, he walked to small room where
Baker, the other negro, had concealed
himself. With a bound the negro
sprang into the hall and darted toward
the back stairs, only to receive the full
charge of one barrel in the right side
of his face. He fell with a groan, and
lay where he fell until he died at 6
o'clock.
Then Mr.. Baker, perceiving that his
wife and child were indeed dead
called III DR.. Hoagland and several
neighbors, who remained in the house
with him for some time.
At II o'clock yesterday morning Cor
oner Adair arrived, and after an ex.
animation impaneled a jury, who in.
spected the bodies.
After ten minutes deliberation the
jury returned verdict of murder in
the case of the mother and child, and
of justifia BILE homicide as to the killing
of the two negroes, thus generating
Mr. Raker