The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-03-07

of the Crime.
FRANKLIN PARK. y. J., March Il
This township OF Franklin Park is a
slumberous sort of a place and has been
for over a hundred years. In fact, there
has been no excitement here since the
time that one George Washington. in
command Of lot of ragged and quarter
FED soldiers. was known in the vicinity
not long before certain little events that
have been recorded in history in connec-
ton with the records Of Princeton and
Trenton. Not since then has there been
any excitement in this little place until
this morning
There are only about four hundred
people in the place, consequently the loss
of four is felt, the manner Of their TAX
ing OF is something that municipalities
a hundred times its size might boast Of
if said municipalities were in the line Of
record-breaking for sensations. In a
word, two negroes attempted to rob a
prosperous farmer. and in their attempt
they killed a woman and a child. and
We're killed themselves. The woman
would have been the mother Of another
child within a few days, if she had been
allowed TO live.
The Bakers have long been held as so
ciabIe and reputable members of this
small community. Old John J. Baker
has held the ground here for farming
purposes longer than the oldest inhabi
tant can tell about with accuracy. About
two years ago his second son. Moore
Baker, married with the enthusiastic
consent of his parents. a pretty blonde
named Lucretia Evans. daughter of
neighboring welI-to-do farmer. The set
Element that old Baker made upon the
young people included a tract of many
acres. and afforded the son 10 build
neat, if not luxurious Queen Anne cot
tage upon the property. The young
couple started out in the matrimonial
career with everything bright ahead.
They lived together up TO this morning
with every prospect of happiness and
success and a joyful old age, when it
should come upon them.
Terrible Crisis.
This morning there came a crisis that
could not have been foreseen. nor could
any result have attached TO its ter
rfble conclusion. The old Bakers
had had as a sort of protege a colored
boy named Henry Baker. whom they
had taken in and helped since the time
he was about six years old. This boy
had often been employed by Moore Ba-
ker to do chores around his house. Yes
terday afternoon Moore Baker gave his
colored namesake a job at cutting wood
and paid him for it. After receiving his
pay the colOred chap asked Mr.. Baker 10
lend him 81. saying he would return II
on Saturday. The farmer did not like
10 see the young man with so much
money and ne parleyed with him
Hen" said Mr.. Baker, I've only got
a hundred-dollar bill If you can change
that for me I'll lend YOU the 81
"A hundred-dollar bill?" said the negro.
q never see one, Mr.. Baker. Let's have
a look at It,"
With that Moore Maker displayed a
note Of the denomination Of 800 and in
advertently some small bills. The negro
said nothing. but went away without get
ting his desired loan. Later I'm the day
Hen Baker and another negro named
Willard Thompson, a lad Of eighteen
years. were seen by Body Baker a
brother of Moore. to whom they said they
were going over to Dayton, about four
miles away. 10 see a friend. They went
TO Dayton. as il has since transpired but
they went n a wagon drawn by a horse
out Of Moore Bakers stables and with
out Moore Bakers permission. 1t was
10 o'clock at night. too, that they started
on this trip. Exactly what they did in
Dayton is not known. but they certainly
stopped at Wynes's saloon. the only pub
lie house in the place, and had several
drinks. They returned by the old plank
road which was formerly the route OF
the stage coaches between New York
and Philadelphia. and turning off it to
the nOrthward. they drove to the Baker
barn and and rehitched the horse That
much Of their movements is known by
many. What they did afterwards is told
by Moore Baker, the head Of the house.
hold in which this shocking tragedy was
enacted.
On Their Errand of Murder
About 1; 80 this morning the negroes
having secured the AK with which Hen
Baker had made his half-dollar i'm doing
work for Moore Baker during the after
noon. went 10 the entrance to the cellar
Of young Bakers residence at the rear
OF the house and broke it open They
had taken off their shoes and in stocking
feet climbed down the narrow stairway
into the cellar, then up into the parIOr
or the first floor and so through an en-
trance that led TO a stairway that landed
at the rear Of the bedroom in which Mr..
Baker. his wife and child lay asleep.
Do not think they had forgotten the axe.
VIII Thompson had attended to that
and carried the weapon close to his
breast They sneaked up that rear
stairway and craWled into the sIeeuina,
apartment Of the Baker family
When they were hammering on the
cellar door, Mrs Baker. who was not
well. heard the noise ana awakened her
husband. telling him that she thought
somebody was in the house who had no
right there. Mr.. Baker replied that IL
was probably the dogs that were making
"A noise and advised his wife to go TO
sleep again. Mrs Baker tried to take
another nap, when by the light Of the
small lamp that had been left burning
she saw two negroes enter the rear door
She became paralyzed with fear She
had not even strength To reach over
and awaken her husband, but she did
utter a sort Of cry.
Thompson. the hatchet-bearer. rushed
across the room and smote her in the