Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-02
A Farmers Desperate Encounter with
Burglars
AT FRANKLIN PARK, NEW JERSEY
Two Negroes Attempt to Rob the
House of Moore Baker and, Be-
ing Detected, Kill Mrs. Baker
and Her Infant Child-After a
Desperate Struggle the Hus-
band and Father Succeeds in
Killing the Negroes.

ole Tragedy THIS morning 10 winch Jour
lives were lost. Two young negroes,
Henry Baker and VIM. Thompson, we're
detected while robbing the house Of
Moore Baker, prosperous farmer, and
in their rage they killed Mrs. Moore
Baker and her 14-months-old infant.
The noise awakened the husband and,
after a desperate struggle, he succeeded
in killing both negroes. but nut until
be received dangerous and probably
fatal injuries himself. The negro
Henry Baker has been employed for sew
eral years by the Bakers, doing chores
and working about the farm.
Yesterday afternoon Moore Baker
gave his colored namesake job at cut
ting some wood and paid him for it.
After receiving his pay the coOred chap
asked Mr.. Baker to lend him two dol
lars. saying that he would return it on
Saturday The farmer did not like to
see the young man with so much money
and parleyed with him. Hen" said
Mr.. Baker, "1'vs only got a hundred
dollar bill If you change that for me,
I'm lend you the Two dollars"
"a hundred dollar BILL" said the
negro, 81 never seed one, Mr.. Baker,
let's have look at it,"
With that Moore Baker displayed a
note Of the denomination ofone hundred
dollars and inadvertently some small
bills. The negro said nothing, but went
away without getting his desired loan.
Later in the day Hen" Baker and
another negro namedWillard Thompson,
lad of is years, were seen by Boyd
Baker, a brother of Moore, TO whom
they said that they were going over to
Dayton, about four miles away, to see a
friend. What they did in Dayton is not
known. but they certainly stopped at
Wynes saloon, the only public house in
the place, and had several drinks. They
returned by the old plank road. That
much of their movements is known by
mauy. What they did afterwards is
told by Moore Baker, the head of the
household in which the shocking
tragedy was enacted.
About 1870 this morning the negroes
having secured the axe, with which
Hen Baker had made his half dollar in
doing work for Moore Baker during the
afternoon, went to the entrance TO the
cellar OF 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 parlor on the first floor
and so through an entrance
that led to a stairway that landed at
the rear Of the bedroom in which
Moore, his wife and child lay asleep.
They sneaked up the rear sta way and
craWled into the sleeping apartment OF
the Baker family. When they were
hammering on the cellar door, Mrs.
Baker heard the noise aud awOke her
husband. Mr.. Baker replied that it
was probably the dogs that were max
ing a noise aud advised his wife to go
20 sleep again. Mrs. Baker tried to take
another nap, when by the light OF the
small lamp that had been left burning,
she saw the 6gures OF the two negroes
enter the rear door. She became par
alyZed with fear. She had not even
strength to reach over and awaken her
husband, but she did utter a sort Of a
cry. Thompson, the hatchet-bearer,
rushed across the room and smote her
in the forehead with his wicked weap-
on Not satisfied that he had Killed
her, he struck her again. This time
the axe glanced and cut away the
switch al the back of the head as clean
ly as though pair of scissors had been
used 20 do the Job.
Mr., Baker had not yet awakened, but
the child in q crib alongside the bed
was aroused by the commotiOn and she
set up a CRY. The wretch Thompson
thereupOn welded the axe with
swinging blow and crushed the infants
skull 20 atoms, Now Mr.. Baker became
aroused. by the dim light he saw his
enemies and recognized them both.
Before he struck the floor Hen Baker
was upon him. The negro grsSped for
his throat and a struggle ensued.
MIR. Baker, who is splendidly built
fellow, tackled the negro in truly ath-
letic style. Thompson, seeing that his
pal was in trouble, made a rush at Mr..
Baker with the axe. He swung it like
q windmill, and had it not been that
SIR. Baker felt mis- Oncoming through
rush of air made by the aSsailant's quick
motion toward him, the negroes would
have added one more to their list of
murdered. AS IL was Mr. Baker threw
his head back and the sharp edge OF
the blade merely cut his left forehead
enough TO make il bleed. He made a
rush at Thompson, only to receive an
other slight cash on his. right cheek
Coming close together Thompson
brought another blow down from over
his head, the handle Of the axe came
down with all its force on Mr.. Bakers
right arm, causing an ugly swelling.
Seeing that the wretch had
missed his aim and believing that be
had lost his head, Mr.. Baker grapped
for the axe. They were now az the
door by which the negroes had entered>
After giving Thompson a real good
boxers upper cut on the jaw with his
right hand and staggering that villain,
be got his hand on the handle OF the
axe and wrenched it away into his own
possession. Thompson then retreated
toward the foot Of the bed again.
Baker followed him and dealt him a
blow on the head with the butt end Of
the axe. Thompson weakened Ia the
knees and receded toward the door.
Moore followed, dealing him blow after
blow npon the head IS fast as be could
with an the force that was left In his
excited condition. 1t was not until