The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-05-23
OLD KILLINGS RECALLED.
Other Sons Of Kentucky Governors Have
Fiaured in Tranedies.

John Young Brown, together with the
slayer, Fulton Gordon. April 80, in Lou.
isville, recalls the fact that some of the
most striking tragedies and romances
this state has known has been connected
with Kentucky governors n d their sons
In the battle of the Thames in the war
Of 1912, Gov. Shelby, then an aged man,
was present in person and at the request
of Gen. w. H. Harrison-afterward Pres
idcnt and the grandfather Of president
commanded the Kentucky troops.
One of the Kentucky major generals in
that engagement was Joseph Dcsha, who,
in 1924, was elected governor of this
commonwealth. During his term the
contest between the old court Of appeals
and the new court was on, and Gov
ernor Desha proved himself equal to the
eXigencies of the trying times. But cx-
citing rs the fight was between the two
tribunals it was entirely overshadOwed
when the great Desha-Baker tragedy oc.
CURED in November, 1924, in which
Isaac B. Desha, son Of the Governor,
was the assassin and the survivor.
Some time during the summer or fall
of 1924 New Jersey trader named Ba
ker had gone south on bushes, and in
November was returning on horseback
from Natchcz, Mississippi, to his north
ern home. When passing through Fair
view, Fleming county, on the old Mays
vile and Lexington turnpike, about ten
miles from where | now write, he was
brutality stabbed and beaten over the
head with a whip by an unknown assail-
ant. AS Baker was supposed to have on
his person a large sum of money, rob-
berry was supposed to be the motive. The
finger of suspicion pointed to Isaac
Desha. Bakers gray horse was found
in his possession and other belongings as
well. A web of circumstances strong as
Holy Writ wound themselves about him,
and the son of Kentucky's governor was
charged with being an assassin and a
highway robber. The ablcst legal talent
was employed on either side, and the
trial became, and is still regarded, the
most famous Kentucky has ever known.
Never before had there been such an
effort to save a mans life, but the shrewd-
est defense, the repeated trials and shifts
were not able to shake the jury in its
decision that young Desha had cruelty
murdered the New Jersey trader in cold
blood, and he was therefore condemned
to be hanged. The old soldier-governor,
who had never experienced tremor un.
der the fire of the British, and who had
helped to carve out the young state, when
almost every day and hour exposed the
white man to the treacheTous Indians
tomahawk or bullet, now trembled like a
leaf, when placed between stern official
duty on one side aud parental affection
on the other The courts of the state of
which he was the executive head had
convicted his son of murder, and he
must sign the death warrant and set the
day for the execution.
1t is said that, much as he loved his
son, he would have done his duty as gov
ernor of the state, had it not been for
the pIeadings of the heart-breken mother
of the boy. However this may have
been, he never signed the death warrant
but attached his trembling signature IN
the parchment that set him free. Gov
ernOr Desha pardoned his own son. BY
some he was blamed; by others excused
Old citizens claim that he Immediately
resigned. This | am not inclined 10 be
lieve, as am unable TO find any record
to that effect. II Is possible he offered &c
resign and was dissuaded, thus giving
rise To the story that he did resign.
At the Shannon cemetery, in Mason
county, far from the scene OF the muir.
der Baker was inferred, aud the Dasha-
Baker tragedy passed into state history,
There Is an incident connected with thil
affair, however, which has but once ap
peared 10 print. Baker was engaged u
be married TO a young woman of New
Jersey, and the marriage would have be-
come a fact had hereached home. Tho
tragic death 81 theman 70 whom she hat
plightsd her troth crushed the rgirh
and although days, weeks, months and
years have came and went, her grief was
never assuaged. She was answering il