Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-14
NrUURE BAKER WAYLAID
Savage Attack on the Hero of
 Franklin Parks Tragedy.
AssA1LANTs ALMOST KILLED HIM.

He Met the Relatives of Two of the Ne groes Whom He Killed n Year Ago For Murderlng His Wife and Child. and Shortly After He Was Assaulted.
 FRANKLIN PARK, N. j., May 14.-Moore Baker of this place was struck from behind with a lead pipe or piece of garden hose as he was driving to his home from New Brunswick, seven miles away, last Satur- day night The blow knocked him sense less, and be remained in that condition over an hour.
 When he recovered consciousness, he found himself stretched across his horso s neck alongside q fence, The light road wagon had been overturned. the harness was broken and tangled, and the horse lay on his side in the ditch. Bakers moans brought w. H. Johnson and Thomas Henry to the scene. Henry said last night that he had known Baker for seven years. but did not recognize him. so horribly dist1g- ured was his bleeding face
 Moore Baker is the young farmer whose wife and babe wore chopped to death by two negroes II months ago The whole family were asleep in an upper bedroom of Baker handsome house at Franklin Park, when Willard Thompson and Henry Pier son, or Baker. crept up stairs, shoeless, to rob the farmer of q SlOO bill which he had incautiously displayed that day. Baker awoko just in time to see Thompson brain his wife and baby with an ax. He seized his shotgun. but it missed fire. Then he struggled with Thompson for the ax and finally getting it from the negro killed him with half dozen terrific blows on the skull. The shotgun did its work when he tried 1t next, and the negro Baker, | or Pierson-he was called by both names fell dying in an ad. .oining room. Moore Baker mounted his horse, and without sad tle or brille and clad oply in his night shirt rode half mile to a physician 's | houso
 The doctor was too late. He found four corpseS lying in the two bedrooms of the farmhouse-thoseo of tho young wife, the | baby Gertrude and the two murderous ne groes
 Baker Will Wait. Baker, on being questioned as to thi: last assault, said he couldn't charge any particular person with the assault. He | had a watch and mCncy, but they werG | not touched. He met only two teams or the road One contained tEe relatives o the two negroes whom le had killed.
 About 70 minutes before l was hit said Baker, II met old George Thompson with his son Howard and tho two othel | boys; Carlo MinGiEs. who lives witl George. and her son. Pote Baker. The. were driving into the city. After pasSeC thcm didn't sec a soul along the road. :"
 George Thompson is the father of Mil lard Thompson, the negro who killed Moore Baker's wife and baby, and whom Baker killed five minutes later. Carri | Mingins lives with him on Henry Cortel you's farm on the Franklin Park road She Is tho mother of the Baker boys on of whom was slain with Thompson. He first husband was named Pierson, but he mothers name. Baker. was taken iron Moore Bakers family. on whose place he mother was a slave and the boys are Gon orally called by that namo Pete Bake said to Henry soon after the tragedy o March, 1894:
 If Moore Baker had met me instead 0 my brother Henry that night, things woul have been different" "
 Pete Baker is a left handed negro. So i Howard Thompson. Moore Bakers assail ant, who undoubtedly struck from behind was n left handed man. A favorite weaE on with the negroes around Frankli Park Is piece of garden hose filled wit shot. It was with such n weapon tha Moore Baker was hit.
 The sentiment of the community wa pretty well expressed by Moore Bake himself when he said: II ain't going to anything about it but keep quiet. If tn Thompson gang did it, one of them wi get to bragging some night when he drunk. Then III know what to do"
 The Vigilance league. which was orGar ized after the great tragedy of March. ls9- to drIve tho negroes out of Franklin Pnrl held six meetings and did nothing I'll league has been dead for a year.