Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-05

assist those now In the field in ferretins
out the murderers, and the large amount
of reward offered. II Is thought. will in
duce private detectives TO work on the
case
1t is said that Attorney General Griggs
holds to the opinion that the Federal
Government will have jurisdiction over
the murderers, even II they are first
taken by the state authorities Baker. II
is held. was an officer OF the government
In the discharge OF his duty, and the
attack upon him was similar TO an attack
upon a deputy marshal or other official
Postmaster-G General Gary expresses the
determination 10 do everything i'm his
power to ascertain the identity OF the
guilty parties. In response 10 inquiries
he made public the following statement:
THE department is in possession OF a
preliminary report from its representa-
tives in regard to this sad tragedy, from
which a few details may be given.
''The widow OF the murdered postmas-
ter has been interviewed, and her story
In brief is about as follows
THE WIDOWS STORY.
"They were awakened some time in the
early morning by the smell Of fire and
smoke, and. upon rising. found that the
to extinguish the flames. but soon dis
covered that this would be impossible.
He then told his wife he would go to
the door and call for help As soon AS
he opened the door the firing began, and
n storm of bullets struck the door and
house. The widow Baker said that her
husband then fell on his knees and pray
ed for protection. The heat and smoke
became so unbearable at length that they
could no longer remain in the house. On
again appearing at the door they were
greeted with another volley Of bullets.
"The first one OF the family TO be killed
was the baby. In its mothers arms,
bullet striking 1t In the side. The widow
that the baby was killed. A second later
he fell back against her dead She and
the other children were struck by the
bullets at this time, or just as they es-
capped from the building.
THE widow had the younger girls with
her when they got out. They ran until
they were exhausted. and they fell down.
The older girls went into neighboring
field, and remained there until they heard
no more sounds from the vicinity of their
old dwelling Late at night all found
shelter at the house of some OF their
colOred friends.
"The mother and children say they saw
men standing about the trees and bushes
near the house, but were unable to re-
cognize any one.
Bakers widow is reported to be a
small, frail woman. about 81 years old.
She has a gunshot wound in the left
IOItdTHlt ana tue DOIltS are iidtluItt
Rosa. the Oldest daughter. aged about 10
years received gunshot wound, which
broke the bones above the left elbow. Cora,
the next girl. was shot In the right hand
and wrist. A son. about IL years of age,
has one serious wound i'm the abdomen,
and another wound I'm the right forearm,
both bones of the arm being broken and
badly shattered. He is not expected to
live. Two very young girls, completing
the family. escaped unhurt
1T is needless for me TO add that the
administration, together with all good
citizens of the country, i'm whatever sec
ton they may reside. fully appreciate the
enormity OF the crime which has been
committed not only against This unof-
Tending man and his family. but against
the government. as represented by the
postmaster. and ! assure you that the
POSt-Ofiice Department. in 60 cooperation
with the Department Of Justice, will do
everything i'm its power TO apprchend and
convict the men who committed this ter
ribe outrage. Both Of the departments
mentioned are using every means in their
power 10 the end that justice may be
meted out to the criminals"