Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-11-10

blood IN their veins, fact which may
account for the alacrity with which
they take to the methods of fighting
peculiar TO the red men. Susan CALI
han, a half-Cherokee, Is among their
ancestors. Captain "Bll' Strong, who
is reported to have slain twenty-five
men with his own hand was her grand
son. DIR. Abner Baker, who fiourished
in Clay County half a century ago,
killed number of men in his time and
finally was hanged for murder.
General Garrard n Factor.
Gen. I. 7. Garrard, who figures in
the present troubles as a friend Of the
Bakers, performed the same service
for DR.. Baker fifty years ago. He tried
to get the Governor to pardon DR..
Baker on the ground that his killings
were the result of homicidal mania,
and in recent years he has been giving
bail for others Of the Bakers when they
got into the clutches of the law. The
old General declares that he cannot be
driven out Of Clay County, where he
proposes to remain the rest of his nat
ural Life with his pet cat, but his son,
Gilbert Garrard, has had to move away
to escape assassination.
Efforts We're made to have Judge
Eversole, who Is related to the Whites.
vacate the bench and call special
term Of court, to be presided over by
special judge, to try the murder cases,
but the plan fell through.
The first killing in late years was ON
June 6, 1893, when Wilson Howard
and Rurch Stores was killed. and A.
B. Howard, father of Wilson, was
wounded. This, 1t Is thought, was
done by Tom Baker, as there had been
dispute between them regarding a
$40 note. The next day James Howard
met George Baker, father of Tom, and
shot him. Shortly after this Charles
Wooten, son-in-law of A. B. Howard,
was shot by Sid Baker. In August Tom
Baker met and killed Will White,
and Sheriff Beverly White, Jr. Later,
in the same month, John Baker was
shot by two men from behind two trees
on Goose creek. His negro, who was
with him, was likewise killed. July 10
of this year Tom Baker, who was to
be tried in Manchester for the murder
Of Will White, was taken to the court
house under the protection Of a hun
dred State troops and Gatling gun;
but while standing in guard tent I'm
the courthouse yard shot rang out
from Sheriff Whites house, directly
ho
cousin Of Captain William Strong, of
Breathitt, fell dead. Court was nd
journed, and every one who could left
Clay County. The troops then took
Wiley and James Baker to the Jail in
Barboursville. To show what intense
hatred exists, John d. White a few
days ago cheered, as Edward Garrard
passed, for Carlo Britain, who killed
Edwards brother Daniel ten years ago.
Owing to inadequate State laws
Gov. Bradley has been powerless to
quell the disturbances. Martial law he
cannot declare, cannot appoint judge
and grand jury from another county,
and cannot have a Clay County citizen
indicted elsewhere. The only way q
new judge can be had is for the Circuit
Clerk to hold an election of the bar,
and in this case the Clerk Is Daugh
White, one of the feudists. He cannot
take away their arms. In fact, the
State laws are such that Governor
Bradley is less able to prevent further
/ disgrace to the State than any of its
citizens; and yet all look to him to pre-
serve order. His only course is to call
special session OF the Legislature,
and either change the laws or repeal
the incorporation of Clay as a, county,
and divide it into four adjoining coun-
| ties.