Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1912-11-14
DAWSON MURDERER
LYNCHFes Eat STEELE | !:

NO 0tnl 0s....
MASKED MEN 4 . RPowER SHEER
rrr AND 4 g!s J BAKER = =, N
sro9 8 :: s.'D'. z,
Steele, N. d % ov. s.-The long
continued NUT g ngs Of the resi-
threatening a sl q hing bee for Geo.
Baker, who mi ,red his wife and
father-in-law at Dawson, Hallow-
e'en morning, Oct. 31st, developed
into realization Of the threats.
Last night crowd Of masked men
numbering about 25, appeared at the
county Jail in Steele and took by
force George Baker, who was con-
fined in the Jail for his crime.
The murderer was dragged to the
stock yards near by the jail, and was
hung up in short order. Sheriff Fill
bin evidently anticipated an occur
renee of this kind. He resisted the
efforts Of the lynchers as much as
possible, but was finally held up and
forced to admit the lynchers to the
cell where Baker was kept. The
local telephone operator was called
up by the sheriff during the attack
of the lynchers. and asked to call
help, but the affair was over before
any. assistance could be had. The
cell in which Baker was confined was
on the second focr of the building,
and after the lynchers had forced
admittance to the Jail and had reach
ed the second floor, chisel was used
to cut on the bolts OF the cell door.
After some difficuIty this was ac-
complished, and rope was tied un-
der the arms Of Baker, who was drag
ged out of the building and taken to
the stock yards, about quarter of a
mile from the jail. The sheriht was
alone in, the building at the time and
found that effective resistance was
impossible. None Of the lynchers
were recognized Baker pleaded
hard for life. At 10 o'clock this
morning the body was still at the
stock yards. The hanging occurred
just before midnight.
4. Baker evidently had no idea of
being lynched, as yesterday he was
visited in. his cell and talked in a
bantering manner regarding his
chances of being acquitted, to a num-
Der Of callers. He was arranging
for defense, and had talked Of get
ting able legal assistance to defend
him. On the day Of the funeral he
demanded Of the coroner tran
script Of the testimony taken by the
coroner's jury, and declared that he
was something Of lawyer himself.
!. 1t is probable that his defense would
have been insanity. He was intend
ing, he said, to get one of the best
known lawyers of San Francisco.
These preparations becoming known
evidently increased the already high
state of indignation against him
and yesterday there were renewed
mutterings Of vengeance heard at
Dawson, Tappen and Steele. The
sheriff had heretofore kept an extra
number of guards at the Jail, antic-
S,,o&;nr eo,y,e e,,oI, oot3ox, oo &olxont
last night, but last night was alone,
having dismissed the extra guards
under the belief that the excitement
had subsidized and that nothing would
be attempted of a violent nature
against the prisoner. During his
confinement in the Jail. Baker has.
at no time expressed any feeling Of
sorrow or regret for his horrible
crime. But twice has he showed
any emotion; once was when he was
told Of the possibility Of his being
lynched; and again when he thought
that the news would seriously affect
his aged mother. {5
1t is said that this is the first
.lynching that ever occurred in the
state: Additional reports from
Steele are that there were about 20
masked men in the crowd, and that
the number was 90 great that the
sheriff was helpless. Relativessof Mr..
Glass arrived today on No, Z. and II
Il understood that steps were taken
looking to the legal adoption Of the
two children. Leona N. Baker. ave
years of age. and Frederick. three
years Of age.
Attorney John Knauf was called
TO Dawson wednesday ia regard to-