The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-05-01

Iows and His Brother Ralph Goes
To Penitentiary for Life for Muir
der of Walker County Deputy.
Governor Hardwick followed the
-eccmmendation of the prison COM
mission in the case of the two Baker
bovs under sentence of death for the
murder of Deputy Sheriff J. w. Nor
ION. of Walker county.
George Baker on Friday at noon
mounted the gallows tree in the little
a1 at Lafayette. Ga. and paid the
supreme penalty demanded by the
law At the same time his brother
q Ra1nh Baker, whose sentence was
committed, began serving the rest OF
HE lifetime in the Georgia peniten-
tiary instead of accompanying George
to his dreadful end. -.
In announcing his decision in the
case Governor Hardwick declared
that the lawlessness in Walker coun-
~ needed stern lesson" and that
Il tbe only way to break it up was by
the infection of severe penalty.
NV heart is filled with sympathy
for George Baker just as it would
be for any young man in similar
circumstance" the governor said, "but
could not be merciful to him with
out at the same time being merciless
to thousands of persons depending
upon the law"
Governor Hardwick branded the
Staying of Deputy Morton as a "hor-
Nrible" crime and without provocation.
THE sentence of death was upheld
#bv the supreme court and by the
Aprison commission" he said, "and [
can not set aside their decisions in
.the case of George.
N Communication of sentence was rec
commended for Ralph, due to his ex-
IRENE youth after his age had been
Established. He should not be held
responsible for the extreme penalty on
account of his age.
George Aggressor.
In the case of George Baker, it has
been established that he was the ag-
eressor and the prime mover in this
host brutal and unprovoHed crime.
He had filled up on mean corn liq-
Dor and threatened the lives of three
men. He drew his pistol on the sta
tion agent at Durham and then on a
#traveling salesman.
when he met Morton he slapped
the elder mans face and when the
Shooting started he also participated
The records show that Morton died
pt three wounds any one of which
would have produced death. These
wounds, the records also showed, were
Smade with bullets of different caliber,
sRnd could not have been fired by the
Fame man.
NO question of the mental condi-
#tion OF George Baker was raised as
Fn excuse at the time of the trial, and
"A has not since been established that
z be was irresponsible"
The Baker cases have weighed
#heayily upon my mind for several
Sweeks. | am sincerely sorry for these
@boyS, and their aged parents. MY
#heart is as full of human sympathy
8ior them as the hearts of any of these
good people who have petitioned in
thelr behalf. Yet it is my sworn duty
70 uphold the majesty of the law.
Georgia's Bloody Record.
Something drastic must be done
ne curb the spirit of lawlessness in
8 Georga. Last year Georgia, with less
#than 100000 people, had more muir
ders than England, with 100000.
Atlanta alone, with a population OF
8EoOOOO, had almost as many murders
as all OF England. Isn't it plausible
n nat the small number of killings in
#England is due to the fact that % per
#cent of those who kill their fellow
4en have their own lives taken by
Fhe English laws?
81 The court record in the Baker cas-
Is indicated one of the blacklist crimes
pn the history of Georgia. Few of the
GOOD people who asked clemency for
#lnem knew anything at all about that
record, yet it is the document a gov
Flr iGr must track in passing on a case.
E1llt!hough | realized that few OF the
&peuhoners knew the facts in the case,
gave their appeals consideration
because | wanted to find some legal
sssround for committing the sentence,
any existed. For a long time |
mont even find a sound reason for
SaVng the younger boy. In appear
&C ne IS grown man, with a mans
lelght and a mans weight. These
mountain boys mature early.
Benefit of Doubt.
was afraid that | would have to
old him to a mans responsibility,
2ut ! finally decided to give him the
Dsheht OF the doubt because of his
ou'h alone. There is no indication
Lat he tried to curb or pacify his
his desire He to rather rs snc Somssedv h b
ore shutdown. This is the spirit that
must be curbed in Georgia, if the lives
md property of law-abiding citizens
ne to be preserved and public officials
are to be made secure in the perform
'Ce OF their duties"