Year: 1861

til next court ii snow you. hop


kins then stated that if he owed hin
anything he was willing to pay him, ant


that he didn't come there to quarre


with him and he wanted no fuss; all h,
; wanted was his wheat, and his wheat h.
would have. Baker stated that h,
shouldn't have one grain, unless he paiC
him 25 dollars; Hopkins, you wronged
me, and you have swindled me, and yo1
have acted the rascal with me, and yol
shall pay me, before you get one grair


of wheat. Hopkins turned round anc
left him and got barrel and hatchet
and he brought the barrel up to the
machine, l thought to put his wheat in


he took the hatchet and frightened the
bulge hoops; I don't know whether he
unheaded the barrel or not, but he ham


mered round the chime or about the
head hoops as though he was going te
unhead it; he then turned round and
came back close to the straw carrier


and nearer to Mr.. Baker; he stated thai


he had his men and his teams there tc
get his rent. Mr.. Baker said that he
shouldn't have one grain of it unless hi
paid him 25 dollars. Hopkins said thai
he wanted his wheat, and he would have
/ it; but he wanted no fuss with him al
all. Mr. Baker, l understand that you
said that if 1 got any of my wheat that
1 would have to walk over your dead
body. Baker asked him who told him
so. Hopkins turned round as through
he was looking for some one, and when
he turned round, Baker said it was q
lie; he repeated it, and said Hopkins il
is lie. Hopkins was then, 1 think


under the straw carrier, and he turned
around toward Baker and stated to
Baker that he didn't want fuss with
him; but that he had been told so.
Baker then said it was a lie; they had
then got tolerably close together; l seen
Baker make an attempt to strike Hop
kins, but he did not strike. Then there
was some conversation passed that did
not understand, and very suddenly
Baker struck him on the head with a
club, and it staggered Hopkins back; he
caught at one of the braces of the straw
carrier and then fell back and caught
himself on his hands. Baker then
followed him up, and as he recovered he
struck at him the second time; Hopkins
1 think threw up his left hand and the
stick struck him l think, somewhere
about the elbow; he was yet staggering
1 thought from the first blow; he
staggered back against the carrier;
[ think his head struck the under part
of the straw carrier, while he was in the
act of falling; Baker then struck at him
and hit the straw carrier, or the brace,
or something of that kind and broke
his club; he then stepped back step
or two. Hopkins then got up to his
feet, and came out from the machine,
then followed out to the persons pre-
sent: you all stand around here and see
that man beating me with club and
nobody interiors. Hopkins had a
Ratchet in his hand; I think he was IF
teen feet from Baker. Baker run and
got pitchfork, and Hopkins stated the
second time that nobody interfered to
keep Baker from hurting him; l then
run in between them and caught hold
of Baker; he had the pithfork in
his hands, and drawed to strike
him; I caught the fork in one
hand and caught hold of Baker with the
other, and run him back to the end of
the straw rick, and l told him that he
must not strike with that fork, and to
behave himself and quit fighting; 1 then
followed for help to separate the men;
then turned around and went to Hop
kinss when I went to him I caught hold
Of him; he had his hatchet in his hand
and lick drawed as if he was going to
throw it; [ followed at him, and told
him he must not do that and he looked
to me as though the blow would strike
me; l then run him to the end of the
straw carrier, or very nearly SO; then
followed for more help and told Levi
that he must not throw that Ratchet; |
looked around and 1 saw Baker behind
me and l run right at Baker; he had
the fork drawn with both hands, and he
struck at Hopkins with the fork Hop
kins threw up, think his right hand
and received the blow as near as l can
recollect on the wrist or near the hand;
| then caught hold of Baker and he
drew the pitchfork, and then caught
the pitchfork with both hands and
[ run him back close to the end of the
straw pile, and | think I followed for
help again; I let go of Baker and turned
around towards Hopkins, and as turned
around | aimed a catching hold Of Hop
kins. | saw Baker then, when | missed


getting hold of Hopkins, with fork
drawed as though he would strike, and
before 1 could do anything, any way at
all, Hopkins struck him with the
Ratchet. Baker then caught his arms
in front Of himself as though he was
hurt, and stopped down; he turned round
and Hopkins hit him l thought on the
neck, or between the neck and shoulder
like, and Baker fell to the ground. !
then caught hold of Hopkins and aimed
to take him away; told him that he
must be still and he must go away with
me; [ got him a short distance away and
he sunk down on the ground; he tLeh
said to me: oh says he, Cooper | am so
sick: said l, Levi you have killed Baker;


he says, oh, my God; [ then left him and


went to where Baker had fell; | saw


Baker was dead, or at least had the ap-


pearance of a dead man; I then went


back to Hopkins and raised him up, he


said to me that he was very sick, and


asked me for water. Some of the men


present brought him some water; after
drinking it then left him l think with
some person or persons and went back
to see Baker, TO learn whether he was
really dead Or not, and | asked some of
them if he was dead; they said yes he
was dead; l then went back to where
Levi was, and raised him up again; he