Year: 1869

Baker and Thomas, TWO negroes condemned for
the murder Of cO0red man named Wade Ditcher
h Weldon about one year ago. were to-day privately
executed in accordance with the law.


HISTORY OF THE MURDER.


One Sunday morning in May just year ago the
quiet little town village Of eldon, in this county,
was the scene OF no ordinary excitement among the
resident freedmen. Wade Ditcher, young negro
fisherman, OF good character remarkable for honesty
and uprghtness, was found missing under clrcum-
stances peculiarly suspicious. He had not been
seen since the Saturday evening previous, and his
friends becoming uneasy, search was made for him
and inquiries as to his whereabouts instituted, but
without arriving at any definite information. Some
thought 1t probable that he had gone into the coun-
try spend the Sabbath, as his fishing canoe was
found moored where he generally left It, The entire
day, however, passed into eternity and an anxious
night among Ditcher's friends followed with
no news OF the missing man. except the cir
cumstance that he had been seen late on Saturday
night with two or more negroes, with whom it was
ascertained he had been gambling Freedmen col
lected large numbers discussing in their peculiar
way the strange absence OF Dtcher, and when it was
discovered on Monday morning that his dshing boat
had been loosened from its moorngs on Sunday night
and drifed down the river and that one OF his oars
only was found in the boat If to give the impress
SION that he had been drowned, they shook their
heads gravely and at concluded there mad been
foul play somewhere. Naturally impulsive and ex-
citable, the freedmen now arrested negro named
Jim Thomas, who mad been seen In Ditcher's COM
pany on Saturday night, on the presumptive evil
dence that he must know something OF the missing
man. 1t had become the general belief that Ditcher
was murdered, and some inadvertent remark
dropped by Thomas strengthened this belief, and
Implicated, In their minds, Thomas with the murder.
Let the impression once become established among
negroes that the assassin or murderer Of another
II among them, and, with sort OF superstitious
idea Of "blood for blood" they will hunt
and quickly bring HIM to Jdstice Thomas was
Taigned before magistrates court number Of
witnesses were summoned, and testimony ELECTED
that Wade Ditcher had been gambling on Saturday
night with Jim Thomas and Gus Baker that the
two latter were winning his money, and that Ditcher
had been seen at late hour Saturday night under
the railroad she'd but he did not go home at all that
night. Nothing eliminating suspected parties was
proven, and the case was dismissed until further
developments. The gambling had occurred in
Q portion OF a apidated hotel which had been
chiefly Inhabited by negroes for some months.


DISCOVERY OF THE DEAD BODY


With redouoled zeal the negroes continued to
ferret out the hidden mystery Of the missing man.
and If possible to bring to justice any who might
be guilty OF his murder. On Tuesday traces OF blood
were discovered In the street near the railroad
depot, and from that point blood stains could be
seen upon the ground for distance OF 200 yards in
the direction OF the river. In the afternoon Of the
same day blood marks were also found reaching
from point near the old hotel where Ditcher was
last seem to the boat wharf ut the river and pursuing
Investigation still further blood stains were found
In an Old closet In the hotel, together with pack OF
CARDS which were marked with blood too. These
facts, taken in connection with the removal OF
Ditcher's boat the night after he was missing, made
she case stll more mysterious and Tuesday passed
with a a
being on the increase. on Wednesday, however, all
doubts set at rest as to the fate OF the missing
man. party OF fishermen in the river, near an alb
rupt bend OF tine stream, discovered q black mass
OF something doating towards them, and after haul
ing near enough found 1t TO be the dead body Of
cOiorea man. They quickly brought 1t ashore and
though much disfgured and mutilated about the
features the body was a. once recognized as that OF
quest was held, evidence in effect as above being
ELECTED, and verdict that deceased came to his
death by blows from clubs or ike weapons IN the
hands OF persons unknown" was rem
dered. From the circumstantial evidence ad-
suspicion OF i've negroes, as foows-Gus Baker,
George Bayline, Jim Thomas, DICK Williams and
Frank McAnster, was considered Iustifable by
court which subsequently examined into the muir
der.


Excitement ran high among the negroes and so
intense the Indignation and feeling against the
suspected murdsrers that threats OF lynching were
sober counsel OF more experienced White men tnat
that summary punishment was not brought
into requisltou, which probably might have hurried
into the presence OF their Maker On the Monday
following their Incarceration one OF the accused sig
nifed his willingness 70 disclose all he knew con-
cernlng the murder, Notwithstanding the threats
and denunciation OF his more guilty fellow prisoners
This was Frank McAllister and his version Is the
statement OF the affair as It occurred, and
the evidence afterwards proved to be. After Wade
Ditcher had won their money, and "broke" Baker,
In which the three latter attacked Ditcher. Tney all
went out into the porch OF the building the hour
being after midnight when Gus Baker struck Ditcher
across the face with heavy weapon, Jim Thomas
striking him Immediately after with club on the
head, telling hun to the ground, at which George
Bayne exclaimed, with fendish joy, "Damn himl
dats got him. Ditcher's body (life being supposed
70 be extinct was then taken and carried through
Bakers room TO the rear portion OF the old dining
ROOM which was atogetheI unfreqsented. Much TO
the surprise or the murderers, who visited their vic
ing, they found him still living. About the same
time considerable cry had been raised
concerning his absence i and aarned ar, Att a. this Gus
and BY another heavy blow on the head ''fnishedr
the victim. Thus was perpetrated one OF the most
challenging the criminal records OF almost any ma
tion for excessive brutality ana horror. That Sun
snsr n work By removing e bcdy Se
Old dining room TO the river. taxing It 10
the opposite side ana throwing u in. The same
night they broke into Ditcher's room, obtained
the key Of the paddock that fastened his boat and
placing Of the within IT, set adrift for the
double purpose of dvertng suspicion from them
selves and OF creating the impression that Ditcher
was drowned But how signaly they failed


THE TRIAL.


A true bill OF Indictment for murder in the nrst
degree being found against Gus Baker, jim Thomas
and George Baylne, they were arraigned at an
exta session OF the superior Court OF this county
Monday, July 20, 1853. Attorney General VIM. X.
Cox appeared for the state and Mr.. T.. Congland
and others for the defence. Facts as substantially
gwen above were adduced In the evidence, and
AFTER an able display OF forensic talent on both sides
the Jury retired, and In about fifteen minutes re-
ported verdict OF guilty. against the three prison.
ers. In accordance with this verdict the Judge, on
the following Saturday morning, sentenced Gus
Baker Jim Tnomas and George Bayiine To be hanged
by the neck until dead the lsth OF August 1865.


An APPEAL GRANTED.


Prior to the day fixed for the execution an appeal
was granted 10 the Supreme Court OF the state upon
the very questionable ground that the calling OF the
extra term OF the court which tried and sentenced
The condemned was unconstitutional. This lucky
circumstance prolonged their miserable existence
and cheated the gallows out OF three victims which
IL claimed for several months.


AN ESCAPE.


To such vile and horrible wretcbes life Is always
precious and DEAR and they were unceasing In their
enorts 70 escape, but for long time without sue
cess. AT length opportunity was Afforded par