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MURDER CASE REVIVED
W. I. Fisher Thinks He
Can Locate the Murderer Upton.
Bourbon County, Kansas,
Man Named Baker
Killed for His Money in
1863.
One Man Hung for it—Capt.
Fisher Desires Information About the $1,000 Reward.
Ft. Scott
Monitor, 24th.
In the hopes of getting
a reward of $1,000 which he believes is standing, W. I. Fisher, a
resident of Nevada, is making an attempt to revive an old murder which
was committed in Bourbon county in 1863 during the war. The case
referred to is a letter received in this city today is the Baker case.
Baker was murdered by two men for the purpose of robbery. All the old
inhabitants are familiar with the case. One of the fellows was hanged,
but the other escaped. It is the man who escaped that Mr. Fisher thinks
he can locate and thus receive the reward. The murdered man was a Mason
and Fisher has interested the secretary of the Masonic lodge of Nevada
in the matter and the latter has written the following letter of inquiry
to J. L. Mickle, secretary of the Fort Scott Masonic lodge for
investigation:
Nevada,
Mo., Sept. 21,
1901—Secretary Masonic Lodge, Fort Scott, Kans., Dear Sir: W. I. Fisher
of this city informs me that in 1863 a man by the name of Baker, living
near the Missouri and Kansas line was murdered by two men, one of whom
was caught and hanged; the other, a man by the name of Joe Upton,
escaping. Mr. Fisher informs me that Mr. Baker was a member of the
Masonic fraternity and that a reward of $1,000 was offered for Upton’s
capture, and he has requested me several times to write you and
ascertain if you could inform me whether there is anyone at the present
time who would pay anything for the capture of Upton, whom Fisher thinks
he can locate. Begging your pardon for troubling you.
I remain yours
fraternally,
Jas. M.
Clack
W. M.,
Osage Lodge No. 303
Mr. Mickle turned the
letter over to Deputy Sheriff Ball for investigation and the officer in
turn sought his information from Judge Margrave, the old standby in such
matters.
Although the judge can
not remember the name of the man who escaped, he is familiar with the
details of the murder. Mr. Baker was a well-to-do farmer living
southwest of town. He was known to have money. The murderer was a
worthless fellow and he was known to have planned to kill Baker in order
to rob him. He got Upton in on the deal and both went to the wealthy
farmer’s house one night and robbed him. Thinking that it would cover
up the crime of robbery Baker was killed, just how Judge Hargrave cannot
remember. Mrs. Baker was in the house at the time but escaped. She
recognized the man who killed her husband, and this, coupled with the
fact that he boasted that Baker was to be robbed, pointed to his guilt.
He was arrested and tried by a court martial and convicted. The country
was at that time under martial law and the murderer was sentenced to be
hanged, which was done in this city in the presence of a big crowd.
This was in the palmy days of the old Wilder house and Judge Hargrave
was in the hotel when the execution took place. He did not care to see
a man hung, although a good many of them needed it, and he did not leave
the hotel.
Upton, his accomplice,
escaped and nothing has been heard of him since. As near as Judge
Margrave and the other old timers can remember there was never any
attempt to capture Upton. He was not wanted very bad as the other
fellow was known to be the leader and enticed him to aid in the crime.
Judge Margrave does not know of any $1,000 reward that was offered for
Upton’s apprehension and he does not believe there ever was any,
although there might have been. Some time ago Judge Margrave was
written to about the case and he gave the information about the murderer
embodied in the letter. It is not known where Mr. Fisher thinks he has
Upton located.
The
Nevada Daily Mail,
Nevada, Vernon Co., MO. September 25, 1901.
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THE BAKER MURDER CASE.
Drury Field of Vernon County Writes an
Interesting Article Concerning an Old Crime—Offers $100 Reward for the
Right Man.
Recently the Mail published an
article from the Ft. Scott Monitor, concerning the inquiries made by
Capt. W. I. Fisher of this city, as to the Baker murder case.
The following communication
received today from a prominent citizen of Vernon county will be of
interest in this connection:
Mr. Field Reviews the Case.
To the Editor of the
daily mail.
Richards, Mo., Oct. 2.—I have just
been reading an article in your paper about the Baker murder. I see
that Judge Margrave was interviewed about the case. The Judge has
either forgotten the whereabouts of the deceased’s residence or there is
a misprint. Mr. Baker did not reside in Kansas. I knew Mr. Baker well;
I worked for him in 1861. I lived in Kansas right on the state line.
Mr. Baker lived just over the line on the Missouri side, two miles south
of where I now live. A. Hawkins, a brother-in-law of mine was one of
the first men to reach the house after the murder was committed. I am
familiar with the case. You have a man in Nevada who lived close to Mr.
Baker. I refer to Rev. Enoch Weyand. Mr. Baker’s oldest daughter was
Mrs. Arch White, wife of the deceased ex-sheriff of Vernon county. The
name of the man who was hung was Frazell; he was hung in Ft. Scott by
Federal authority; he was a Cedar county militiaman. The Vernon county
militia company was ordered to report for duty, and they did so to a
man. Augustus Baker was chosen captain by 196 to 4 cast for Frazell,
who was an orderly sergeant of Molton company of Cedar county. The
militia was never ordered into camp. I shall not undertake to tell the
particulars now. I do not think there ever was a reward offered for
Upton. I think if there ever had been I would have heard of it and
remembered it. I am astonished that anyone should think Baker lived in
Kansas. I will give $100 reward for the capture and conviction of the
right man. I wish I possessed the knowledge W. I. Fisher thinks he
possesses, and I would not wait for a reward. It was one of the most
dastardly crimes of the border. I do not belong to the Masonic order,
but am an enemy to crime and will give the above stated reward; also all
the information in my power. I will come to Nevada [and] state
particulars at a moment’s warning.
D. J. Field
The Nevada Daily
Mail,
Nevada, Vernon Co., MO. Wednesday, October 2, 1901.
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