While Robert Baker and his sons were in Dunn’s groggery, informing their counsel respecting the particulars of the suit he was about to conduct for them, many exciting scenes were transpiring in the vicinity, and the streets of the doomed village were becoming lively with the presence of armed men, who were freely imbibing whisky, and threatening to “kill every —— nigger in Baconsville that day.” Especially loud and frequent were the threats against the Captain and Second Lieutenant of the militia company.
As soon as half-past three o’clock, quite a crowd had gathered around George Dunn’s store, and the bar was evidently reaping the rich harvest Mrs. D. had anticipated; while with loud and excessively revolting profanity, the case shortly to be tried was canvassed, and rumors of a “negro insurrection” rehearsed.
“Who is that coming?” asked one, as a quiet man of medium size approached.
“Oh, that is Judge Kanrasp of the county seat, he is a cursed Northern Republican,” was the reply, accompanied by a shocking oath.
The wrathful eyes of the entire crowd were fixed upon him as he came up, and, entering the store, approached the place where the two Bakers sat, and addressing the General said, “Mr. Gaston informed me that you wished to see me.”
This was not his first interview with Mr. Robert Baker in connection with this difficulty. The latter had stopped him that morning upon the streets of the city opposite, to speak of the pending trial.
The Judge had then stated his opinion that Gaston’s testimony had thus far developed no legal case against the colored men, and urged the abandonment of the case, as to push it further, would merely excite ill-feeling between the two races at a time when it was most undesirable—at the commencement of a political campaign—and even should the plaintiffs secure a judgment, it was a matter which could be appealed, and in a higher court their case could not stand a moment.
“I shall do no such thing,” replied Mr. Baker. “The negroes of Baconsville have been very offensive; they have interfered with my sons, and I am determined that they shall be punished. The case shall be prosecuted, and so far as any feeling is concerned, I don’t care for that. Some of my friends and neighbors from the country have been informed that the trial will take place this evening, and they will be present, not less than twenty-five or thirty of them.”
“Mr. Baker, perhaps there will be two or three hundred,” said Kanrasp.