THE CHARGE AGAINST COLONEL BAKER OF THE 10th HUSSARS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5602, 31 August 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CHARGE AGAINST COLONEL BAKER OF THE 10th HUSSARS.

Colonel Valhntixk Bvicnu of the 10th Hussars, who had been remanded on a charge of indecently assaulting Miss liobecoa Kato Dickinson, surrendered on his bail at a special county sessions, held at the County Hall, Guildtord. The court was tilled immediately the doors were .opened, and a considerable number of persons wero collectcd outside who could not gain admission. The complainant, accompanied by her sister and her brother, Dv. Dickinson, camo into court shortly before proceeding* commenced. The defendant came in soon afterwards, accompanied by several frieuds, and, with Sir .Samuel Baker, was accommodated with a seat at the tablo beside his counsel. Mr. Poland appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. Lilley for tho defence. At the request of Mr. Hawkins, tho witnesses, except the complainant, wero ordered out of court. The evidence of the prosecutrix, Miss Rebecca Dickinson, a very lady-like girl, was as follows , - She said : I livo at Dunford, near Midhurst, with my mother and two sisters We have lived there since September of last year. Before that wo lived at New Park Lymington. On Thursday last au arrangement had been made for mo to accompany my married sister nud her husiund, Dr. JJi.idshaw, on a trip to the Continent, and 1 proceeded on that day with my luggage to tho railway station. I wont in my "mother's carriage, and was accompanied by my sisters, lwent by the five minutes past three train to Peterslield, where I changed into a train on the main line. 1 got into an empty compartment of a first-class carriage, and I got my luggage, consisting of a portmanteau and three parcels placed in the same compartment. 1 remained alone in the compartment until we got to Lipkook, which is the next station, and there the defendant got into the compartment. I was sitting in the corner next the platform facing the window, and the window was down. The defendant sat opposite in tho middle seat, with his back to the engine. After the train had left the station, defendant asked if I felt the draught. I said, " 1 like it, thank yon." He did not speak to me again until we got to Haslemcre, and then he spoke of the beauty of the country as we passed the various stations. He changed his seat, and sat opposite to me. He next spoke of the Academy, and asked if I had been at Aldershot, and I said, " Yes, I had a brother stationed there formerly, and that we went to a ball there." Semething was said about Midhurst, and I said I come from there, He said lie was on the staff in tho North Camp. This was before we came to Woking. Seeing my portmanteau in the compartment, he said " 1 sec you are going to Dover ; are you going there tonight?" I said, " Yes, we shall bo off tomorrow morning." He said, " Are you going alone*" and I said, " No, my brother-in-law and my sister are going with me." He said, " You will have to wait two hours in town. You ought to stay a few days in town." I said we had previously been a week or two before. He said, " 1 suppose you went to all the theatres." I said, " We saw • Hamlet 1 and nothing more. " He said, "A better actor than Salvina is coming out — llo*si. The Italians seem very strong in that way, and there are no particularly good English actors coining on." He asked me if I believed in mesmerism. I Baid I did not know. The conversation continued for some time. The train stopped at Woking station. No one got into the carriage. He asked me if I could lix a time to be on the line again, I said "No." He said, " You won't !" He then put the window up, and asked me to tell him my name. I said, "I shan't. " He said, "You give me your name." I said, " I shan't." He again said, " You will give ma your name," and 1 said, "I shan't." He said, " Why not ?" I said, "Because I do not choose, I do not see any reason why I should. " He said, " Will you tell me your Christian name?" 1 made no reply. He changed his seat and came beside me and took hold of my hand, I said, " Get away ; I won't have you so near," and pushed him off. Ho put his arm round my waist, and held me in front with the other arm and kissed me. He said, " You must kiss me darling." T got up, and after great trouble, reached the bell, the dial in the railway carriage. The glass was broken. Ho said, "Dnut ring." I put out my hand, and tried the bell both ways ; but it would not move. Then he forced mo back into the corner, the same corner I was in before, and pressed me back against the carriage, himself being in front, and placed his face on mine and kissed me on the lips. I mid, "If I toll you my name, will yon got olF?" I don't think he made any reply/ Then he sank down close in front of me, and I felt his hand underneath my dress, on my stocking,- above my boot. J struck tho window with my elbow, t) soo if I could break the glas-i ; but did not break it, and i got up uiitauUy. I got tho window down ami put uiy head out, working by tho olbowa, aud F streamed. Nobody hoard. 1 felt quite strangled with kointthiug pulling me behind. Ho W(W pulling me back. I screamed once more, felling it was all I was able to do, and at the same time 1 twisted r.niud the liaudlo of tho door, aud stepped out backwards on the footboard, and held with my left hand on tho handle. , lie had hold of my arm. I kept linn hold of his arm with my right hand, and said, | " If you lo«vo go I snail fall." He said | "Get in dear, get in dear, you got in, and I will get out ot the other door," and he prepared to move off. I had seen the other door locked at Ouildford. I said again, "If you leave go I shall fall." I said nothing more. Whon I was outside I saw the passengers' heads [out of the windows — two gentlemen in tho next compartment. I said, "How long is it before tho train stops Y" I could not htar ' whother any reply wa»-*ivon, but I fancy lie j said "1 don't know. Nothing further took place till the train stoppod. £ lost my hat as soon as 1 got out. The hat produced , is the one. Before tho train stopped 3 was , very nearly exhausted. When tho train stopped, defendant said, "Don't say anything ; you don't know what trouble you will get mo into ; say you wore frightened. I will givo you my name, or anything else." I ( made no reply. Several of the passenger* came up, and. the engine-driver and tho ■' guard. The Rev. Mr. Brown was one of tho passengers. I was lifted off. They said, • • What is tho matter ?" I said, • ' That man would not leave mo alone." They said, • ' Which man ?' I said, • ' That man. " The defendant was there. They said, " Wo havo removed him; get in again." I got into the .same compartment. I said, "I mutt havo some one with me;" aud tho Rev. Mr. Brown got into tho samo compartment, and went on with me to the oud of the journey. When we got into the Waterloo Station I went with tho Rev. Mr Brown and some of the passengers and officials to +he office. The defendant was taken there as well. He said, "lam very sorry for anything I did to frighten you." I gave my address to tho railway guard. Defendant said, "I know your brother very well indeed, give mo his address and I will write to him " I said, " You may do what you choose." I did not give him my brother's address. We passed on, and I wont to my brother's house, Mr. Dickinson, in Chesterfield-street, with Mr. Brown. I had a large bruise on my right arm. Henry Bailey, the guard of the train, testified that he put defendant into another coai-

partmcnt with two other gentlemen, and locked it. His dress h« noticed was then disarranged. -Mr. I'. H Burnett (of the firm of Bnrnitt and Co., distillers), said a fellow-i>assenger called defendant's attention t) the state of his dress. — Defendant was sentenced to twelvo months' iin prisonment without haul l.ih.mr, <ind t>t ,v Hue of 1500.