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. “Well, yes (with an oath), two or three thousand!” and the two men separated, and the Judge at once crossed the river to Baconsville, and confidentially communicated all to a discreet colored man there, in whose cool, quiet determination he had great confidence; commissioning him to see the officers of the militia company, and instruct them to present themselves at the Court, submit to judgment whatever it might be, and then, by an appeal to a higher court, find an easy way out of the difficulty; as the “precept” or informal paper which had been served upon them, must cause the judgment to fail there; and stating that in case of an attempted defense before Justice Rives, he apprehended serious trouble from the throng that would undoubtedly be present.