The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-19
A DOCTORS DECEPTION.
How He Lived for Years Life of Decei
and was HOnored and Respected.

How He Lived for Years a Life of Deceit
and was Honored and Respected.
From the Sullivan Und.) Democrat
For the past twenty-five years DR..
John H. Baldridge has resided in Jack
son Township, enjoyed good practice
as physician, was prominent mem
Der of the Presby terrain Church, and one
of the leading citizens in the north part
of the county. A short time ago he
packed his valise and left, on the ex-
posture of certain facts in his past his
tory which he could not deny and could
not longer conceal. Recent revelations
make known that in his younger DAYS
he was living in peace with faithful
wife in Ohio; that when she was confn-
ed to her bed, a young and attractive
girl was employed to work about the
house and nurse the sick wife; that DIR.
Baldridge and the girl became too init
mate for peaceful relations to exist be-
tween the husband and wife; that he
finally ran away with the girl, leaving
his wife, and came to this county, where
he located and passed her off as his wife.
Some ten or twelve years ago the real
wife became needy, and wrote to the
Doctor for assistance. The result of
the correspondence was that fear Of
her exposures led him to agree to pro-
vide for her, with the stipulation that
she should remove to this county, bury
the secret in her breast, and pass her
self off as the widow of his brother. This
arrangement was carried out, the wife
coming into the household where her
place had been assumed by her former
hired servant, and there the two
women continue to live in
peace, so far rs the outside world
knows. Something over nine years
ago Mr.. 7. F. Curry, well known cit
izen of that vicinity, having lost his
vile, paid his addresses to the putative
widow, was accepted, and finally mar
ried her, although she was the wife of
DR.. Baldridge, never having been di-
vorced. Mr.. Curry died about year
ago and probably never knew any
thing as to the facts about the skeleton
in the closet. There were no children
of this marriage, although Mr.. Curry
had several children by his former wife.
DIR. Baldridge raised large family of
children by both women, those born to
him in lawful wedlock being raised by
the woman he brought with him to In
diana. How the exposure came to be
made at this late day is more than we
can say, except that it is said to have
been binted at and given out by piece
meal for probably year past. When
the story became known to few, the
guilty ones were in constant fear, and
we learn that the presence of the Sher-
lit in Farmersburg one day was what
frightened the Doctor into flight. His
putative wife left soon after, but we
lean that she returned few days ago.
During his long residence in this coun-
ty, the Doctor bought and sold many
hundreds of acres Of land, and all the
deeds he made we're signed by the wo-
man he represented to be his wife. An
attorney can readily see the complica-
tons arising, especially if the children
of Mr.. Curry propose to dispossess their
step-mother Of her interest in the Curry
estate, and she is led to assert her rights
as the lawful wife of Dr. Baldridge.