The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-18
KILLED FOR AQUARTER.
STORY OF MAJE eALowlN,s CRIME
While Convict In .S. nound.rilis p.ait,atIiry,
as Told By Ez.sup.rlatsnd.at neFadd.a-A
Negro Prisoner Killed for a Debt Of
Twenty-Five c.nts-A Good Story.

Correspondence Of he LHteliGAea.
MouNfsytLIE, ". Va September 17.-As
Henry, ala, "Msje" Baldwin, Is again
brought into somewhat prominent notoriety
by his connection with the Seventeenth
street shooting affair and as 1t has been al
.serted-by the dailieS OF Wheeling that the
killing Of the negro convict by him while
doing time" at the penitentiary for aiding
Pat Quinlan aud Others 10 escape from jail,
was done in self defense, your correspondent
called upon Hon. G. s. McEadden, who was
at that time superintendent OF the prison,
from whom the following account OF the
murder was obtained.
The negro convict, who was killed by
Msje, was q good-natured. accommodating sort
OF creature, always ready TO do anything for
his fellow convicts that ne was asked to do,
and, consequently general fayorlte among
them. In return for small favors shown him
by Jim Blondin, who had charge Of the cook.
ing department, Coleman often carried water
for him and performed such other chores
about the culinary departments Blondin re-
quested. On the day on which occurred the
tragedy which cost the poor negro his life, he
had gone 10 the cook house, which was In
the second story Of the wooden building Used
IS dining room, with some water, and Msjs
coming In said, ben, want you TO pay
me that quarter you owe me- Coleman re-
piled, 'All right, MAZE, ! will nay you Just
as soon IS Mr.. Mac. tdcFaddepl comes in"
MONEY OR BLOOD. tt
This did not appear TO satisfy Baldwin, and
he again demanded, with an oath, that the
money be OF once paid. Coleman repeated
bis statement that he couldn't pay the money
until "Mr. Mac came, when Baldwin threw
his left arm around the colored man, and
drawing "jack knife" with his right hand,
plunged 1t into Coleman's lett breast, pene-
trating the heart, killing him almost Instant
ly, death following the fatal thrust so quick
" that Coleman died before MSje, who caught
him In his arms as he was falling, could
reach the foot Of the stairs with him.
This unprovoked assault upon and murder
Of Coleman produced such a bitter feeling
against Baldwin among the convicts that the
superintendent deemed II Unnecessary TO imme.
diateIy remove Meje to the county jail, in or.
der II prevent his being summarily dealt
with by bis fellow prisoners.
Shortly after Baldwin was taken 10 Jail,
Msjor Hunter, who was jailer at the time,
and his wife were spending an evening away
from home, leaving the Jail in charge Of
Martha Taylor, the hirea girl. The Major
returned about o o'clock and found the door
OF Baldwin's cell open and the occupant gone.
Superintendent McFadden was notified OF
the escape, and going to the jail was in
formed by Mr.. Hunter that before leaving in
the evening he hsd assured himself that the
cell door way not only locked, but as addi-
tional security the foot of the cell door was
L.. 1T at trva .t,,ab al
board which fitted closely between the door
and a slight shoulder formed by tue floor OF
the corridor at the outer side OF the cell wall.
This brace could not be reached by person
in the cell. The key Of the cell was found
In its place In bureau drawer in Mr.. Hun.
tar's sleeping room. The brace was found
standing against tue wall in the corridor.
DENIAL WHICH WAS a CONFESSION.
Miss Taylor, who had known Baldwin in
Wheeling, volunteered the information, with
ont being charged, she knew she hadn't
ANYTHING to do with II, anyhow" MoFadden
replied: mo one has charged you with hav-
ing anything to do with il; but 1t certainly
looks deyilish suspicious" This remark was
afterwards made the basis OF 81 900 Islander
suit, brought against McFadden by Mrs Tay-
lor, which ended, believe, In verdict for
the defendant.
Baldwin was arrested at or near ST. Louis,
shortly after his escape, and upon being no.
titled OF bis apprehension by telegraph, Mr..
McFadden, armed with q requisition from
the Governor OF the State for the escaped
prisoner, started at once to bring his man back.
Arriving 10 st. Louis about u o'clock at
night he was met at the depot by man who
was waiting his coming, he having telegraph
ed ahead, stating on what train he would
IL ka hN vat htt,.a -
the depot informed him that "the man who
captured Baldwin, and who was entitled to
the reward, lived about four miles In the
country" The fact Of being met by an SCENT
instead Of the principal, and informed that a
four mile ride into the country at the dead
hour OF midnight was to be made, gave rise
to the suspicion In McFaddens mind that sill
was not right, and that some OF Maje's
friends had by some means learned OF his in
tended arrival, and adopted this ruse for the
purpose Of putting his light out"
ASIGHT RIDE.
A carriage was secured, and taking his
place on the night OF his guide, who drove
The team, the four mile'drtye was made with
McFadden watching every movement
OF his companion, holding revolver
In his hand fully intending to
shoot him on the first suspicious
move, or indication OF treaohery. The place
Of destination was soon reached, the man
called up, who asked McFadden II he had
requisition for Baldwin. "Yes; here 1t is,"
said McFadden, pulling out. an imposing
looking document, and opening 1t out before
the man. The large official seal and tlutter-
ing "red tape" at once satisfied the gentle.
man, who by the way was Federal officer OF
some sort. A horse YVES at once saddled,
~. EaAH Va N m M biA t,nAn
he with Msjs's captor entered the carriage
and the two drove back 70 the city, and to
the Jail. Here the requIsition ives sgain de-
manded, aud exhibited with the same flour
lab, aud assumption OF "All Ilghtness," and
again proved potent enough to remove all
scruples In the minds OF the sapient and
cautious Miaouri officers. The truth Of the
matter was, however, that the document had
never left McFadden's pocket from the time
he received 1t from the Secretary OF State in
Wheeling, until his arrival at the end Of his
Journey, and OF course did not have the en-
dorsement OF the Governor OF the State Of
Missouri, aud consequently was without force.
THE PRISONER REruRss.
Msie was reused from his slumbers, taking
the nlatt,r 10 the coolest and most nonchal.
ant manner imaginable. Securely hand.
cutting bis prisoner McFadden started on his
return journey by the first east bound train.
Arriving at Benwood fatigued and worn ont
tor want OF sleep, the travellers were disgusted
70 find that they had missed connection with
the train east. Captain Devries happening
10 be at Benwood, kindly arranged for their
being brought down on freight train.
Ms1e, or his friends for him, secured the
services OF the late George o. Davenport to
defend him, and the trial coming on, the
eloquent attorney succeeded, las Mr.: lfcFad,
den asserts, by his artful appeal to the local
preiudices existing in the minds 81 some OF
The Jurors against him, AoFadden, aided by
the perjured testimony Of one P. G. Martin,
q convict In getting mis- client of with the
seemingly short sentence Of one year in the
Penitentiary. Just why no additional pen.
atty was inflicted on account OF former con.
yictions, does not appe4T. This convict, Mar
tin. testified that the negro had first attacked
Msie and that the killing was done In aelf