Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-25
PRETTY VERONA BALDWIN.
Her Stormy Career from a Millionaire's
Palace to an Insane Asylum.

From San Francisco Special
The transfer Of Verona Baldwin to the Napa
ASYLUM this week practically ends a career that
hasbeen marked by equal pathos and eccen-
tricity. This young woman first came into
prominence in 1888 by her desperate attempt
to shoot millionaire Lucky Baldwin at his
hotel in this city. She appeared suddenly one
evening in the hotel parlor, asked to see Mr.
Baldwin. and when the old man came in she
drew pistol and began firing. The first shot
missed him, but the second took effect in his
arm. Baldwin didn't wait to see whether she
would improve in her aim, but rushed into
neighboring room. The girl followed. firing
two more shots before she was disarmed. Her
trial was awaited with much interest as il was
expected that Baldwin would appear on the
witness stand. and her counsel proposed to
make the crOss-examinatiOn lively for him.
When the time came. however. Baldwin ap-
peared IN court for couple of days and then
vanished. Verona testified that Baldwin
her uncle; that he secured her good situation
when she first came here from Washington ter
ritOry in 1882; that he seduced her in his Santa
Anita ranch IN Los Angeles county, where he
persuaded her to go for a vacation. and that he
then induced her TO take charge OF the school
at that place. She lost the school because of
the rumQrs that she had been intimate with the
millionaire. and as he had refused to give her
any aid she had tried to shoot him. She was
tDen a uark-eNeO girl. Win long oval 1dce, reg
ular features and a marked refinement of man.
ners. As saw her in the courtroom at that
time she bore none of the signs OF the adven-
turess. Indeed il was only when her black
eyes flashed In giving portions of her testimony
that one got glimpse of the spirit that nerved
her to attempt the old millionaire's life.
The jury evidently impressed by her
youth and beauty for it promptly acquitted
her. Some money was raised by sympathiZing
women, and Verona given ticket for
Seattle. W. T., near which place her parents
lived. She first betrayed signs of the insanity
that has wrecked her life when she leaped
overheard the steamer leaving the
wharf. She was rescued and taken to her
home, where it was soon found necessary to
confne her for brief term in the territorial
insane asylum.
She emerged about three years ago and once
more appeared at Los Angeles. where she began
suit for heavy damages against Baldwin for
breach of promise. The trial was very sensa-
tiOnal. because of the testimony of a number of
disreputable characters, who swore the girl
was of a loose character. Most of these Witness
es were shown to be perjurers, and finally,
after many scandalous disclosures, Baldwin
compromised the case by paying her $4,000.
This done without the consent of her at
torneys, who were suddenly confronted in court
one day with the evidence OF their fair clients
fckleness and bad faith.
Since then the girl has gone down hill with
the proverbial facility. Her money was soon
sQuandered. and she altCrnated in residence
Between here and Los Angeles. She gave the
police of the City of the Angels much trouble
BY her yagaries. and when they secured enough
evidence to warrant her commitment to Napa
they promptly arrested her. Her mania now
appears to be entirely religious. and she makes
no mention of the wrongs against her. which
she was once so fond of describing. Her case
IS extremely sad. as she was gifted with more
than ordinary beauty and intelligence