Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-01
PRETTY VERONA BALDWIN.
Her stormy Career From Millionaire's
Palace 70 an Insane Asylum.
F-00 a San n ancisc0 Spceld.

From a san r GnciSco Special
The transfer OF Verona Baldwin to the
Napa Asy lum this week practically ends a
career that has been marked by equal
psthos and eccentricity. This yOuug woman
FIRST came into prominence in 1883 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.. Bald
win, and when the old man came in she
drew a pistol and bsgan firing. The first
shot missed him, but the secOad took
effect in his arm Baldwin didn't wait to
see whe her she would improve in her aim,
but rushed into 3 neighboriug room. The
girl followed, firing two more shots before
she was disarmed. Her trial was awaited
with much interest, as II was expected that
BaldWi would appear on the witness
stand, and her counsel proposed 10 make
the crosse xaminstion lively for him.
When the time came, however, Baldwin
appeared IN court for couple Of days and
then vanish ed. Verona testified that
Baldwin was her uncle; that he secured her
a good situation when she first came here
from Washington Territory in 1882; that
he seduced her in his Santa Anita ranch in
Los Angeles county, where he persuaded
her 10 20 for a vacation, and that he
then induced her 20 take charge
of the school at that place She
los, the school because of the
rumOrs that she had been intimate with
the millionaire, and as he had refused to
give her sny aid she had tried TO shoot
him She was then dark-eysd girl, with
long oval face, regular features and q
marked refinement of face. As l saw her
IN the courtroom at that time she bore
none of the signs Of the adventures. In
deed. IL was only when her black eyes
flashed in giving portions OF her testimony
that one got a glimpse Of the spirit that
nerved her 70 attempt the old millionaire's
life
TIE ary was evidently impressed by her
youth and beauty, Tor it promptly acquit-
ted her. Some money was raised by sym
pathizing women and Verona was given a
ticket for Seattle, W. T., near which place
her parents lived. She first betrayed
signs Of insanity tbat has wrecked her life
when she lgaDed overheard az the steamer
was leaving The wharf She wss rescued
and taken to her home, where it was soon
found necessary to cOntine her for q brief
term in the Territorial Insane Asylum.
She emerged about three years ago and
once more appeared at Los Angeles, where
she began a suit for heavy damages against
Baldwin for bresCh OF promise The trisl
was very sensational, because Of the testi-
mony Of a number of disIeputable charac-
ters who swore the girl was Of loose char
scters. Most of these witnesses were
shown to be peIiurers, and finally, after
mary scandslOus disclosures, Baldwin
compromised the case by prying her SO,
600. This was done without the consent
Of her attorneys, who were suddenly coz
frosted in court one day with the evidence
OF their fair clients 6ckleness and bad
faith.
since then the girl has gone down hill
with the proverbial facility. Her money
was soon squandered, and she alternatsd
in residences between here and Los An
geles She gave She police Of the City Of
TIRE Angels much trouble By her vSgaries,
and when they secured enough evidence
10 warrant her commitment 10 Napa they
promptly arrested her Her mania now
appears 60 be entirely religious, and shs
makes no mention Of tire wrongs against
her. which she was once 20 ford OF de
scrib.pg Her osss IS extremely SD, Is
size was CURED with mere than ordinary
c-aurJ and ut-i.- gene.