Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-03-24
BLINDNESS OF LOVE.
AN ALABAMA BELLE Welded
TO PRISONER.
Not Ashamed of Convict Garb-ROmanCs
Which Began with Shooting and
Ended In Marriage-Had Many Diff
dculties.

An Alabama woman of culture and
personal attractions married hero
convict few days ago, and two states
are now agog with the story of the
nuptials. 1t is an extraordinary mar
rative, this romance of the southland
Of the clay hills of Georgia and the
black belt of Alabama. Even Opie
Reads stories of Dixie life are tame
beside this tale Of truth.
A more dramatic wedding cannot
be pictured. In the center of rude
dispensary, close to a convict stockade,
felon, melancholy in his prison garb,
held the eager hand of fashionably
attired woman, whose fair face doomed
out from the somber background like
cameo. In front of them a burly
magistrate, with one powerful arm
thrusting back a frantic interrupter
hurriedly read the marriage ceremony
and pronounced the queerly mated
couple man and wife.
Such was the wedding of CDR" w.
S. Baldwin and Miss Eugenia Ray at
DGlive, in Mobile county, Alabama.
But this marriage forms only one
chapter in the remarkable story OF
love, heroism, tragedy and pathos.
Stretching back over a period of sew
eral years, this drama involves two OF
the most prominent families in Ala
bama and Georgia, and reaches for its
details into courts and capitols,
schools and churches, hospitals and
bathrooms.
In the spring of 1895 a university
student went from Cuthbert, Ga, to
visit his cousin at Fitzpatrick's Sta
ton, on the Alabama and Georgia
railroad, nineteen miles south of Mont
gomery. In the midst of the cotton
growing section, where the plantation
lifts Of the working negroes keep time
with hoe and shovel, this young Georg-
ian found much to please and interest
him. There was petite, coy south
ern girl, Gena Hutchinson, whose
brown eyes won the visitors heart.
He decided to establish himself at this
growing village of 200 souls.
There was another sutton for the
girls favor however, and Baldwin's
path was studded with thorns. Miss
Hutchinson seemed to find Frank Ed
son more attractive than his Georgia
rival. Bad blood sprung up between
the two men.
Baldwin had studied at the Uni
versity of Maryland and at the Van
derbilt University in Nashville. Three
courses in medicine had fitted him for
a physicians practice, and the neigh
borhood looked up to him as man
Of unusual education. STILL some ugly
stories were told about him. 1t was
said that Edison found it convenient
to tell some of these tales himself.
Back at Nashville. it was rumored,
Baldwin had wooed Louisiana girl
and won her hand. This story went
on to say that he married at the
brides Louisiana home, but that after
a few weeks he left his young wife.
In after months Baldwin acknowl-
edged this report was true, but de-
clared a divorce had been obtained.
One bright Sunday afternoon Bald
win, Miss Hutchinson and Edison met
in the little postoffice at Fitzpatrick's
Station. No effort was made by either
man to conceal his bitter enmity for
the other. A few heated words were
spoken and Edison reached for his
hip pocket. Even before the Alaba-
milan could draw his gun, Baldwin's
revolver spoke. There were three
shots, and Edison lay MORALLY
wounded.
In the court proceedings that fol-
lowed there was little to show that
Baldwin was either rewarded by Miss
love or that the Georgian
had stood between the girl and Ed
son. The latter died.
Baldwin's relatives FASTENED to his
side. Money and influence, plentiful
and extensive, were forthcoming to
urge his release. An effort was made
to secure Baldwins liberty on a writ
Of habeas corpus. This was unavail
ing and finally, after a few months
delay, Baldwin went to trial at Union
Springs. in Bullock county. Some of
the ablest counsel in the state were
engaged in his defense. They were
gratified by verdict fixing the pris
oner's penalty at ten years confine-
nent in the state penitentiary.
Baldwin's father, however, was
Eager to appeal the case. The late
Colonel H. Clay Tompkins, one of the
'outh's most eminent lawyers, advised
hat no effort be made to disturb the
Judgment Of the trial court. Baldwin
inally accepted the sentence. His
lead was shaved and he donned the
striped suit.
His education, quiet demeanor and
,entlemanly ways won for him the po-
ition Of "trusty." His acquaintance
With medicine gave him practice and
endered him Of especial value at the
stockades." He was soon transferred
o Mitylene, where there is stockade
nd where 200 convicts are employed
o work in the large lumber mills.
Baldwin was made physician for these