The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-04-28

An Alabama woman Of culture and
personal attractions married a hero
convict a few days ago. and two states
are now agog with the story Of the
nuptials. Il is an extraordinary mar
alive. this romance Of the southland
II the clay hills Of Georgia and the
black belt OF Alabama. Even Opie
Reads stories Of Dixie life are tame
aeside this tale Of truth.
A more dramatic wedding cannot
We pictured. In the center OF a rude
%1ispensary, close to a convict stockade,
a felon, melancholy in his prison garb'
ield the eager hand Of a ~fashiona5ly
4ttired woman. whose fair face doomed
out from the somber background like
cameo. In front of them a burly
magistrate. with n powerful arm
thrusting back a frantic interrupted
hurrledly read the marriage ceremony
and pronounced the queerly mated
couple man and wife.
Such was the wedding Of DR. w.
s. Baldwin and Miss Eugenia Ray at
Dolive. 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
he 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, Ca. to
visit his cousin at Fitzpatrick 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
Tits of the working negroes keep time
with hoe and shovel, this young Georg-
ian found much to please and interest
him. There was a petite, 90 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 a nan
Of unusual education. Still, some ugly
stories were told about him. It was
said that Edison found it convenient
to tell some of these tales himself.
Back at Nashville. it was rumored,
Baldwin had wooed a Louisiana girl
and won her hand. This story went
on to say that he married at the
brides Louisiana home. but hat 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 postofice 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
H%utchinson's 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 Baldwin's 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
gratifed by a verdict fixing the pris-
oner's penalty at ten years conhne-
ment in the state penitentiary.
Baldwin's father, however, vas
eagar to appeal the case. The late
Col9Bol H. Clay Tompkins, one Of the
south's most eminent lawyers. advised
that no effort be made to disturb the
judgment Of the trial court. Baldwin
finally accepted the sentence. His
head vas shaved and he donned the
convict's striped suit.
His education, quiet demeanor and
gentlemanly ways won for him the po-
sition Of 'trusty." His acquaintance
with medicine gave him practice and
rendered him OF especial value at the
"stockades." He was soon transferred
to Mitylene, where there is a stockade
and where 200 convicts are employed
to work in the large lumber mills.
Baldwin was made physician for these
%conYicts.
It is there that Miss Eugenia Rays
personality entered into the story.
Miss Ray Is a member Of one OF the
best connected families in Montgom-
cry. Her father is a large planter, and
Is also connected with the oil mills
and other industries Of Montgomery.
He owns a handsome home at High
land Park, one Of the fashionable sub
urban towns, and his three daughters
have been members OF the most select
] coterie. Eugenia. who is the second
daughter, was graduated with distinc-
ton at a Montgomery seminary in the