Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-03-01
aUADRUPLR MURDER.

As foul crime as ever surfed Cen-
trail Illinois was the quadruple murder
by Thomas Baldwin, wealthy bdsiness
man Of Colfax, Mclean county, OF
Cora Eiseman, his fourteen ear-old
niece, who was q victim of bis criminal
attack last fall her mother. Mrs. Simeon
Eiseman, and Charles Kennedy, young
farmer, and his wife.
The tragedy was committed at noon
Yesterday, near the homes OF the victims,
three miles north OF Arrowsmith. Bald
win, who is six y-eight years OF age,
was maddencd by the publication of a
story of his crime.
Baldwin, who apparently had led an
exemplary life, was indicted BY the last
grand Jury on the giIPs charge, and Mrs
E!seman and the girls father and the
Kennedys were witnesses before the grand
Jury. Baldwin came into the Circuit
Court last week and gave 81. 500 bail.
Yesterday morning he evidently deter
mined TO be revenged upon everybody
connected with his prosecution, for he
drove from Colfax TO Arrowsmith Ia q
buggy, and went to the homes OF his
victims.
At the Kennedy homo he shot hus-
band and wife dead. He expected to
find the Eiseman girl there 10 all proba-
bility, az she had been staying some OF
the time with the Kennedys, her rela-
tiyes but as she was no, there no went
10 the Eisemsn home, where he, with q
q pistol, shot down the fourteen-yea
girl whom he betrayed.
When Baldwin went to the Esenan
home the mother and Cora and the other
children saw him coming. They locked
the door, fearing trouble. Mrs. Ei,eman
finally persuaded her children that IL
would be polite to open the door. She
believed that she could pacify Baldwin
and invited him to enter. AS soon ns the
door was opened Baldwin told Mrs. Else
man that if she moved he would kill her
on the spot. The mother and daughter
started to run.
Calling with curses for them to atop,
Baldwin overlook the mother and plant.
ell two bullets in her breast and she
dropped dead. With pistols In both
hands. Baldwin started after Cora Else
man. The girl cried for mercy, but he
shot her dead. She was crawling through
hedge when Baldwin fred the fatal
shot. The other daughter, who witness
ed the tragedy, was apparently over
looked.
Baldwin made no effort TO escape. lie
was soon in The custody OF a deputy
sheriff, who took him TO the county
Jail Yesterday afternoon. An enormous
crowd assembled at the jail when he wss
brought in, No demonstration was made
however. and no abatement was made
by the prisoner. H's wife Is dead, but
he has two married daughters and son.
The settlement of the assault case BY
pa, ment of $500 got to the ears Of States
Attorney Bach. He subpoenstd all OF
relatives To appear before the grand jury
When their evidence Was In the jurors
returned an indictment against Baldwin
Bloomington, ILL.,, March Thomas
Baldwin, the rich Colfsx farmer, who
killed four persons yesterday. faces death
at an avengers hands. Simeon Eisemsn,
whose wife and fourteen ysar-old daugh'
ter we're two of Baldwin's victims, Ia here
yowing to kill Baldwin. He has re-
peatedly tried admission to the jail.
Many of Bsldwin's neighbon are trying
TO stir up a mob 10 lynch tho murderer
A bottle Of whisky found untouched 10
Baldwin's pocket has oeen found TO con-
tain strychnine. 1t Is thought he In
tended committing suicide after the
crime. Il Is said his defense will be ip
L sanily