Graham guardian., 1907-07-19
WONDERFUL NERVE OF BALDWIN
His StOicaI Demeanor on the Scat
fold Probably Due TO Religious
FeN0r

Tho cool conduct of William
Baldwin on the scaffold at Solo.
monville week ago has been the
source of considerable discussion
throughout the territory during
the past few days. Some attribute
his stoicism to the fact that the
Catholic priest had convinced him
that he was sure of salvation.
Others argue that he was naturally
a brave negro, and bad prepared
his mind for bis ignominous death.
The crime for which William
Baldwin paid the death penalty
was the arrocious murder of Mrs.
Harvey Morris and her little four.
year-old daughter, Amiuta, near
Roosevelt, January 3lst Of this
year. ......
The Morris ranch is two or three
miles from Roosevelt. On the
morning of the murder Baldwin
appeared at the house, carrying Il
gun, evidently on a hunting trip.
He soon moved on and shortly after
Mr.. Morris, the husband and faith :
er, left for Roosevelt.
During the afternoon Baldwin
rushed up to the house of a neigh.
Dor two miles distant and told of
the killing of Mrs. Morris and the
little girl by Mexican tramps. He
declared that he had gone to the
rescue, but had been attacked and
wounded and his woody head Ger.
tainIy showed the effect of contact
with a rock.
The bodies were found short
distance from the Morris house,
pitiful in death, and a strong sus.
picion arose that Baldwin's story
was fabrication and that he him
self was the prepetrator.
An Indian trailer, named Yester-
day, was soon on the ground and
after most careful search he de
clared that no tracks other than
Baldwin's and those of the victims
were to be found.
Baldwin was arrested and mar
rowly escaped lynching. He was
hustled to Globe and there again a
mob was formed and an unorgan-
lied attempt made to visit ven-
gence upon him. He was spirited
away IN the night and taken to
Tucson.
On March 5th a special session
of court was convened for the
purpose of giving Baldwin trial.
The trial lasted nearly a week.
Although an INDECENT, the accused
was ably defended by three good
lawyers, they having been appoint
ed by the court All of the cir
cumstances pointed strongly to
Baldwin's guilt, but the climax
came with the testimony of Yester-
day, the Indian. His story was
deducted from the tracks and signs
of the desert, which the Indian,
with his native skill, read Ikea
printed book.
He declared the negro was the
guilty man and 50 convincing was
his testimony that the jury return
ed verdict of guilty and fixed the
penalty at death. The court fixed
the date of execution May 9th, but
an appeal to the supreme court
caused postponement.
The testim ony of the Indian
trailer was of wonderful character
throughout. By many signs and
evidences he showed con clusively
that Baldwin was the only man
who had been in that ncighbor-
hood. All the court officials were
thoroughly convinced of Baldwin's
guilt.
An unusual feature of the exeeu
tion was that 1t was witnessed by
two young girls. Miss Eunice
Morris, daughter of Mrs. Morris
and sister of little Aminta, and her
cousin, Miss Maggie Nelson, of
Globe, made application to Sheriff
Anderson for the privilege of wit
Messing the execution. Permission
was given and the young ladies ap,
peared at the courthouse.
They were conducted into the
ROOM of the Jail guard from which
a window opens directly upon the
Jail yard. The two girls stood at
this window, not more than twenty
feet from the soatiold, and witness
ed the entire proceedings.
The girls are II or Is years of
age and their courage is remark
able, After the affair Miss Morris
expressed great satisfaction, evi.
IDENTIFY feeling that the terrible in.
Jury done to her mother and sister
had been avenged, Harvey Nor.
ris, husband and father of the vic
Tins, missed tho train at Globe
Thursday and did not arrive until
after the execution bad taken
place, He telegraphed the sheriff
to defer the event until he could
arrive on the morning train, but
the sheriff did no, feel at liberty to
do On NM do, th a ocJ n,s n ~ n ,o,.,