Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-01
ANGERED BY INDICTMENT
His Campaign Of Revenge Leaves
Trail of Death.
THE COMMUNITY rs AROUSED
Man and Two Women Shot Dead and
Child Killed as She Tried
to Escape.

BLOOMINGTON, ILL.,, March 1.-Enraged
by grand jury proceedings to punish him
for mistreating his fourteen-year-old niece,
Thomas Baldwin, a wealthy farmer, sixty
eight years old, recently made widower,
began campaign of vengeance yesterday,
and when he concluded four persons had
been murdered, including the little girl
whom he had so outrageously wronged.
The child Cora Eiseman, was his last VIC
tim. and his murder of her was most cruel.
She had just seen her mother shot to death
and was striving to escape by crawling
through thorny hedge when Baldwin ran
up and shot her to death.
The feeling against the murderer is such
that the Jail in this city where he is con-
fined is heavily guarded as precaution
against summary vengeance.
Baldwin resides near Calfax and is one
of the best-known men in the county. He
was one of the leading merchants OF the
town until he retired to live on his farm.
His large interests in various enterprises
made him of Importance commercially, and
he was one of the most conspicuous church
members in the place.
Took Niece to His Home.
Last October his wife died, and he
seemed to mourn her deeply. His little
niece, Eva Eiseman, lived with her mother
and sister about three miles north Of
Arrowsmith, ten miles from Baldwin's
home. He went there a week after his
wife's death and persuaded Mrs. Simeon
Eiseman to let Cora live with him, say
ing he would take the best of care of her
and provide literally for her in his will
Soon after the girl became an inmate of
his home he mistreated her on a lonely
country road between Colfax and Arrow
smith. The girl told her mother, but Mrs.
Eiseman, being averse to the notoriety
which would attend prosecution, refrafned
from making formal complaint. Baldwin
In the meantime gave her 5000 in settle
ment.
been finally disposed of, but last week
the news of his offense was carried to
States Attorney w. R. Bach, and he
promptly submitted the case to the grand
jury, and Baldwin indicted.
On being arrested Baldwin vowed venge-
ance upon everybody connected with the
proceedings to punish him. Nevertheless, he
was released on 1000 bond.
Revolver and Whisky.
Yesterday morning Baldwin took a revolv-
er, supply of cartridges and a quart bot
tie of whisky and drove to Arrowsmith
He first went to the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Kennedy friends of the Esemans,
whom he suspected of giving the facts to
the states attorney, and shot them both
dead.
Then he re-entered his buggy and drove
to the Eseman home Mrs. Eiseman saw
him coming, and, fearing him, called Cora
and the other children into the house and
locked the door. Presently, however, she
opened the door and tried to mollify Bald
win, but his answer was to fire two bullets
into her breast, killing her instantly.
and hn ut nh 6rnr Cfo tod ko
run. Baldwin paid attention to the 9TH
ers, but with curses followed the little
girl whom he had wronged. She had
reached hedge and was crawling through
to reach some neighbors when he reached
her. He shot her dead while she was beg
ging for mercy.
Baldwin then hunted up deputy sheriff
at Arrowsmith and surrendered