Russell SMITH and Mary BALDWIN Guilty of Living in Sin (1915)

From the Danville Gazette (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, March 4, 1915 - page 1, column 2:

SIX MONTHS IN JAIL
Lincoln Township Couple Get Heavy Sentence For Failing to Comply With Proprieties

Russell Smith and Mrs. Mary E. Baldwin of Lincoln Township were sentenced to serve six months in the county jail by Judge Brill yesterday morning when they entered a plea of guilty to a statutory charge. In addition to the jail sentence Smith was fined $50 and costs, which will add about two months to his sentence as the fine is not likely to be paid. After rendering judgment the Court suspended the sentence imposed on the woman pending her good behavior.

The couple had been living as man and wife for more than a year. For several months they have been residing on the Holloway farm east of Brownsburg. Neighbors did not know the relations of the couple until after the arrest. Then they said it was awful. Judge Brill delivered a sharp lecture to the defendants. Smith said he did know he was violating the law until he was arrested. He gave his age as 24. The woman was 20 years old. She is married and her husband, Howard Baldwin, lives in Indianapolis. They were married about two years ago. The husband recently brought suit for divorce and that action brought about the arrest of the couple.

Smith has been in court here before. Some time ago he was arrested for beating a board bill, for which he paid a fine.