Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-09-02
LYNCH LAW IN WEST VIRGINIA
Hanging of DIR. Crawford mt
Berkeley Springs.

We AdNC UClOlC ClhtCu III ShC
INDEPENDENT that one DR.. Craw-
foId, a notorious character at Ber-
kelley Springs, had been taken from
jail by masked men early Thurs
day morning last, and hanged. He
was at the time under arrest on
suspiscion of having poisoned q
farmer in Morgan county named
johnson, in whose family he had
become very intimate.
We extract the following from
an article in the Cumberland News
in regard to the man and his his
tory:
"A little over four years ago
Crawford came to Hancock in this
state, accompanied by a handsome
young woman, and having in his
possession a lot of trained mice,
canary birds, &c. Crawford was
/ between thirty and thirty-five
\ years of age, tall and well built,
a brunette. with very dark hair
/ and moustache, rather fine look
ing, though of a devilish cast of
countenance withal. Crawford's
1 affairs went smoothly on at Han
\ cock for some months, until one
! morning a sheriF's officer, with a
letter from some point in Ohio
asking after a girl whose 'descrip-
tive list was filed by Crawford's
female companion, came nosing
about, and the lady was suddenly
sent away by Crawford, and does
not appear on the scene again
Shortly after this Crawford emf
grated to Berkeley Springs.
"About two years and a hall ago
a number of horses were stolen In
Morgan and Berkeley land
Crawford was arrested on suspi-
cion of being concerned in the
the.ts. He was, however, not con-
victed, and when he became clear
he announced himself as a physi-
clan, and began to practice in diff
ferent parts of Morgan county,
rarely, if ever, approaching the
springs. He maintained bis char
acter of physician well. With the
gentler sex he was always p0pu-
lar, and he became involved in
more liasons than will probably
ever be known, the last, if rumor
be true, leading to his hideous
death. In view Of this state Of
affairs, it is not surprising that
the first lady to whom he proposed
marriage said yes and they were
married about two years ago.
They did not live happily, how
ever, as he abused her villainously
and she finally left him. In the
meantime Crawford had an alter
cation with his wife's brother, end
ing in Crawford shooting at his
brother-in-law, wounding him in
the leg. For this he was arrested
and tried, but by dint Of labor by
eminent counsel he was again freed
from the clutches ofthe law.
"By this time DR.. Crawford's
reputation with many people had
suffered greatly, but a few chung
to him in spite Of all adverse Cir
cumstanoes and the busy tongue of
public rumor. Among these was
the family of a Mr.. johnson, a well
to do Morgan county farmer, liv-
ing a few miles from Berkeley
Springs. Mr.. johnson had q
daughter, with whom Crawford
became very intimate and was
with her a great deal, spending at
times days and weeks at her faith
er's house. Mr. Johnson fell sick
some weeks ago and placed him.
self in the DOCTORS hands for treat
ment. On or about the 9th instant
MIR. Johnson died, and DR.. Craw-
ford declared that the body should
be inferred at once. Mrs. johnson
objected, as she had written to her
son, who was away from home,
aud wished him to be present at
the funeral. The doctor insisted
that the funeral must proceed at
once, but finally yielded to Mrs.
Johnson's entreaties that it be post
poned for only one hour. AT the
end of that time, the son not APP
pearing, the body vas inferred.
Mrs. johnson, however was not
quite satisfied with the proceed
ing, and the next day consulted
with some physicians among them
EDr. Green, of Berkeley Springs,
and concluded to exhume and ex-
anime the body. This was done
and the presence of poison in the
stomach discovered.
"A warrant, charging the doctor
with murder was procured, and he
was arrested and confined in the
county Jail at Berkeley Springs,
Nhe GOODNESS of the oft-tried CraW.
ord did not desert him. however,