The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-27
CRAWF0RD'S TRAGIC END.
T1KEN FROM Jan ny MASKED MEN
AND HANG ED TO A TREE.
suspected Of lin wing Poisoned q Morgan
Co., w. Va. Farmer-PuIIed out Of Bed by
I,ynchers aud Hurried 81 TO his Doom.

suspected Of Hnvin Poisoned Morgan
Co., w. Va. Parmer-PuIIed out Of Bed by
Lvncbers and Hurried "a 10 his Doom.
FROM the Cumberland (Md) Netos, Aug. 2s.
A little over four years ago DR. Craw-
ford came to Hancock, In this State accompan-
led by young woman. and having In his pos
session a lot OF trained mice, canary birds, &c.
Crawford was between thirty and thirty-nvc
years of age. His affairs in Hancock went
smoothly on for some months, until ono morn
ing a sherin's officer, with letter from some
point in Ohio, asking after girl whose =" de-
scriptive list was filed by CrawfOrds female
fam rsy n Sy sP0rd sSorv after
this he emigratcd to Berkeley Springs.
About two years aud half ago number OF
counties, and Dr. Crawford was arrested on sus-
picion of being concerned In the thefts. He was,
however. not convicted, and after his release he
announced himself as physician, and began to
practice In different parts Of Morgan county,
rarely, u ever, appearing at berkcley Springs. re
With the Rentlcr sex he was always popular,
and he became involved In more tdsons than
will probably ever he known. the last, III rumor
be true leading To his hideous death In view
Of this state of affairs 1t Is not surprising that
the first lady to whom he proposed marriage
years ago. They did not live happily, however
aud he abused her and she abandoned him. n
his wife's brother, ending In Crawfords shooting
at his brother-n-law, wounding him In the Ieg
IN my people had suffered greatly but few
cl ing To him IN spite Of all adverse crcvmstan-
Ces and the busy tongue OF public runOr.
Among these was the family of a Mr.. johnson.
"A wcll-tO-du Morgan county farmer, living rev
mi les from berkeley Springs Mr.. johnson had
"A daughter with whom Dr. CRAWFORD became
very intimate. and was with her a great deal,
spending ut times days and weeks at her
weeks ago and placed himself In the
d,ctor,s hands for treatment. on or aDou,
| the 9TH instant Mr.. Johnson died, ana
]
should be- inferred at once Mrs. John
son objected, as she had written to her son, who
| was away from home, and wished him to be ut
the funeral. The doctor insisted that the funeral
should proceed AZ once. hut he finally yielded To
| Mr.. JohnsOn's entreaties that II he postponed
| for only one hour At the end OF that time, the
| son not Appearing, the body was imterred MIS-.
! proceeding aud next day consulted with some
! physicians, among them Dr. Green of Berkeley
| Springs, and concluded to exhume and examine
! the body. This was done. and the presence OF
| poison Ia the stomach discovered
warrant. charging the doctor with murder
was procured and he was arrested aud confined
| In the county Jail at Berkeley. To confirm his
| first conclusions. Dr. Green took To Philadelphia
| the stomach OF the deceased MIR. johnson, ON the
1ith inst. and had its contents analyzed and It's
condition examined by chemical experts, who
unhesitatngy affirmed that the death OF Mr.
| johnson had been caused by the taking into the
| stomach of tartar emetic. This decision of the
experts became generally known In Morgan
county in the latter part of last week, and threats
! OF lynching were freely made.
| Up To u o'clock on wednesday night the
streets OF Berkeley springs were as quiet A.
! usual, and nothing was observable, even by
! those who were bitterest against the imprisoned
| doctor. But at about o'clock OH Thufsdn,
morning. several masked men went quietly
! along the deserted main street and extinguisheo
| every street lamp save the one In front OF tn,
| county ial. shortly afterward a party OF from
! twenty 1--WE to forty men, all masked except one
| a large. powerful man. who acted "a leader
| approached the jail, and two or three entered
| aud demanded the keys OF the jail. The JaO
| was absent. replied one OF guard OF six younl
! men who had been placed there only that night
| and there were no Keys there. No time wa
wasted In parley. and few of the party went I,
a neighhoring blacksmith shop, procured
Underground sledge. and with It the leade
speedily battered down the door Of the room II
| which Dr. Crawford was confined.
IL is said that Dr. Crawford was heard TO en-
courage the party and invite them in. "Neve
fear. said one Of the party; we II he there sooI
enough" Anerward some one said " Put you
hands behind yOu, to which the doctor mad'
no reply. This all the conversation tina
took place the doctor evidently realizing hi
fate and accepting II with phtlosophtc foritude
The lynchers pulled the doctor out Of bed ant
did not allow him time to dress, but dragged
him away and were seen no more No alarm
was given at the time, but at three o'clock thu
Court House bell was rung and the whole towi
was aroused though pursuit Of the lynchers wa
not attempted nor Investigations made unit
daylight. Then. at a point on the creek abou
three-quarters OF mile from town, was fOun'
the dead body Of DR.. Crawford hanging from