Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-09-02
LYNCH LAW IN WEST VIRGIL.
MA.
THE HANGING OF DIR. CRAWFORD AT
BERKELEY SPRINGS.

BERKELEY SPRINGS.
1t was announced that one DR.. CraW-
ford, notorious character, in Jail at
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, had
been taken from Jail by masked men,
early Thursday morning, of last week,
and hanged. He was at the time under
arrest on suspicion of having poisoned
a farmer of Morgan county, named
Johnson, in whose family he had be-
came very intimate. The Cumberland
News gives the following in regard to
the man and his history:
ga little over four years ago Craw
ford came to Hancock, in this State,
accompanied by handsome young
woman, and having in his possession a
lot of trained mice, canary birds, DC.
Crawford was between thirty and thirty
five years of age, tall and well built,
brunette, with very dark hair and mus
tache, rather fine looking, though of a
devilish cast of countenance witha'
Crawford's affairs ut Hancock went
smoothly on for some months, until ore
morning a sheritf's officer, with a letter
from some point in Ohio, asking after
girl whose descriptive list was filled by
Crawford's female companion, came
nosng about, and the lady was sudden
ly sent away by Crawford, and does
not appear on the scene again. Shortly
after this Crawford emigrated TO Berke-
ley Springs
about two years and half ago a
number of horses were stolen in Morgan
and Berkeley counties, and Crawford
was arrested OH suspicion of being con-
cerned in the thefts. He was, however,
not convicted, and when he. became
clear he announced himself as aphysician,
and began TO practice in different parts
Of Morgan county, rarely, if ever, APP
pearing at the springs. He maintained
his character of a physician well. With
the gentcr sex he was always popular,
and he became involved in more Hoisons
than will probably ever be known, the
last, if rumor be true, leading TO bis
hideous death. In view of this state of
affairs, it is surprising that the first lady
to whom he proposed marriage said
eyes" ard they were married about two
years ago. They did not live happily,
however, as he abused her villainously,
and she finally left him. In the mean
time Crawford had an alteration with
his wfe's brother, ending in Crawford'S
shooting at his brother in-law, wound
ing 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 of the law.
"By this time DR.. Crawford's reputa-
ton nth many people had suffered
greatly, but few had chung to him in
spite of all adverse circumstances and
the busy tongue of public rumor.
Among these was the family OF MIR.
johnson, well-to-do Morgan county
farmer, living few miles from Berke-
ley Springs.
Mr.. Johnson hada daughter with whom
DR.. Crawford became very intimate and
was with her great deal, spending at
times days and weeks at her fathers
house. Mr.. johnson fell sick some
weeks ago and placed himelf in the
doctors hands for treatment On or
about the 9th instant Mr.. Johnson died,
and Dr. Crawford declared tina: the
body should be Inferred at once. Mrs.
johnson objected, as she had written to
her son, who was away from home, and
wished him to be present at the funeral.
The doctor insisted that the funeral
must proceed at once, but finally yield
ell to Mrs Johnsons entreaties that 1t
be- postponed for only one hour. AT
the end of that time, the son not APP
pearng, the body was inferred. Mrs.
Johnson, however, was not quite salts
fled with the proceeding, and next day
consulted with some physicians, among
them DIR. Green, of Berkeley Springs,
and concluded to exhume and examine
the body. This was done, and the
presence of poison in the stomach dis
covered.
ga warrant, charging the doctor with
murder was procured and he was arrest
ed and confined in the country Jail at
DeTkeley. LIE COOlueoo VI TIC OIItiSu
Crawford did not desert him, however,
and he at once took steps looking to
vigorous defense, employing skillfnl
counsel, among them Mr.. G. J. Faux
ner jr, of Martinsburg, who visited him
last on "Wednesday. In order to con-
firm his first conclusions, DR.. Green on
Tuesday, the 14th inst, took to Phlla-
dclphia the stomach of the deceased
Mr. Johnson, and had its contents
Analysed and its conditions examined
by chemical experts, who unhesitatingly
affirm 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 during the latter part
of last week, and caused the greatest
indignation against the doctor, and
threats of lynching him were freely
made.
up to twelve o'clock on Wednesday
night the streets OF Berkeley Springs
was as quiet as usual, and nothing was
observable, even by those who were
bitterest against the imprisoned doctor,
and would not have interfered in an
attempt to lynch him, that portended
the dreadful tragedy SO soon to be
enacted. About one o'clock Thursday
morning several masked men went
J