Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-26

THE HANGING OF DR. CRAWFORD AT
BkRKkLkY SPRINGS.
IL was stated in TEE stan OF yestesfay
that one DR.. Crawford. notorious character
In jsil al Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
had been taken from jail by mas ked men,
esIIy Inursday morning, and hanged. He
was al the time under arrest on suspicion OF
nsving POISONED q farmer OF Morgan cou oty,
namea Johnson, In whose family he hal be
some very intimate. The Cumberland (MtD
News gives the following In reSard IN The
man ard his history: ~ ~
"a litiIe over four years ago Crawford
came 10 HANCOCK. IN this state, accompanied
by handsome young woman. aud haviag
IN bis possession q lot OF trained mice canary
birds, &C. Crawford was between thirty
aoo tnlrty- nve years OF age, tall and well
built, brunette with very dark hair AMI
mustache, rather nne- looking, though OF a
o er,,l r csss Oh e9entenance withsl. Craw
for some months until one morning a
eberiff's of1cer, with q letter from some
P Point IN One asking s After girl whose de
male companion, came nosing about, and
the lady was suddenly sent away by Craw-
ford, and does DOT appear on the scene again.
Berkeley Springs.
About two years and a half ago
number OF horses were stolen In Nor
gan and Berkeley counties. and Morgan was
arrested on suspicion OF being concerned in
the thefls. He was, however, not convicted,
and when be became clear he announced
himself as physician, and began TO prac-
Gce In different parts or Morgan county,
rarely, II ever, approa ching the springs. He
maintained bis character OF physician well.
VIII The gentler sex ne was always popular,
and he became involved In more lsisons
than Will probably ever be known. the last,
II rumor be true, leading TO his hideous
death. In view or this state of affairs IL is
not surprising that the nrst lady q whom
he proposed marriage said eyes, aud they
S were EN- married ,. d about two years ago They
her villainously, and she finally left him, In
the meantime Crawford had an alteration
with his wife's brother, ending In Crawford
shooting at his hrother-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
"By this time DIR. Crawford's reputation
with many people had suffered greatly, but
few chung 10 him in spite OF all adverse
circumstances and the busy tongue OF public
rumor. Among these was the family OF a
MT. johnson, well-to do Morgan county
sprinFs S jsnps@n nas fnSm bsrks,sy
whom DR.. Crawford became very intimate
and was with her a great deal, spending at
Times days and weeks At her fathers house:
placed himself In the doctors hands for
treatment. On or about the 9Th instant Mr..
Johnson JONI died, and Dr. Crawford declared
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 pro-
coed at once, but finally yielded to Mrs.
Johnson's entreaties that IL be postponed for
only one hour. AT the end OF that time, the
son not appearing, the body was Inferred.
Mrs johnson, however, was not quite salts
fed with the proceeding, and the 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 In
the stomach discovered.
ga warrant, charging the doctor with
murder was procured. aud he was arrested
and confined In the county jail at Berkeley.
The GOODNESS OF the oft-tried Crawford did not
desert him, however, and ne at once took steps
looking TO a vigorous defense, employing
ekillful counsel, among them Mr.. G. J..
Faulkner, Jr., OF Martinsburg, who visited
nrm his first conclusions, DR.. Green, on
Tuesday, the 14th instant, took 10 Pniladel-
phia the stomach or the deceased Mr.. John
son, and had Its contents analysed and its
condition examined by chemical experts,
who uphesitatingly affirmed that the death
OF Mr.. johnson had been caused by the tax
Ing 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.
Sup 10 twelve O'Clock on Wednesday night
the streets OF Berkely Springs were as quiet
as usual. and nothing was observable, even
by those who were Ditterest against the i'm
prisoned doctor, and would not have inter
fered in an attempt TO lynch him, that por-
tended the dreadful tragedy so soon to be
Ing several masked men went quietly along
the deserted main street and extinguished
every street lamp saw the one In front of the
county jail. Shortly after q party of from
twenty nve TO forty men, all masked except
oDe-a large, powerful man, who acted as
leader approached the jail and two or three
entered and demanded the keys OF the Jail.
The tailor was absent, replied one of guard
OF SIX young men who had been placsd
there only thst night, and there were no
Keys there. No time was wasted In parley
| and few OF the party proceeded to
+. neighboring blac kslith shop, procured q
| twelve pound sledge, with which the leader
| speedily battered down the door OF tue
| room In which DR.. Crawford was confined.
| 1t is said that DIR. Crawford was heard To
/ envcuressSS .u- parry, and invite them In
| "Nevef fear" said one OF the party, "well
be there soon enough" After wards some one
| said "Put your hands behind YOU" TO which
the doctor made no reply. This was all the
| conversation that took place, the doctor
! evidently realizing his fate and accepting IL
With philosophic fortitude, though of course
whas took place at the haEsing Is not
known, Snd will not be for many yyScrs 81
least. The lynchers pulled the unfortunate
| man out OF bed, and did not allow him time
TO dress, but dragged him away and were
seen no more. No alarm was given at once,
but at O'Clock the courthouse bell was
rung and the whole town aroused. though
pursuit OF the lynchers was not attempted
nor Investigations made until daylight.
Then, at q point on the creek, about three
quarters Of q mile from town, was found the
dead body OF DR.. Crawford, hanging from q
tree