South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-09-01
Lynch Law in West Virginia.
Hongi"g a: Berkeley .Spr;n9s Of lfom
Charged riA Nwder-A Thrilling Story.

Hangi"g a: Berkeley .Spr;a9s or a lfon
Charged rih Nurder-A Thriiii,g Story
yesterday afternoon considerable in.
terest was excited by the report that a
DIR. Crawford of Morgan county. West
Virginia. confined in the county Jail at
Berkeley Springs, on the charge of caus.
ing the death OF n patient by admins.
tering poison, had been lynched by n
mob. The statements Of the occurrence
were diverse 4 incomplete and the Ne,cs
reporter detailed to obtain the straight
story almost despaired Of doing SO un.
til after the arrival OF the midnight train
from the east, on which were Deputy.
sheriff Ohut. who had spent portion of
the evening at Sir Johns Run, and Mr..
j. w. Lazier. OF Baltimore. who had
been a, Berkeley on the night OF the
lynching and had yesterday visited Han.
cock. where DIR. Crawford began his opc.
rations in this vicinity. To these gen.
tlemcn, and particularly Mr.. Lazier. our
reporter is largely indebted for the curl.
Gus story Of romantic crime which mark.
cd the life of the victim of the lynchers
from the moment OF his advent at Han.
cock to his tragic and perhaps fitting
end OH Wednesday night.
a little over four years ago a man
calling himself Crawford I'VE were una.
bic TO obtain his first namc) came to
Hancock, in this State, accompanied by
= handsome young woman, and having
in his possession lot OF trained mice,
cannry-birls, etc. Crawford was be.
tween thirty and thirty.fvc years of age,
tall and wcllbuilt. n brunette with very
dark hair and moustache, rather fine
looking, though OF q dcvelish cast of
countenancc withal. lie was intelligent,
however. and of affable, entertaining
manners, & soon made plenty of friends.
His business habits were rather shaky,
and in fact the exact nature Of his call
ing or business was not apparent until
he "came out rs a physician in Morgan
county. West Virginia, two years after.
Crawford's affairs at Hancock went
on for some months until one
n shcrif's officer, with q letter
from some point in Ohio, asking after a
girl whose descriptive list was filled
10y 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 af-
ter this Crawford emigrated to Berk cley
where he became Intimately
associated with rather doubtful char.
acter, who however does not appear i'm
the tragedy. The partner kept saloon
in berkeley for some time, but after
ware became. like Crawford, apparently
gentleman Of leisure.
About two years and a-halr ago n
number OF horses were stolen in Morgan
and berkeley counties. and Crawford
was arrested on suspicion Of being con.
cerned in the thefts. lie was, however,
not convicted, and when be became
clear, he announced himself rs physi.
clan and began to practice in different
parts of Morgan county, rarely, il ever,
ut the Springs. lle maintain.
cd his character Of n physician well, be-
came known as DR.. Crawford, and ow.
ing, doubtless, in great part to his agree
able manners and handsome per son, Sc.
cured quite extensive and lucrative
practice. With the gentler sex he was
always popular, and he became involved
in more Haisons than will probably ever
be known. the last, if rumor be true.
leading TO his hideous death. lie was
at all gatherings, picHics, etc, an object
OF femme alteration and jealousy, and
had, in the language Of one who knew.
but didn't admire him "half dozen
women at his beck and call" In view
OF this state Of affairs it is not surpris.
ing that the first lady to whom he pro.
posed marriage said eyes," and they
were married about two years ago
They did not live happily, however, rs
he abused her villainously and she final.
~ lcf: him. In the meantime Craw :ord
had an alteration with his wire's bro.
Their, ending in Crawford's shooting ut
MS Drother.in-law, woundiDg him i'm the
leg. For this lie was arrested and tried.
but by dint Of labor and eminent coun.
sci he was again freed from the clutches
Of the law.
by. this time DIR. Crawford's rcputa.
ton, with many people, had suffered
greatly. but few chung to him in spite
Of all adverse circumstances and the
busy tongue Of public rumor. Among
"'-' viz 'sihli1 vi ~ VT. johnson.
a weil.to'do Morgan county farmer. liz.
ing few miles from Berkeley Springs.
Mr. Johnson had daughter with whom
Dr. Crawford became very intimate and
was with her great deal. spending. at
times, days and weeks at her fathers
house. or the nature Of his intimacy
with this young lady we will say moth.
ing except that the stories i'm relation IN
IT are multifarious and not all. We are
glad to say, as bal as they might pc
The father, IL is understood. did not fa.
vor the doctors intimacy with his dauob.
ter, but the mother, like plenty Of others
in the county. saw nothing wrong in the
handsome, WANING. doctor
and so the doctors frequent and pro.
tracted visits 20 the Johnson farm -bouso
continued. Mr.. Johnson's distrust of
( he doctor dpaa ucf cco,,, o. -. TT