Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-01
LYNCH LAW IN WEST vIR-
GINA.
A PHYSICIAN HUNG BY A MoB-A NEGRO
SHARES THE SAME FATE,

DR.. Crawford, a notorious character, IN
jail at Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
was taken from Jail by masked men, early
Thursday morning, and hanged. He was
at the time under arrest on suspicion of
having poisoned farmer Of Morgan coun-
ty, named johnson, in whose family he had
become very intimate. The Cumberland
md. "News'' gives the following in regard
to the man and his history:
ga little over four years ago Crawford
came to Hancock, i'll this State, accompa-
MED by a handsome young woman, and
having in his possession a lot OF trained
mice. canary birds, &c. Crawford was be-
tween thirty and thirty-five years OF age,
tall and well built, a brunette with very
dark hair and mnstache, rather fine-lOok-
ing, though of u devilish cast of counter
ance withal. Crawford's affairs at Han
cock went smoothly on for some months,
until one morning sheriff's officer. with
a letter from some point in Ohio, asking
after girl whose descriptive list was
filled Icy Crawford's female companion,
came nOsing about, and the lady was sud
denly sent away by Crawford. and does not
appear on the scene again. Shortly after
this Crawford emigrated to Berkeley
Springs.
"About two years and a half ago a num-
Der of horses were stolen in Morgan and
Berkeley counties, and Crawford was ar
rested un suspicion Of being concerned In
the thefts. He was, however, not convict
ed, and when he became clear he announced
himself as a physician, and began to
practice in different pats OF Morgan cOun-
ty, rarely, if ever, appearing at the springs
He maintained the character OF a physician
well. With the gentler sex he was always
popular, and he became involved in more
laisons than will probably ever be known,
the last. if rumor be true, leading to. his
hideous death. In view OF this state OF af-
fairs it is not surprising that the first lady
to whom he proposed marriage said Eyes, "
and they were married about two yeaJs ago.
They did not live happily, however, as he
abused her villainously, and she finally left
him. In the meantime Crawford had an
alteration with his wife's brother, ending
in Crawford's shooting at his brother-in-
law, wounding him in theleg. For this he
was arrested and tried, but by dipt of la
Dor by eminent counsel he was again freed
from the clutches of the law.
s'By this time DR.. Crawford IS reputation
with many people had suffered greatly, but
few chung to him in spite of all adverse
circumstances and the bnsy tongue of
pu ullC IuHOl. hAoHS ol0oO WOlo oh0
family OF MI. johnson. Well-to.do Nor
gan county farmer, living few miles from
Berkeley Springs. Mr.. Johnson had a
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 himself in the
doctors hands for treatment. On OF about
the 9th inst. Mr.. johnson died, and DR..
Crawford declared that 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 INSIST
ed that the funera! must proceed at once,
but finally yielded to Mrs. Johnson's en-
treaties that it be postponed Tor only one
hour At the end of that time, the son
not appearing, the body was inferred. Mrs.
johnson, however, was not satisfiedswith
the proceedings and next day consulted
with some physicians, among them Or.
Green, OF Berkeley Springs, and concluded
to exhume and examine 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.
The GOODNESS OF the oft-trled Crawford did
not desert him, however, and he at once
took steps looking to vigorous defence,
employing skilful counsel, among them
MI. q. }. Faulkner, Jr., OF Martlnsburg
who visited HIM last on Wednesday. In
order to confirm his ilrst conclusions, Dr.
Green, on TUESDAY, Tue l4til lnSG., TOOK 70
Philadelphia the stomach OF the deceased
Mr.: Johnson, and had It's contents analyzed
and its condition examined by chemlcai
experts, who unhesltatlngly ailfmed CDat
the death OF MI. Johnson was caused oy
the taking into the stomach OF tartar
emetic. This decision OF The experts be-
came generally known IN Morgan connty
during the latter part OF last week, and
caused the greatest lndlgnttlon against
the doctor, ana threats OF lyncnlng MN
were freely made. WY
up to twelve o'clock on wednesday
night the streets OF berkeleYI Springs were
as quiet as usual, and nothing was ob,
servable, even by those VINO were DlCCefeSl
against the imprisoned doctor, and would
not have lnterfered 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 quietly along the deserted main
street and eXtlngulshed every street lamp
save the one Ill front OF the county jail.
Shortly after party OF from twenty-five
to forty men. all masked except one-a
large, powerful man, who acted as leader
approached the jail and two OF three en-
tered and demanded the keys. The jailor
was absent, Ieplied one Oh guard VI SIX
ibat giah T and there her were no KEYS there
No time was wasted in parley and few of
the party proceeded to a neighboring black
smith shop, procured tWeive,pound
sleoge, Will Il,luil etie 1ool aou, NJ
Crawford was confined. It is said that Dr..
Crawford was heard to encourage. the
any the artn .ma no f,era 600 Soon
enough" Aflerward some one said, "Put
your hands behind you,' to which the doc
tor made no reply: This was all the con-
versation that took place, the doctor evil
IDENTIFY realizing his fate and accepting It
with philosophic fortitude, though of
IL