The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-10-02
I,he Killing Of Frank Crawford.

o, last Friday, near Wesson, Frank
Crawford a young man, belonging to one
of the best families of this county was
most sh~ockingly and brutality murdered
by a man by the name of VIM.
Lewis, the Marshall Of the town of Wes-
son. The facts as detailed by Mr.. II. F.
Boynton, and eve witness of the killing are
these. There is a place at or near Wes-
sons lumber yard where whisky ia sold.
Mr.. .Boynton and some one else we're pass.
ing by this place with n wagon aud team,
when Frank Crawford came out of the
house and pulled Boynton out of the wag-
on and told him hat he must go in the
house and take a drink with him. they
went in and found Lewis in there; they
drank, Lewis joining them. After = few
minutes Lewis and Boynton started up
the railroad together; before going far
they had some words, but they settled
their trouble, and at Lewis suggestion
they. started back to the house to take
another drink, but before they reached the
house they met Frank Crawford who ask =
ed them to take a drink with him: Lewis
replied in a very abrut manner, "No sir, /
have private reasons for not drinking with
YOU" The Others of the crowd drank with
him. Boynton, then stepped off behind
a car that was standing on the track, and
while there saw Lewis proceeding up the
railroad towards the dwelling ofMr. Whit
akers, the section boss, a few hundred
yards off. A few minutes later he heard
a gun fire and looking up saw Lewis with
a shot gun which he had procured from
Whitakcrs. Boynton says he ia certain
that the gun was discharged at him by
Lewis, "a the entire load of shot struck
the car not more thar six inches from
where he was standing. H. nays Craw-
ford was toe far to the right ard too mncf
ont of the range, for the shot to have been
fired at him. Boynton after the shot was
fired stepped from behind the car. Craw-
ford said 10 Lewis, "come Lewis quit your
fosl,shness and lets take a drink" (This
was the first conversation Boynton says
that passed between the two after Lewis
returned with the gun. Nevis replied enc
sir, | don't want to drink with you, why
have YOU not gone home?" Crawford re-
piled that he was going home" Levi.
said "you have got to 60 right now" and
commanded him to mount his horse
which was standing near, and start at once.
Crawford replied that he did not propose
to be ordered abont like Il dog, but &c
come and drink with him anu he would
then go home" During this conversation
Lewis was standing about eighteen feet
from Crawford. He then started towards
Crawford as if going to take a drink and
when within about twelve feet of him
said "By g--if you won'tgo home will
make Won. and raised the gun and fred
shooting Crawford in the lett side Just be.
low the heart. Crawford lived, abou.
TWENTY-FIVE minutes, and expired. Lewis
and Crawford we're both under the intiu'
ence Of liquor, but Lewis was the drunket
There is said to have been and old grudge
existing between the parties for o
time, and the difficulty il. supposed to hay'
started from this.
We learn that Lewis has made his es
cape. we are further informed that ih'
Mayor of Wesson and several others have
been arrested for aiding him in escaping
or "a the LAWYERS Say, las accessories aft e
the fact" If il be true tn a the parties &C
cu4ed did aid him, they should be held t.
a atr,c accour liability for their conduct
We learn that the father and brothers o
the murdered man have Offered one thou
sand dollars reward fer the arrest o
Lewis. The attention OF the Governoi
should be called to this outrage, and he b'
induced to offer an additional reward
Lewis is abont forty-ive years Of age, ha'
light hair, and blue eyes, is slender built
ard is fiYe feet and nine inches high, al
the fingers Of his right hand are of !
behooves every good citizen, as well az thu
officers to aid in the arrest of this man
Life if too cheap in this country, and Tho
only way to make it dear is by the swift
and prompt punishment of murderers by
the courts of the country.