The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-02-04
WARSAW WAITS.
The Trial Of Crawford for the l(ur.
der Of Aertel.

=. ue "eSsuet 49, OeSu YossS WesS W
day with heavy southern breeze. which
has melted nearly ell the snow and ice, and
caused the river to rise several feet.
Mr. David E. Fields, Who lives near
Cole Camp. in this county, and is veil
known to many Of your readers, died here
this afternoon. He came to town in the
early part Of last week to look after some
business, and seemed in his usual good
health. He Was taken with cold which
rapidly grew worse. pneumonia set in, With
the result as above stated. M. Fields has
been q man of considerable prominence
here; has been County and Probate Clerk,
and leaves many friends and acquaintances
to mourn his sudden demise.
The Crawford murder Gaze still drags
its weary length along, the evidence for the
prosecution having closed but yesterday.
Much Of the evidence against him Is cir
cumstantial, but the general suppression
seems to be that il n suf6cient TO convict
of murder. Perhaps . resume Of this case
would not be unappreciated BY your readers-
Mr.. Frederick Mertel, Of Henry county, in
company with some friends, came to this
county on hunting expedition. They se-
cured permission from Mr.. B. H. Williams,
who lives on Turkey Creek. about II miles
from this place, TO camp on his land. and
did 90, intending to proceed further soon
About one-half mile above them on the
creek another party Of huLter we're camped.
the Messrs. Breeden's. On that night both
tents were fired into, no one being hurt IN
the upper. or breeder tent, but Mr.. Mertel
was shot in the left breast while lying
asleep in his own, the lower tent. He heard
the guns fired, but, being suddenly aIoused,
imagined 1t vss thunder, and that he Vas
struck by lightning. After having been |
assured that this could not be-as the night |
was clear-he Was told to lie down and 90 |
sleep, and after being placed under the in
Auence Of opiaies. did 80 TO sleep, and but
little attention vas paid to the matter.
About eight days after he died from the
effect Of tue wound then received. One
Dewitt c. Doke, who lives near
Williams, came in some few days after
Mertel's death and made af6dav that
the defendant, Columbus Crawford, and
one John Cisney did the killing. Cisney
asd the country, but Crawford vas arrested
=. - kAe l
they came to his house on the night the
shooting took place, after he had gone to
bed and walked him, telling him they
wanted him TO 60 turkey hunting With
them that he got up and went. and that
they proceeded almost directly to the
Breeder tent, where Crawiord said he
could see dog. Doke looked but could
--e none. Then Crawford said to him and
Cisney, "You step back and I'll try it . pop
anyway" They stepped back and Craw-
lord fired; that they proceeded down the
creek toward the other tent, and on the
way Crawford stopped and reloaded his gun;
Tia. as they went he (Doke) tried to per-
suade them from their avowed purpose of
shooting INTO the other 1.-THE Mertel) tent,
but finding that he could not do 40, left
them and went home, when they were in
light Of and proceeding toward the Mertel
tent. Shortly after leaving them he heard
two shots fred in the direction OF said tent
The other evidence a. secured BY the State
is mostly circumstantial, but il very strong.
They claim to have good defense, but
What il can be, no one can ever guess. a
there nov seems TO be no good defense pos
sible. His council are doing their very
best for him, but il seems to be uphill
work. and could not be blamed for feeling
~ is claimed against their
protests they do. The attorneys for the
have their case we'll in hand
and seem to understand il thoroughly.
They fee: Certain they have got the right
man, whether they succeed in convicting
him or mol VINAGE.
NJ K. q T. Texas lens.
From the Deni-on News
Mrs. r. ,. Stevens accompanied her hua-
band TO Denison, and several Of our ladies
paid their respects to the lady yesterday.
John Graves, section foreman ON the
NJ, X. Il T. at Viniis. Who Was shot BY =
lunatic on Wednesday, died yesterday
afternoon about 8 o'clock.
Conductor George Ely. of the H. 4 T
C., and bride, arrived from Georgia day