The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-25
DAN. CRAWFORD'S DEATH.
CHLoRoFoRM PROBABLY CHEATS
THE GALLows OF A VICTIM.
The Drug Administered to Facilitate
Scientific Investigation Into the
Prisoners . Sanity Proves Fatal
Crime for Which He Was Confined.

There was terrible mlshap at the coun-
ty Jail yesterday afternoon.
Dan Crawford, imprisoned on the charge
Of murder, came to premature death.
1t was perhaps the greatest and most
peaceful death ever amurderer died.
Handcuhed and helpless, his life was
smothered out with chloroform, and he was
some minutes dead before those who stood
about him were aware that the iron-bound
prisoners soul had been freed
II occurred in this way: Since the in
generation Of Crawford, on the 2Sth day
OF May last, he has deported himself as a
crazy man. Whether he was feigning in
sanity or not, his actions were those Of q
crazy man.
The time was drawing near when he
was to be put on trial for his life. Attor-
ney-G General Peters did not wish to put a
crazy man on trial, so he ordered that DR..
ii. l.. Williford 90 to the Jail and make a
thorough examination OF Crawford, to see
whether he was really insane or not.
The friends OF Crawford insisted that he
had been demented for years, the result
OF his skull having been fractured by q
blow, and that ii had been trepanned. AT
again he would have his faculties for sew
eral weeks. 1t was thought that the silver
plate that had been placed under the
fractured skull had become displaced, and
that its pressure on the brain was the real
cause OF his mental alteration.
DIR. Williford went to the Jail yesterday
afternoon TO make an examination OF the
case, as stated. He took with him young
x.aIi,at at.,Iant NJ NJ Daao plfl nnh
erty and Harry Goodyear. Crawford was
brought from his cell handcufied. He had
been wearing the shackles for some time
on account of his violent fits, during which
he would endeavor TO tear the clothing
from him or do himself harm.
When he came into the room he refused
to talk. However, the physician, after ex-
aiming TO see first whether he had heart
disease, proceeded to examine his head
for the trepan. In order TO do this
creature he deemed ii advisable TO admin
lister chloroform. Saturating towel with
the drug he waved il in the face and
under the nose of Crawford, and he sank
into a feelingless and unconscious state.
Then taking q scalping knife he made an
incision into the scalp on the top OF the
nciu ltll lof tnt uftluCiA Dul
there was none TO be found.
This operation took but a few minutes,
and the physician turned 10 get threaded
needle with which TO sew up the
incised scalp. The. physician noticed
that Crawford did not vince under
the painful operation, and Piss
observing him more closely saw that his
lips were turning purple. The doctor
dropped his needle, and began 10 shake
the inanimate form, but too late. He
quickly applied hyperdermically counter
actants, but to no purpose. In less than
than five minutes he saw that his efforts
were futile. Those in the room were no
little shocked when they saw that Craw-
ford was indeed dead.
DIR. williford at once had Assistant At
| torncy-General Brooks and Deputy Coroner
John Powell sent for. The following named
| jury OF inquest was impaneled: David
Doherty, w. s. Pope, ]. 7. Collins, l.. @.
ford made a statement In accordance
with the above facts, adding that
he had made n thorough examination OF
form. That he did not have heart dis
1 tttftt noi Otucf aiiultut tttAt iit toutu
detect; that there were no signs whatever
that his head had ever been tropanned;
that he had applied very moderate guam
tity OF the drug, and that the cause Of
death must have resulted from the sudden
stoppagc OF tho hearts action.
Tho other witnesses made substantially
the same statements, and Coroner Powell
stated to the Jury that be himselfhad only
one lung, besides one OF his shoulder
blades had been broken, from which he
suffered intensely at times, In having II 70
placed. and that he always had 10 take
chloroform on such occasions. and engaged
DIR. williford TO administer Il, as he re-
garled him the safest physician in thecity
TO administer il.
The jury nj once returned the following
verdict: "Daniel Crawford came TO his
death from failure OF the heart. We OK.
onerate DIR. ii. l.. williiord from any
criminal negligence"
The heavy iron clasps were Embossed
from the wrists OF the liieless prisoner and
the body turned over TO county under
takcr Walsh for burial.