The evening times., 1896-06-26
FoRD's BRUTAL CRIME.
Public Feeling Aroused Over the Muir
der of Elsie Kreglo

der OF Elsie kreglO.
The murder Irving l.. Ford eXpaliated Cd
the scaffold today was one of the most
brutal ever committed In the District. and
sent a thrill of horror through the COM
munity. Retribution however, was quick
and sure, and lafter Fords capture the
country at )arge WAS given an exhibiti.m
Of how rap.dly the legal machinery in the
District OF CulurDbia could be made to op-
crate waen necessary
Elsie Kreglo was murdered on the after
moo n of Mohday, May A. Wednesday, May
Z a Inspector HolhpheEger announced that
a4e mystery had teen cleared as To the
Inurderer's identity, and that Ford was the
man wanted. =, On the following day.
Thursday, the murderer was captured ct
Harper's Ferry. Friday Ford confessed.
Saturday the Inquest was held and the
culprit remande1 to jail. On the ensuing
Monday, May II, Ford was indicted by
the grand jury arraigDed and pleaded
guilty. Monday. May IS, his trial began.
A motion for a, new, trial was overruled
May 90. He was sentenced to death
wednesday,, May Is and executed Friday.
June 26, Just fifty tlIree days after the
commission of the deed. This is record
Of retributive justice any commonwealth
might justly feel proud Of, aud a strong
argument against lynch law.
hlllAiNS OE GLol Z hRE1AO.
The killing of Elsie Kregio, after crimi-
nal assa ult had been attempted, is fresh in
the minds OF the people. 1t will be rernem-
that bright May afternoon to keep watch
over the two mlcb COWS. Her father, Isia b
Kreglo, had a large family to support and
each member contributed their humble ef-
forts to the general welfare Elsie, like the
good girl she was, did her best to maintain
their home, an unpretentious frame struc-
ture, nesting do wn in the picturesque valley
of Rock Greek Park, just north of the Zoo.
She was sixteen years OF age, Just budding
into womanhood.
After lettering one of the COWS to o cedar
tree on the slope overlooking the house,
from the west, nothing was seen or heard
of Elsie until her screams startled her
family and the household of Louis vollens,
the next door neighbors OF the glo family
| A colored boy, named William Thomas, and
aged Mrs. Kreglo hastened in the direction
OF the outcries. Tue lad reached the scene
of the murder first, a thickly shaded dell. or
Observation-Disclosures Elsie wasstand-
ing in ripping, pebbly stream, blood gush-
ing from an awful wound on the left side
of her throat. The colored boy wasin time
to hear her last words, feebly uttered and
dying away in the death gurgie. They were:
help! Help!" Then she fell back dead On
amossy bank, carpeted with autumn leaves
HUNT FOR THE MURDERER.
The poor girls deathcry had been heard
by Others and help was SOON at hand.
Watchtnan kraemer first, then neighhors
andthe police. William Thomas, the colored
boy. said he had seen the form of a man
disappearing In the woods and shrubbery.
A search was made, but without results.
The dell in which the murder was com
n,itted was carefully inspected and signs
OF a desperate struggle between the girl
and her assailant found on every side even
extending up the sides of the ravine.
About ten feet from where Elsie's body
lay a 44-caliber. revolver of the bull dog
pattern was picked up. 1t was the all-im-
pOrtant elew which led to Ford's identity
as the murderer and his ultimate capture
On its butt We're scratched the letters
.F. d. Al
The coroner arrived and ordered the body
taken to the morgne. Detectives Weedon
and Horne were quickly on the scene and
started to work on the case, which threat
ened to become another murder mystery,
| like the killing of Wesley Hall, the colored
shoemaker, that occurred a few days pre-
vious. The entire police force was on the
qui vive to capture the murderer. On the
day following seveF suspects were ar
| rested and a coronefzS jury summoned, hut
the hearing was,deNFred.
Isiah kreglo, Ahet aged and infirm
father of Elsie, Vas taken seriously i'll on
Tuesday. May 8 dnd removed to the Emer-
gency Hospital. His illness resulted from
| the shock of the murder, and the old mans
| life was despairfds OF.
On the same afternoon the funeral of
| little Elsie took place from B. W. Barker,
| undertaking establishment, No. 612 Elev
enth street northjesS A fund was started
for the afflicted family and money was
| generously contributed by all classes.
CAPTURE OF FORD.
The next day. Wednesday. Inspector
| Hollinberger aud Detectives Weldon and
Horne learned through the initials on
! the pistol, that it had been sold by Dealer
! Walford to Irving L. Ford, a colored man
| living near Burnt Mills, Montgomery y
county, Md. Then the hunt for Ford com
meuced Horne and Weldon, with Sheriff
Jones, organized Xosses and the woods ir
| the Burnt Mills district were secured FOL
/ the might've. The detectives also very
cieverly forged stree chain of evidence
against the missing gan. Circulars con
tanning a description OF Ford were sen!
| out from police headquarters broadcast
| over the surrounding country. They Of
fered a reward OF 500 for his capture
| On Thursday, May Z, Coroner Hammet
1