Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-25
NH. CRULL's REMAINS INFERRED
IN LAKEWOOD YESTERDAY.
Mr.. R. W. HARRIS ON The MURDER.
After Having Been Over the Ground,
This Gentleman Tells What He
Knows Concerning the Horrible
Crime.

temporarily buried in Sistersvile, w.
Va, was disinterred there and placed in
Theoretically sealed metal casket and
morning at $40 o'clock.
The remains. which were accompanied
here by Mr.. X. w. Harris, were met at
the depot by the sorrowing widow and
her fetherless children. and several OF her
friends, and the remains were taken in
charge by Messrs. X. j. Brooks, James
McDonough. II. w. Harris. p j. Nc
earthly, and n. Thompson, who acted as
pall-bearers. The body was taken 10
lakewood, where Rev. James E. Cook COM
Quoted the funeral service.
MR.. HARRIS STORY.
Mr.. Harris. who accompanied the re-
mains to this city. is a neighbor OF the
CrGlls, and went with Mr.. n. j. Crull
TO Sistersville. to assist him in the ter
rible duties of Identification. etc. that
would necessarily devolve on him there.
Mr.. Harris was seen last night. and
told a concise and interesting story of
his experiences on the trip.
Nelson and l." he said, went directly
10 Sistersville after our departure from
Richmond, and were received there with
the utmost kindness by the citizens and
the authorities. We had the body dis
inferred as soon as we could, and though
the remains were horribly mutilated,
both of us were able to identify them as
those Of Mr. Crull Nelson was terribly
affected when he saw his fathers dead
face. but he bore up like a man and set
about to aid the police in running the
murderers to earth.
"The breast of the dead man was hor-
ribly crushed in and his head was con-
siderably battered up. He had a pistol
shot wound i'm his left temple, and the
ball passed entirely through the head
coming out just behind the right ear.
THE THIRD MAN.
"When we investigated the crime we
ascertained that Brown and man, who
Is described as being six feet In height,
weighing 175 pounds. of light complexion,
and with blue eyes and small. light
moustache. had driven Mr.. Crulrs wagon
through Sstersville. and had camped on
the bank of the Ohio on Saturday. That
afternoon they visited a house-boat OF
III fame and had several drinks. They
returned to the wagon, about $50 yards
distant and just about dusk were seen
to throw something over wire fence
near the waters edge.
"They then returned TO the house,
boat, and were sitting drinking, when
everybody aboard the craft complained
of a fearful stencil. Investigation
proved that the odor had emanted from
a body that had foated against the boat.
The foater was made fast and the
authorities notified. but in the mean time
Brown and his companion took their de-
parture.
A TRAIL OF BLOOD.
"It developed later on that the wagon
had driven through Wicks and several
other small interior towns. and at each
point pools of blood were found on the
spot that had been occupied by the
wagon An examination OF the wagon
at Sistersvilie showed bloody articles
and pools of blood beneath the vehicle
and the weeds from the wagon 10 the
river bank were mashed down where
the body had been dragged. Under an
elm bush was found the bloody blanket
in which the remains had been dragged.
1.-THE two men-Brown and his COM
panjon-were at once connected by the
poIice with the murder. and efforts were
made to capture them. Brown drove into
Noundsville In a road-cart. and his de-
scrintion being already in the hands or
,he notice of that place. an officer APP
nroached him as soon as he a1ghleh az
livery stable and began questioning NM
He gave his name as Seth Hill and de-
scribed himself as private detective
on the trail of the Crull nurderers'
THE confession GENUINE.
"The officer placed him under arrest.
and he then sent out for lawyer. Nhie
on route to Sistersville, he made con-
foseion TO Chief of-Police KING. MT
King detailed that confession 10 me- ana
on, confident that Brown made IL, not
ryithstanding his present denial, as King
&c a most estimable gentleman.
"Jrpon Browns arrival IN Sis'eiSN'lo
he was met by Nelson Crull ana ny
eelf and the moment he appeareu o'i
the platform of the car we poth Iueh''
fed him. Nelson was very ekcl'eu' anu
throwing his hand back TO MS DIP, as
IL 10 draw a pistol, exclaimed, Ine'
- tho man that killed my father
Low what he might have DONE
b,,t threw my arms around MN ana
him. 49,,
"Af,er he had Gained himself Nelson
wont nm TO Brown. who hung his head,
s,mnlv recognizing us with nod. ana
osked him why he had killed his father'
hut no declined 10 make any reply
THE SON ON THE BACK-TRACk.
at left Nelson in Sistersville when /
came on here with the body, and he
started out that same day with Mr.
salisbury who had been very KIND 10
nc ~ trace the route his father had
taken. Ii was their purpose TO foilo"
the trail as far as possible. with view
IN ascertaining where and why the MUIR
der was committed, and whether Brown
had assistance. ca,
.erhe impression that prevails In Sis
tersville is that Brown shot Mr.. Crull
while he was sleeping and then cut
ni., with the axe. lie tried 10 cishSure
,be remains as much as possible. and
oven cut the dead mans moustacne OH
with his knife. the moustache peihs
found in the wagon. There Is every EVIL
1ence that the body was hauled AT least
two days by Brown, though he says ne
only hauled II one
THE Brown case has been set for trial
ON the second Monday in August, ana
AR Harris says there is nc doubt in
the minds of the sistersviiie people Out
TINT he will be hanged.
MRS. CRULL WILL STAY HERE.
Mrs Crull. when seen last night. ex-
pressed herself as being grateful to her
,eighbors for their many kindnesses 10 !
her I'm her trouble. and also TO the SIS
ersville people. She has determined to |
remain In this city. where she has lived |
Tor three years. and will with the as
,istance of her son. continue TO conduct |
he Hanover stables.
hief-of- Police Thomas Landers, OF |
East Aurora. n. Y. has telegraphed here
hat Brown Is wanted there for forging |
ais brother-in-law's name. and he is also
wanted In Sistersville for the. theft OF
suit OF clothes from young man with
whom he roomed while there before he
anne to Richmond.