The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-11-14

lis House n slept With him. HAM
mond came in some time during night.
Knew Maud Stone and saw her on Sun
day. She was in front of Crofford's
sanitarium and Hammond drove up
with a buggy and helped her in. Ham.
mond told him he came to Lamont to
get his girl. Saw Mrs. Hammond there
at his house a couple of days prior.
Austin Howard, father of the last
witness, also testified that Ira and Mrs.
Hammond were at his house in Lamont
in August 1900.
DIR. b. l.. Eiker, of Decatur, testified
that Ira Hammond came to him about
August l, 1900 and asked him to make
an examination of Maud Stone as to
whether she was pregnant, and asked
him to help him out of his difficulty.
Ferd Rauch and wife, of Lamont, ties.
titled to knowing Maud Stone and that
she did not visit at their house during
August 1900. Mrs. Margaret Stone was
called and testified Maud left home in
August to visit at Ferd Rauch's. She
was gone about a week and Ira Ham.
mond brought her home.
Jesse Lloyd testified to meetieg Ira
Hammond south of Decatur on road to
Lamont, going south bet ween 2 and 3
O'Clock on afternoon of Jan. 23, 1901.
Charles Brenizer, a liveryman at
Lamont, testified that Ira Hammond
was at his barn in Lamont about a week
before Maud Stone died, came on horse
back, and slept yer night in the barn;
came second time, when she died, with
a team.
M. +. Springer, a brother.in-law of
Maud Stone, testified as to receiving
word of her sickness and of going to
Lamont. DIR. Crofford talked of having
the body embalmed, and also wanted to
have them drive across the country,
saying the roads were smooth. Said
Maud was taken sick on the train and
came to his sanitarium like many other
patients and he had treated ner for APP
pendicitis and %colitis, bowels were swol.
len and he had made hot applications
and reduced the swelling; that she was
bright and cheerful when he went to
the country and when he returned and
went to supper the bell rang and when
he went to the room she was dying.
Also as to paying DR.. Or Oxford for his
services, he said his bill was SIS, but
would have been more if she had not
died. He told Crof1ord the family were
thankful to him if he had acted honora-
bic, but if not they would slft the mat
ter to the bottom. Crofford insisted on
embalming the body but he would not
consent. Also had a conversation with
Crotford in Leon on day of inquest in
which Crofford said they had gone
ahead and held a post mortem and it
would ruin the family. On cross exam
ination he stated when the letter telling
of her illness was received from DR.
Croford he said: "To hell with appen.
dicitis and colitis!" Did not tell Croft
ford his wife wanted body embalmed,
and denied making statements to Levi
Brooks and other parties that he would
give 500 for evidence to stick Crofford.
Elmer Brown, another brother.in-law,
testified to hearing conversation be.
tween Springer and Crodord in which
Crofiord said if they wanted to ruin the
reputation of the family to go ahead
with the inquest.
Mrs. Anna Hammond testified she
received a letter just before Maud Stone
died through the postoffice at Decatur
but did not know where it was or whaI
became of it.
Mrs. NJ F. Springer, a sister of Maud
Stone, testified as to first hearing of hel
sickness the day she died, and went t.
Lamont with her husband. Found Mrs
Hammond, DR.. Crofford and his wife il
the room. Several parties spoke of EN-
balming, but did not hear DR.. Crofort
say anything about it.
DR.. B. l.. Eiker testified he had a con
versation with Croford at Lamont il
:. june III WulCu CTOuOTu Sdlu liz WAS SUI
, prised at the testimony Elker had givel
before the grand jury. That in thi
trial he expected to go into morbid ant
!, pathological anatomy and would max
it as difficult as he could for medical ex
perts and if convenient it would be jus
, as well if a man did not desire to nil
, up to take a trip about that time. Tha
you had always been a good friend o
mine and l Of you. On cross examina
e ton he testified that in May, 1900, Mau,
, Stone came to him and said she ha,
not mensturated for some time. Tha
on July Z, 1900, he made an examina
= ton and found her with child.
f DR.. Hedges, of Andover, testified to
conversation with DR.. Crofford in whicl
4 he said he could spoil a post mortem b
embalming which would change tn