The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-11-14
CROFFORO MURDER TRIAL.
DR.. J. w. Crofford. of Lamont, is on Trial in the
District Court Charged with Murder.
of Performing Criminal Operation which
Caused the Death of Maud Stone.

sons that Maud was sick and had not
been we'll for some time.
Mrs. Rue B. Stone, sister-in.law of
Maud Stone, testified she lived in the
same house with her since Dec. 26th,
and her general health seemed to be
perfect. She drove her to Kingston the
morning she left and left her standing
on the platform waiting for the train.
When the station was reached Maud
lifted her vallse Gut of the buggy and
carried it to the platform. Ira Ham
mond had been going with her for over
a year.
Rue B. Stone, a brother, living at
home with his mother, testified Maud's
health had been good and that he saw
her every day. Saw her as she left
home and did not see her again until
she was dead. Frank Springer brought
him word that his sister was sick while
he was visiting at the home of his faith.
er.in-law, j. G. Springer. Maud had
been at home for several weeks before
she left to 60 to Mt. Ayr.
Vern Kier, who was working at
Stones, testified that Maud Stones
health had been good 80 far as he knew.
The state then traced Maud Stone
from Kingston to Lamont, w. B. Red.
man, o. E. Hull, E. j. Springer, Mr..
and Mrs. James Grandstaff testifying as
to seeing her on the train and convers-
ing with her. That she said she was
going over by Mt. Ayr to visit relatives
and appeared to be in good health.
L. j. Barr was placed on the stand to
identify a plat Of a part of the town of
Lamont.
A. E. Townsend, who worked for
Mrs. Stone in 1892, was also on the
train going to Tuskeego and talked
with Maud Stone. She paid her fare to
Lamont and seemed to be in good
health. Saw her go past McKim's hotel
and Teaie's store, walking rather fast,
carrying her valise and did not appear
to be suffering from any pain.
Ted Sheen, living at Lamont, was
standing across the street from Croft
ford's sanitarium and saw a lady
answering Maud Stones description
come from the depot and enter the SAM
tarium.
Emory Driscoll, a young man who
was staying at Crofford's sanitarium a,
the time of Maud Stones death, being
treated for necrosis of the knee, told o.
being present when Maud Stone came
there. That she appeared we'll and
hearty. Saw Ira Hammond there a few
days before talking with Crofford. He
was there twice and Miss Stone came
a day or two after he was there the las,
time. He went into the consultation
room with Or. Cro1ord. On cross ex'
animation he testified at some length al
to leaving the sanitarium as he wat
afraid to stay there after testifying be
fore the grand jury. Said Crofford had
him 60 to Missouri to avoid being sub
poenaed, and admitted that arrange
ments had been made to pay his boarc
and for medical treatment and he wa.
to testify in the case, but was only t.
tell the truth.
M. F. Springer testified as to finding
receipts for fare in Maud's pocket book
and said he paid Driscoll's fare to Leol
from Lamont and return as he had NJ
money.
Horatio Lunbeck, q liveryman at De
catur, testified Hammond hired a team
from him on Jan. 10Th and drove ives
from the barn.
j. A. Wellington vas at the sanitar
ium when a young nan answering
Hammond's description was there, blu
he was not positive it was him. In fac
he was not positive on any part of hi
testimony.
Ernest Jones saw Hammond at Crof
ford's office on Jan. ~ in the waitin
room and again Jan. 20. Heard hin
saw he had been there before.
Mary Robbins living 2 miles iron
tOIOuC . LColluSu MAUI SGOLC duu CIOu
family were at her house on Jan. lit
at their tin wedding.
M. +. Springer testified as to fndin
: and opening a safety box owned b
Maud Stone in which were a number {
> letters to her from Hammond, an empt
!. bottle with Crofford's label on it an
: one OF his sanitarium advertiser
{ pamphlets. The letters were Intro
6 duced as exhibits to be read later:
. Frank Robbins testified he carrie
: letters from Hammond to Maud abo,
! twice a week, and Nern kier testiie
he carried letters also. Both identitie
letters found in box as being in Han
mond's handwriting. Clarence Tow
. send, q Decatur banker. identified 81
. natures to letters as Hammond's.
Court then adjourned until Saturds