The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-29
TWO GIRLS SHOT
Continued from page One.
SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE.

AS soon as ne dfd 80 Esic ran INTO tNe
little front yard and under the stairway
leading to her mothers tenement.
Crotchfield was but a few feet behind
her and when he fired at her tho powder
almost burned her hair
Two shots were f1red.
The girl dropped when the first one
struck her, and Crotchield standing over
her poor body fired again.
The bullet struck her nearly in the
back OF the head.
The other entered her right temple.
TO KILL THE MOTHER.
Having laid her low Crotchfield started
upstairs to Kill Elsies mother.
The latter had heard the reports OF the
pistol and was looking out of her door
when Crotchfeld started to run up the
stairway.
Seeing him. she closed her door and
shouted murder"
This seemed 10 deter Crotchheld. for he
turned about, ran down stairs and was
accosted by Mrs. Angilleta Johnson, who
asked him In Heavens name what he was
doing.
tening 10 the street. started on a run to-
ward the railroad track.
SERGEANT NEAR AT HAND.
Sergt Muldoon of the 5th station was
nearby and hearing the oommotfon. asked
what had happened.
A Mrs. Williams, sister OF Mrs. Lewis,
informed him OF the murder.
Muldoon went TO the nearest telephone,
called up Captain Merrill and requested
the latter TO take the police wagon and
head off the fugitive.
Before the captain could do this Crotch
field had run across Potter's avenue to
Salem street, thence TO Wardsworth
street and in the yard OF No 81 on that
thoroughfare met Mable Nixon. ls years
old rve
MABEL. NIXON SHOT.
Mabel had been a close friend Of Elsie
Lewis and Crotchfield had been informed
that she had had strong influence with
Elsie. and one that was detrimental 10
his suit.
without warning Mabel OF his inten-
ton he drew his revolver and shot her.
The bullet entered her right cheek,
passed downward and shattered the left
lower jaw.
Mabel fell when hit, and no doubt think
ing that she was dead, Crotchfield ceased
to fire at her.
SHOOTS HIMSELF TWICE
Then the murderer placed the pistols
muzzle at his own head and fired twice.
He shot himself just back OF and over
his right ear and then i'm the left temple.
This shooting all took place at the door
step OF Mabels mothers home.
When the police reached Wadsworth
street Crotchheld was alive. but uncon-
scious.
He and the Nixon girl was placed in the
patrol wagon and the latter was driven
with all haste to the Rhode Island hospi-
tai.
SLAYER DIES AT HOSPITAL
Crotchfield died almost as soon as he
reached that institution.
The scene OF the two shootings was SO
remote from the police station and the
main thorcughfares that not until after
o'clock did the first report OF the tragedy
reach the public. so that there were very
Mrs. Nixon was away from home when
her daughter was shot
AUTOPSY TO BE MADE
Medical Examiner Palmer was called
and after viewing the Lewis girls body
caused IL TO be removed to the morgue
where he will hol dan autopsy tonight or
tomorrow morning.
All OF the principals in this terrible af-
fair are poor and lowly.
MOTHER WHITE WOMAN.
Mrs Mary Nixon, mother Of Mabel, is
n white woman.
She lives on the second floor Of a four
family tenement house at So Wadsworth
street. the other occupants being colored
| as are most OF the people I'm that neigh
| borhood.
The Tyler street house is a quite large
| square block and far from expensive
| one.
II is in a quite sparsely settled neigh
| borhood. In which colored people appear
| TO predominate
Those who are posted as to Crotchfeid's =
| antecedents say that he has made II his
| business TO play and sing. not only at
| shore resorts, but In barrooms wherever
and whenever the proprietors would toll
| crate his presence.
Up 20 this afrair n is not known that he
| was uuarrelsome or vicious.
| When he had been drinking he was In
| cned to be noisa. but his demoustra tions
| did not take on an objectionable form.
| He IS supposed to be he young man
\ who figured In an assault case last spring.
1 He had gone out to Central Falls and
/ had collected about 81.
| ATTACKED ny A GANG.
Some young men whom he met in an
/ Orange street barroom aScertained the
good luck he had had and decided TO get
They picked a row with him there and
followed him 10 Broad street. where they
crotchneld came here from Fredericks-
burg. Va. nine months ago.
lie FIRST engaged board with Mrs. Lewis
the mother OF Elsie.
He became so much attached to Elsie
and there were scme things going on that
looked queer. 30 that her mother objected
and told him To leave the house.
From the Lewis home he went 10 board
with a Mrs. Jackson IN the same block
There he was frequently heard To In =
ment that his love was not reciprocated
and that he was not allowed TO see his
lady love.
A. for that matter he was deeply con
/