Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-08
killing Of CROF|0N
Strong Chain of Circumstantial
Evidence Brought Out at
the Trial.
The Indications Now Point to the
Conviction of Defendant
Reynolds.
State Brings Out Evidence That
Had Never Been Made
Public.
to Times-Republican.

| trial in recent years in northwestern
Iowa has attracted so much attention
and interest as that of F. w. Reynolds
for the alleged killing of Rev. SaInue
Crofton, the blind colored preacher nea
Hawarden, Aug. Q. 1901. The trial II
| being held at Orange City and was be
1 gun April 2. The indications are tina
it will be finished this week. The STATE
/ is making an exceptionally strong case
When the trial was commenced so lit
tie was known about the evidence
which the state had accumulated tina
the prediction was freely made tina
REYNOLDS would be acquitted. Thu
| state has now examined about twenty
five witnesses and will probably res
it's case today. So many new facts
| have been brought out, SO strong Is tn'
chain of circumstantial evidence
| against the defendant, that SenumeN
| has undergone vast change ana
| now seems almost certain that Key
| holds will be found guilty of murder II
the first degree Life imprisonment OF
the gallows is staring him in the face
and he is thoroughly frightened. tn
| story brought out by the state thru thf
examination of It's witnesse is one Of
| intense interest, and many damaging
| incidents that have never before beer
| told are brought to light. The fact thai
Rev. Crofton was blind and absolutely
helpless in the hands of his slayer gives
the prosecution the sympathy of the
public, but everything is being done to
give the defendant fair trial and he is
being defended by able lawyers. The
attendance at the trial is large, the lit
tie court room being crowded to its ca
| pacity.
| With terrible exactness the witnesses
| for the state tell a story convincing
| and seemingly incontrovertible. 1t has
been proved so far that the old man
was last seen alive with Reynolds
about 4 o'clock August 2 at Hawarden.
After the two rode away the old man
was not seen again until his decaying
cadaver was found sixty days after
wards in corn field half mile from
Ireton by hired man. who went in to
husk corn, and, finding the gruesome
object, left his team standing In the
field and ran madly screaming for help.
Much damaging testimony has been
and much more will be brought out
against Reynolds. The testimony
shows, that Reynolds was at the HON.
of Rev. Mr.. Case. a Methodist minis
ter in Alcester, S. D., July &c.. 1901.
While there, attempting to sell an or
=, arriv n1
asked If he might be allowed to preach
the following Sunday in the church
and have what collection he might
take up. Rev. Mr.. Case told the old
man that he had made arrangements
for some meeting that he could not very
we'll change, and refused the use Of the
church. He, however, rendered the old
man silver dollar. AS the blind
preacher was being led to the door by
boy he had hired to guide him about
the town, he stopped suddenly and
said
wait minute: ma undahclothing
is er comm down."
Mr.. Case and Mr.. Reynolds then as
sisted the old man to adjust his un-
derclothing, and in doing SO sack oe
money was removed and pinned under
the vest in front so 1t would be handler
to carry. He was sent on his way. and
Reynolds and the Methodist preacher
began to talk the matter over.
You may kick me all over the lot, If
you want to, for giving that old man
that money" said Mr.. Case, "but felt
sorry for him. suppose he has more
money in that sack now than 1 could
make in year.
The two men then fell to discussing
instances where beggars had obtained
fortunes. and they agreed In their con-
yersation that the old man was likely
miser and perhaps had on his person
from $4,000 to $4,000.
While in the house, Crofton told
Reynolds that he was going UP to Ber-
esford to try and get chance to
preach. 1t is brought out in the testi-
mony that Reynolds went to Beresford
that night, but Crofton. changing his
mind after leaving Alcester. went to
Centerville instead, and so did not
meet with Reynolds. his new-found ac-
quaintance.
The blind man finally reached Ha-
warden, August 2. in the forenoon. He
hired some boys to carry his two grips
to the train, as he said he wanted to
go to Ireton He also hired boy to
lead him along the street. Between 8
and o'clock of that day Reynolds was
seen to hail the blind man on the street,
and, after a few minutes conversation,
the old preacher told the boys he was
going. to ride over to Ireton with Mr..
Reynolds and thus save his railroad
fare He got his grips and was helped
into the piano wagon driven by Rey-
holds. 1t was noted at the time that
Reynolds. in helping the old man into
the vehicle. placed his hands on the old
mans back in a rather odd manner and
seemed to be trying to locate some
thing.
Ia was about 4 o'clock when the two
men drove out of Hawarden over the
dusty road. and that was the last time
the old man was seen alive. That same
night about s o'clock Reynolds drove
back to Hawarden and went to the
hotel. He was flushed and appeared
much excited. He had his coat collar
up about his neck, altho the weather
was extremely hot, and he said he had
a chill and headache and did not care
for any supper. He went straight to
bis room and supposedly to bed
Reynolds left his team at Hawarden
and took the train the next day for
Sioux Falls, where he met his employer.
A. w. Paddock, and told him he was
going to throw up his job. When asked