The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-12-28
CROFFORD BACK TO PEN
The Bondsmen of Or. ]. w. Crofford
Surrender Him and lie is Again
in the Penitenlidry.

DIR. j. W. Cro!TorI, Of Lamont, who has
twice been convicted Of the murder of
Maud Stone, is again in the state peni-
tertiary at Ft. Madison, his bondsmen
having surrendered him last Thursday.
The readers of THE REPORTER are all
familiar with his. case. On Jan. %, 1901, 4,
Miss Maude Stone, prominent young
lady of this county died at DR.. Crof-
ford's sanitarium at Lamont under sus-
picious circumstances. and post
alortem examination revealed the fact
that her death was caused from the
effects of a criminal operation. Dr..
Croiiord was arrested charged with the
crime, and at the November term of
court i'm that year the case was tried in
the Decatur county district court, the
jury returning u verdict finding DR..
Crotfurd guilty Of murder in the second
degree, and Judge II. Nj. Towner SEN
fenced him to serve thirteen years in
the pcnitentiary at 1T. Madison, and he
was taken there at once, as the laws OF
Iowa ut that time provided that per-
son convicted Of murder in either the
first or second degree could not give
bond pending the appeal of his case to
the supreme court, but must remain in
prison until the supreme court passed
upon the case. At the session of the
state legislature which convened the
following January, Nj. l.. Temple, Of
Osceola who was one of the attorneys
for DR.. Crofford, introduced bill which
he succeeding in having passed by
both houses. allowing Il person con-
yicted of murder in the second degree
to give bond pending the appeal, and
after serving about six months Of his
sentence Crolford was released, having
fled bond in the sum OF $4,000. Some
time after this the supreme court re-
.yersed the Crofford case on account of
Judge Towner admitting certain letters
and evidence, which Crofford's attor-
neys objected to at the time of the
trial, and new trial was ordered.
! The second trial was held at Osccola
last April, change Of venue having
been taken to Clarke county, DIR. Crof-
ford alleging he could not secure a fair
and impartial trial in this county, and
for the second time he was found guilty
and Judge II. X. Evans, who presided
sentenced him to serve twelve years
and six months in prison. the original
sentence being reduced six months on
account of the fact that. Crofford had
served six months in prison. Notice OF
second appeal to the supreme court was
at once served and Croford has been at
liberty under bond for S12,Jt0 with
]. n. Brown. of Lamont, A. ". Davis and
For some time DR.. Crofford has been in
Texas on a business enterprise. and last
week his suecties becoming dissa tlsfed
he was induced to come from Beaumont,
Texas, to Lamont, on the plea Of set
Ting some business matters, but as
soon as he arrived at Lamont at the re-
quest Of his bondsnlcn he was taken
into custody by constable I4ampEias,
aud arrangements made to bring him
to r.pon and turn him over TO sterif
Wallace, but it was found tina { he would
have to be turned over to the sheriff OF
Clarke county, as he was convicted in
that county, SO deputy sheriff Ira Wal
lace met l.ampkin and Croiford at the
depot Thursday evening, and took
charge Of him, taking him ON the same
train to Osceola, where he was placed
in tho custody of tho Clarke county
sheriff. Friday mittimus was made
out for his commitment to the peniten-
tiary, and the sheriff of Clarke county
took Crofford to 1T. Madison Friday
afternoon and delivered him to the
warden Of the penitentiary.
The second appeal of DR.. Crotford to
the supreme court is still pending, his
attorneys now being at work on tho
abstract of the evidence, but uniess
DR.. Crofford can succeed in getting a
new bond he will have to ren,ain in
prison.
A pleasant Surprise.