The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-07-29
PARDON FOR CROFFORD.
State Board of Parole has Recon-
mended a Full Pardon for Dr..
]. w. CrOfford of Lamont.

CrohOrd, of Lamont, who has been con-
fined for several years in the Ft. Madi-
son penitentiary, will be free man
within few days. He was twice con-
victed of murder in the second degree,
the result of the death Of Miss Maud
Stone at his sanatorium in Lamont, the
circumstances of which all our readers
are familiar with. Since his last con-
viction his wife has worked faithfully
to secure pardon for her husband, and
1T looks as if her efforts were to be sue
cessful. The following in regard to
the matter is taken from last Thursdays
Des Moines Register and Leader:
After serving four years at Fort Mad
lson for crime of which he is not guilty,
DIR. ]. W. Crofford, convicted Of the
murder of pretty Maud Stone at his
sanatorium at Lamont, Ia, is to be re-
leased through a belated revelation
made voluntarily to the board of parole
by DR.. Artemus Brown, 1902 Eighth
street, Des Moines.
Several days before Miss Stone went
to the sanatorium, where she died, the
girl came to the Office of DR.. Brown at
Leon, and revealed to him that she was
already suffering from the ill effects of
a criminal operation, so the retired doc
tor now living in Des Moines and serv-
ing as government drug inspector
told the parole board
DR.. Brown said he refused to treat
unless another doctor was called in and
the girl notified her mother. This she
refused to do, and going to DR.. Croft
ford's sanatorium for treatment she
died from the effects of the operation.
Crofford was indicted, tried and con-
victed for murder in the second degree
and sentenced to twelve years in the
penitentiary.
DR.. Brown justifies his long silence on
the ground that Crofford offered diff
ferent line OF defense-namely, that he
was treating Miss Stone for another dis
ease, and for the furthur reason that
her communication might be considered
professional ard he was not warranted
in disclosing it.
Crofford was tried twice, the second
time in Clarke county on change of
venue from Decatur county. Each time
he was convicted. Gossip about the
class of cases received at the sanator-
ium at Lamont and the fact that he had
served prison term in Missouri for
counterfeiting doubtless preiudiced his
case the minds of the jury. Tho case
created a astatewide sensation because
OF the prominence of the girl, who be-
longed to a good family and had borne
q good reputation.
Crofford made application for parole
two years ago and it was denied by the
board. At the April session this year
DR.. Brown, who formerly practiced at
Leon and who was reputable man in
his profession and of good reputation
generally, came before the board on his
own motion and stated that Miss Stone
consulted him few days before she
went to the Crofford sanatorium and
revealed the fact that criminal oper-
alton had been performed and that she
was not getting along we'll.
She asked DR.. Brown to treat her but
this he declined to do unless another
doctor was called in and her mother
notified. This she would not consent
to.
These facts were not known to the
defendant and his attorneys for tho
reason that DR.. Brown had net made
them known to anyone, frst because
the theory of the defense was contrary
to the showing which they would have
made and second because he thought
the communication might be considered
professional.
The board was impressed with the
fact that if the statement of DIR. Brown
were true. DR.. Crofford could not
have been guilty and the matter should
be Investigated. Notices were served
on the county attorney of Decatur
county and the deposition of DR.. Brown
was taken. The matter was presented
to the board at it's last session and
there seemed no reason to doubt the
truth of DR.. Browns statement.
The board yesterday afternoon rec
ommended full pardon for DR.. Crof-
ford and Governor Carroll probably will
grant it without delay.
Methodist Notes.