The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-11
SHOT HER LOVER
Where She Had Gone to Meet
Him ClandestiRely
MADE A CONFESSION

To the Effect That the WrOngcd
Husband Held Gun to the
Throat of His Victim arG Made
the Er1'ing Wife Pull the Trigger
of the Gun.
A letter from Hattiesburg, Miss,
says a great deal of interest is mani
tested in the fate of G. l.. Croby
and his wife, Minnie Crosby, who
will be tried for the brutal murder
of ]. R. McShann at the term Of the
Forrest county circuit court begin
nings here next Monday. The crime,
which was one of the most sensa.
tional in the history of this section,
and presented many unusual and
interesting features. was committed
OF Easter Sunday Of this year. AS
both Crosby and his wife have made
complete confessions, it is expected
that the trial will not consume much
time.
According to the confession of the
murders the crime was planned by
Crosby, the wronged husband, who
conceived the fendish idea of COM
pelling his unfaithful wife not only
to lure her lover to his doom, but
actually to become particeps criminis
in the widest sense Of the word.
She pressed the trigger of the shot
gun which her husband aimed at the
defenseless victim.
When the partly decayed body of
McShann, mutilated by hogs and vul-
lures, was found in secluded spot
near the Bowie street bridge in Leaf
river swamp on April 21, Coroner
Fairly called jury and held an
inquest. AS there was evidence that
Mrs. Crosby had been intimate with
the murdered man, she was arrested
and submitted to an examination be-
fore the coroner's jury. She denied
all knowledge Of the crime and was
remanded to the county Jail. There
she made full confession to Depu-
ty Sheriff D. G. McGilvery, Who in
duced her to appear again before
the coroner's jury and repeat her
confession the same evening.
Mrs. Crosby admitted that she had
been intimate with McShann and had
met him secretly many times near
the Bowie street bridge, while her
husband. a saw filler in the employ
of the McInnis Lumber Company at
Petal, was working with the logging
crews in the woods, staying away
from home for days and weeks at
time. Her husband became aware Of
her unfaithfulness by intercepting
her correspondence with McShann.
He threatened to kill her, but spar
ed her to make her an instrument of
his revenge.
Under threats of death. Mrs Cros
by said, her husband compelled her
to agree to his fiendish plan of re-
venge. At his dictation she wrote
a letter to McShann, asking him to
meet her on Easter Sunday morning
at II o'clock, at the Bowie street
bridge. Two days before the day Of
the murder Crosby and his wife
went to the swamp near the bridge
and concealed loaded shotgun
under log. Sitting on the same log
the two arranged the dtails Of the
plan and Crosby insisted that his
wife. as punishment for her un-
faithfulness, should pull the trigger
of the shotgun. while Crosby aimed
it at McSharn's throat.
On Faster Sunday morning. at an
early hour. Crosby and his young
wife. who is only little more than
fifteen wears, left their home in Pet
al, suburb Of Hattiesburg, and went
tn the swamp While she waited at
the bridge for McShann. her husband
nenetrated farther into the swamn
until he reached the log under which
the gun was concealed. McShaDn
oame nrnmntlv and seemed pleased
10 find Mrs. Crosby there. waiting
for him. She induced him to leave
the rather exposed ground near the
bridge and led him toward the snot
where her husband was waiting for
his victim.
When thnv had arrived within
few feet from the log. Crosby arose
from his crouching position and COM
manded McShann to throw nm his
hands. The tranped victim obeyed.
rs Crosby threatened him with his
shotgun. While Crosby was taking
rarefnl aim at McSnann's throat.
Mrs Crosby walked behind him and
whom ha informed her that he was
ready. she reached over his shoulder
and nrossed the trigger. The LOAD
of shot struck McShann snnarelv IN
the neck and lower part Of the head.
killing him in few moments. Not
unttI Crosby and his wife had reach
od homo did it occur to them that
.ho,. had left the gun nnOn the scene
of the murder. During the night
hoth returned to the spot and re-
covered the gun.
Whom Crosby was Informed that
l,;c u.ifo had made q full cOnfcSSlnn