Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-29
DID WOMAN MURDER /.
FAMILY TO COLLECT !
INSURANCE FUNDS?
Miss Annie Crawford, of New
Orleans, Says She Gave Sis
ter Morphine Through Mis-
take-Three Others Dead


ed at IL o'clock today in the city Grim
NAL court on the charge of wiIlfully muir
dering her sister. Elise Crawford,
through the Administration of morphine
poison. 5Il-
Judge Baker refused to listen to her
proffered statement and entered for
NAL plea Of not guilty, demanding her
to prison without bail.
The prisoner stood by the side Of
Inspector Reynolds while Judge, Baker
read the affidavit She raised her veil
and started to speak. but Judge Baker
told the clerk to enter a plea of not
guilty.
But, Judge Baker, want to ex-
plain" said the prisoner.
SILENCED BY. JUDGE.
Il can't hear any statement from you
now" said the pudge.
But, Judge. want to tell you.
Take the prisoner away said the
court and the officers escorted her back
to her cell.
District Attorney Adams declined to
allow the woman to be interviewed.
He said she had added nothing to the
statement she made last night.
The prisoner was arraigned in Judge
Bakers private office, or which even
reporters were excluded. Holding a
black fan before ner face, which was
shielded by a heavy veil, the prisoner
walked with steady step from the pri-
son to the court room. e
cd
any tears following her. partial confess
sion last night, but a two days lack of
ner accustomed morphine tablet was
regarded by the police as being respon-
sible for signs of increased nervous
ness today. The theory of the police
that Annie Crawford also administered
poisonous drugs to her father, her
mother and a younger sister, Mary
Agnes, all OF whom died within FIVE
weeks in the summer of 1910. was
strengthened today by evidence secured
by Assistant Chief OF Detectives Ban f.
Mouncy This evidence, it is said,
concerns the possession of large guam
titles ofsmarphine by the prisoner
about the time the three sudden
deaths occurred. the fact that the pri-
scner alone nursed each of them and
frequently administered medicines.
Statements said to have been made
to close friend by Elise Crawford to
the effect that her father, mother and
sister Agnes died under suspicious cir
cumstances may account, the police
think for the bitter enmity which Annie
Crawford last might admitted she felt
for her sister.
Following the sudden announcement last
night that Miss Annie Crawford had ad-
mitted administering morphine by mis-
take for calomel and soda to her sis
ter, Elise, which resulted in the lat
ter's death last Saturday. interest to-
day centers on what action the police
will take concerning the mysterious
deaths of Miss Crawford's parents and
sister. Mary. in June and July of 1910.
Miss Crawford has been formally charg-
ed with numbering her sister Elise.
Nothing was included in the comics
sion concerning the deaths of the first
three members of the family and the
police refuse to make any statements
concerning probable further investiga-
tons When asked what further action
would be taken, District Attorney Adj
ans replies that he could not say what
would be done.
INSURANCE FOR CLOTHES.
The detectives say they have discov-
cred that the Insurance policies on the
lives of the parents and Mary Craw-
ford were all collected by Annie, the
proceeds of which were spent for
clothes.
1t was also discovered that a differ
ent physician was called when the diff
ferent members of the family fell i'll;
that previous to their deaths all COM
planned OF severe pain in the lower. por-
a.
which are attributed to the effects of
morphine
Members of the family furnished the
information that the accused had in
sisted that she alone attend and admin
lister to the wants of her parents and
two sisters when they fell i'll, and that
she alone administered all the medicine.
II was said that when Elsie would leg
her aunt to attend to her wants, Annie
would protest. 1t was stated that Elise
complained that the food given her by
Annie was bitter while that given by
her aunt Mrs. Robert Crawford, was
not Mrs. Crawford stated that what
ever food others gave to Elise was CIV
en- without Annie's knowledge.
MAKES CONFESSION.
In her confession -innie said that she
gave Elise three half-gratn morphine
tablets in capsules, mistal<ing them for
CalOmet ana SOua.
why did you not call the doctor and
tell him about it?' she was asked.
II thought she would get over 1t, and
my aunt would not do anything to me.
was afraid of her. got the tablets from
the sanitarium on either of tn e5th or 9Th
of September. After l discovered the
mistake threw the bottle containing one
or two dozen tablets into the water
closet. The bottle was left open"
tDISLIKED SISTER.
In explaining her dislike for her sis
ter, Elise, she said:
After my mother died and we broke
up housekeeping, my eldest sister took
Gertrude, the youngest sister, and Elise
and l began boarding. Elise was not
satisfied as Gertrude was out there with
the elder sister, and we were down here.
Finally a young man sent a post card to
Gertrude to which my older sister OBJ
jected Gertrude finally came here and
was unable to take care of her. Elise
was always interfering, because when
would tell Gertie to do this or that Elise
would always tell me TO mind my own
business. She would go weeks at a time
without speaking to me. But this is not
why 1 gave her the morphine. 1t was
mistake"
Miss Crawford was cool and collected