The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-28
Alleged New Orleans Murd-
eress Is Also Eater of Nor
phine, and Insanity May
Be Defense Offered.
PARTIAL ADMISSION 49,
OF GUILT SECURED
the Young Woman
Said She Gave Her Sister
Opium by Mistake-Bod-
les Are Being Exhumed.
(Nationa1 News Association)

kNdtlOHal NEWS .ASSOCldtlCH)
NEW ORLEANS, Sept 2s.-Insani-
ty from excessive use of drugs will
be the defense it is reported of Miss
Annie Crowford, the young New Or
leans girl in Jail here charged with
poisoning her mother and her father
and two sisters to acquire their in
surance money.
The prisoner, frail girl, pretty and
refined in appearance was today ques-
toned by the deputy prosecuting attor-
ney ST. Clair Adams, following s.
hour examination last night, when she
made a partial confession.
According to the authorities the
girl admitted administering poison to
her sister, Elsie. the latest of the vic
TINS, who died last Saturday. but de-
clared that she did it by mistake.
More witnesses are expected in the
case. The police intimated that one
or more of them might be arrested to-
day. The prisoner did not break
down despite the strenuous inquisition
to which she is being subjected.
Familiar With Drugs.
In addition to Miss Crawford, Attor-
new Adams is interviewing many 9th.
er witnesses. He has learned that the
accused girl was discharged from the
Presbyterian hospital, where she had
charge of the drug department, year
ago Following sne disappearance of d
quantity of narcotics. Eight trained
nurses, friends of the accused, testi.
fed to the district attorney that they
had frequently seen Miss Crawford
at the drug chests over which she had
supervision. Annie Crawford has an
explanation ready for every charge
which has been listed against her
When confronted with evidence that
she had purchased quantity of oxa
lie acid at drug store near her home
on Sept 20 she declared that she had
bought the poison for her aunt, Mrs
Robert Crawford, who used it to clean
sheets. According to the charges
against the girl. she secured only ST.,
500 through the deaths of the first
three members of the family.
The district attorneys tabulation OF
the amounts received by the accused
girl through the mysterious deaths OF
her father, mother and sister and the
dates of their deaths are as follows:
Bodies are Exhumed.
Miss Mary Crawford, died June Is
1910, $500 insurance.
Mrs Walter Crawford, July Is, 1910
insurance s400.
Walter Crawford, July %, 1910, in
surance $500.
The bodies of Mr.. and Mrs. Walter
Crawford, the prisoners parents, and
her younger sister were exhumed to
day. Experts began an examination
to ascertain if poison had been admin
istered. They declared it would be
72 hours at least before the result o.
the examination would be definitel,
known.
Miss Elsie Crawford died last Sat
urday in a hospital. Her policy fol
$3.50, made out in favor of her sistel
Annie, had not been paid when Annie
was arrested, although the girl hao
been trying to collect it since Sunday
On Monday Annie collected s45 wage!
due her dead sister by a railroad com
pany, which employed her as a steno
grapher. Assistant District Attorne,
Adams claims that Annie is a confirm
ed victim of morphine and opium.