Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-09-28
WOMAN HELD FOR
Poisoning FOUR
ALLEGED SECOND IICRETIA
BORGIA ADMITS TO ONE.
CLAIMS It Was MISTAKE


Crawford an alleged drug fiend, on
the charge Of poisoning her UNDER
sister, Elise a pretty stenographer,
the police took their first step IN an
ayowed effort to reveal the woman
as modern Lucretia Borgia Three
other members of the Crawford fam
ily have died under mysterious cir
cumstances within the past fifteen
months, and Annie Crowford Is said
10 have been the BENEFICIARY named
In the Insurance policies on the life
Of each.
Miss Crawford tonight admitted to
the district attorney that she did give
her sister, Elise. morphine but did
It by mistake, as she intended to give
her cnlomel ana soda that she stole
the morphine from the Presbyterian
hospital, and after giving "A portion
to her sister had about two dozen
tablets left which she threw away.
She said she was afraid to call in the
doctor after she had discovered her
mistake, She admitted also that she
and her sister didn't get along well
together, not speaking for weeks at
time that she didn't Ike her sister
as she (Ellse) had not treated her
right"
Her confession was written out and
signed by the prisoner. and fallowed
a period Of constant grillng and qucs-
tloning by the police since yesterday
afternoon Nothing was said in the
confession concerning the death OF
the mother and father and another
sister.
Elise Crawford died suddenly last
Saturday and under circumstances
that the coroner had the contents OF
the stomach analyzed an expert find
ing traces Of morphine, which was
followed by the arrest Of the sister.
The authorities indicated that tho
bodies Of the three other members Of
the family would be eXhumed for
similar examination.
District Attorney Adams declined
TO state tonight whether he oontem-
plated charging Annie Crawford with
the murder Of all four members Of
tho family.
For five hours today, the Crawford
woman was under examination by the
police. She stoutly maintained her
innocence and appeared cool and un-
concerned. She IS alleged to have
made numerous contradictory state
ments. and when confronted with evil
dence tending to lncrlminate her she
would declare again and again "'Tis
not So"
In one-ffth Of n cupful Of the con-
tents Of Elsie Crawford's stomach,
DR. A. L. Metts, the city chemist.
found 3 IL grains Of morphine, suf-
ficient to XIII two persons.
The first Of the Crawford house,
hold die was Miss Mary Agnes
Crawford. sister Of the prisoner Her
death occurred on June %, 1910, sud
denly Of acute meningitis
Three weeks later July Is. 1910.
her father died, uremic poisoning be-
Ing given as the cause
After an interval OF two weeks. or
on July 80, 1910, her mother died.
In her case, uromic poisoning was also
given as the D. .-r.
Annie Crawford. the prisoner, held
Insurance policies on the lives Of the
deceased In the following sums:
Walter G. Crawford. father. $500:
Mrs. Crawford mother, $4OO; Mary
Agnes Crawford. sister, $500; Elsie
Crawford sister $3.50.
She collected the Insurance In each
case. except that " her sister. Elsie,
payment Of which was withheld pend
ing receipt OF the certificate Of death.
On Monday morning, following her
sisters death. Annie made demand
IN the insurance company for the
money. on that day she also went to
he railroad office, where her sister
lad been employed as stenographer,
md collected t45 due the deceased.
'he prisoner also holds an insurance
jollcy on the life OF her youngest
lister, Gertrude. who admitted to
District Attorney Adams that she is
afraid Of Annie.
District Attorney Adams got tho
.irst tip involving the prisoner when
ie learned that she had recently pur-
'hased oNalic acid. That clew put
lin on the woman and he soon had
woven about her strong chain OF
evidence.
For several years Miss Annie Craw-
ord had charge Of the drug DEPART
nent Of the Presbyterian hospital. She
ost her position there more than a
ear following 'he disappearance ot
quantity Of drugs. Recently she
las made several visits to the hos
.ital on missions known only TO her.
elf
"A remarkable feature Of the case"
aid a police officer. lis that prac-
lcally every cent of money which
Lnnie Crawford collected on the sew
raj insurance policies held on the de-
eased members Of her family was
pent for clothes. She also spent
reat deal OF money for books. and
er library contains many medical
'0rks"
William c. Crawford. the father.
as a carpenter. and native OF this
Ity The mother is of French ex-