The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-20
Frank Crawford Steals Watch
From a Farmer.
Just Got Word She Had Re-
covered Her Reason.
LET OFF WITH LIGHT FINE
Tells Story Which Reaches
Hearts of Officers.
Wandered About Country After
Wife Was Sent to Asylum.

That he might visit his young bride
/ in the Oklahoma state asylum, Frank
/ Crawford stole a gold watch belonging
70 Andrew Wilson of Valencia. Craw-
/ ford was arrested with the stolen
| property on his person. In Judge
| Garver's court this morning he plead
/ ed guilty and was sent to the county
! Jail.
| badly worn felt hat, Crawford stood
| before Judge Carver and begged for
mercy Wilson himself was touched
| by the young farmers story and in
| terceded in behalf of the man who
robbed him. Then James Mcclure, as
! assistant county attorney, let down the
bars and Crawford was fined 81 and
costs and sent to Jail in default of
payment.
Crawford is 25 years old. In May
last year, he was married to Alice
Richmond in a little town in Okla
homa. He was happy with his young
bride, the prisoner told the court, and
furnished a home for his young wife
when she suddenly became sick.
When she recovered, her mind was
gone. and to the girl-bride the past
was taken to the Oklahoma state
asylum.
Heartbroken because of the loss of
his young love- Crawford wandered
from one town to another, sending
frequent love messages to the girl at
the asylum. But the news that the
husband received was not encourag-
ing. All fall he worked for a farmer
near Trenton, Mo, and when he went
to Kansas City in January, he had
nearly $50 in money. He says negro
robbed him while he was on his way
up town and that he had barely
enough money to buy a ticket to To-
Deka.
In Topeka. Crawford was unable to
find work Without money or place |
TO sleep, the man appealed to the |
Tl,-r, i sr,4s
employment on the Wilson farm near
Valencia and spent several weeks cut
ting wood.
It was while Crawford was near
Valencia that a letter came from the |
superintendent of the Oklahoma asy- |
lum telling him of the recovery of his |
young wife. Almost by the same mail |
came news from the young bride.
Darling Frank" she wrote on a |
picture postcard, come and get me. |
Ma will meet you and you can come !
out here in a cab. Your affectionate
Alice"
All the weeks of worry and anxiety |
were forgotten by Crawford as he joy |
ously read of his wife's recovery. But
he had no money with which to buy
a ticket. On a table in the Wilson /
home, he saw the farm er's watch He
took it. Two hours later Crawford |
was arrested at the depot while wait
ing for a train to Topeka, where he
expected to dispose of the time piece.
He returned the watch to Wilson and
promised to plead guilty.
Il really didn't intend to steal"
Crawford told the court, "but 1 was
almost wild. 1 would have done any
thing to see my wife. 1 had no money
and 1 thought I could sell the watch
for enough to buy ticket. 1t was the
first time I ever stole anything in my
life and judge, I want you to be just
as easy with me you can. I'm
guilty. But please don't make it too
hard
Crawford was still standing. He
shifted nervousIy from one foot to the
other and looked appealingly to the
court as Wilson and Mcclure talked
n low tones. Then the assistant pros
ecutor suggested leniency.
Letters which the county attorney
has shown, prove that you are telling
he truth" said Judge Carver. Its
peculiar case. I think the ends of
Justice will be safeguarded and that
you will learn a lesson by a light pun
shment. You are fined 81 and COSTS
"Oh, thank you Judge, thank you"
;obbed Crawford as his eyes welled
With tears, thanks to all of you"
Then the young man was led from
he court room and to the county jail. | {
lie did not have the money with which {
O pay the fine and costs and will | {
pend three weeks in jail. IL