Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-12
CORONER s
WRIT HELD
ILLEGAL
Delay in Hearing Will Mean
Woman's Commitment to Jail,
Attorney Says.

Following close upon a decision by
Superior Court Justice PendIeton
Saturday morning that a warrant
signed by the Coroner Of Carroll
County was not enforceable in Fulton
County, c. T. Crawford. a nephew and
beneficiary under the $25O,OOO viii of
Joshua B. Crawford, went before Jus
tice of the Peace c. H. Girardeau and
swore out a second warrant charging
the widow, Mary Belle Crawford, with
murder.
Constables r. F. Mauldin and w.
w. Rogers went Immediately to the
home of Mrs. Crawford, at West
Peachtree and Fourteenth streets, to
arrest her and take her before Justice
Girardeau for commitment trial
The first warrant charging Mrs.
Crawfod with murder was signed by
Coroner c. w. Baukin, of Carroll
County, who had disinterred the body
of Joshua r. Crawford and found
evidence of poison. Crawford died IN
Fulton county March %, 1909.
Hearing May Be Delayed.
The warrant reached Atlanta Fri
day, and Sheriff Mangum notified
Mrs. Crawford to appear before JUS
tice of the Peace D. X. Johnson Sat
urday morning, when a hearing would
be held as to the authority of the
Sheriff to serve the warrant in Fulton
County.
Colonel J. s James, attorney for
the heirs, said later that he did not
know whether both sides would ne
ready for the commitment trial, rs
the prosecution has several material
witnesses out of the State.
In the event of delay in the COM
mitment hearing. he said, Justice
Girardeau would have no other alter
native than to copmit Mrs. Crawford
to jail,
Arnold Sees Exoneration.
Attorney Arnold said Mrs. Craw-
ford would be completely eXonerated
at the prospective hearing before a
justice Of the peace. He said the ac-
ton was nothing more than a move
to force" civil procedure.
1T is not really the Crawford heirs
who are fighting me-" said Mrs. Craw-
ford, but the rather distant rela
tives who we're not mentioned in any
will. l settled with the real heirs ac-
cording to the will left by Mr.. Craw-
ford's first wife Every one was
satisfied.
Il gave Charlie Crawford more than
he was even entitled to by the will
that was made before l even knew
the man | later married. He thanked
me for the generosity by later letting
the very distant relatives prevail
upon him to fight me. He decided
them an interest in his share of the
property and filed suit. Since then
he has fought me. The closer rela-
tives have never been anything but
my best friends"
Sheriff Mangum will select the
Justice Court for the hearing instead
of the attorneys. 1t is more than
likely 1t will start in the forenoon,
and it is not improbable it will be
necessary to conclude Monday.
Widows Side of Case.
Attorney Arnold, for Mrs. Crawford,
issued the following statement Friday
afternoon:
There is nothing whatever new in
the recent developments of the Craw-
ford case.
-Four years after Crawford's death
some of the collateral kinpeople of J.
B. Crawford and his first wife, who
are seeking to recover this estate,
worth perhaps 800, 900, from the wild
ow and legatees under Crawford's
will went to Carroll County with
their lawyer, J. S. James, and Dr.
H. F. Harris, and on some kind of
showing which we know nothing of
persuaded the Coroner TO eXhume the