Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-19

Mrs. MARY BELLE CRAWFORD.
Special .-patch to The Star.
ATLANTA. Ga. July 13.-Mrs. Mary
Belle Crawford. central figure in the
sensational court fight over the two-hun-
dred and fifty Thousand dollar estate of
her late husband Joshua Il. Crawford,
who died four Years ago. about one
month after his marriage to Mrs. Craw-
ford, who was his second wife. is now
directly charged with the murder of the
aged millionaire following the exhuma-
ton of the body and its examination by
IL; +. Harris of the state board of health.
who found traces of morphine in the
stomach.
The examination of the body of Craw-
ford took place at Carrollton, where he
was buried. \ warrant for the arrest of
Mrs Crawford was Immediately issued by
g w Raskin, coroner of Carroll county.
This warrant was declared invalid, but
another was Immediately issued in Fulton
county Mrs. Crawford was given a pre-
l!minary hearing, and bound over to the
superior court for trial on the charge.
She readily made bond and was released.
after being under arrest probably twenty
minutes.
Married Soon After Meeting.
Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were married in
Jacksonville. Fla, in February, 1888. aft
erhaving known each other for about
nontff. II was Grawford's second mar
risge.. his first wife having died about
year before Crawford had gone to
ISorida for his health at the time he
n,ft the defendant, who secured an en-
s,&gernent as his nurse. Mrs. Crawford
Ind also been previously married They
returned IL atlanta shortly after their
marriage, where the aged capitalist died
lsqnia. leaving the bulk of his estate to
Mrs. oCPawfor
Or. Harris testified that he found traces
of morphine and opium in the dead man.
stomach and that in his opinion, he did
not die from an attack of pneumonia as
had been reported. He asserted the dead
mans organs were sufficiently preserved
for him to make the examination. and
that there was trace OF pneumonia or
Any other disease o fthe lungs DIR. Har-
ris testified that morphine poisoning very
likely produced death DIR. j. w. Hurt.
Crawford attending physician, will be
put on the stand at the trial to refute this
TESTIMONY " is said that DIR. Hurt will
testify that he gave Crawford opium and
morphine in an effort to stop congestion
Of the lungs from which he suffered In
TIE last moments of his life
Seek to Break Will.
Charles Il. Crawford. who swore out the
warrant against the widow. is the princi-
p,i ntigant in a civil suit now being
tried which himself and thirty other
heirs at law are seeking to have the will
of tine dead man, probated by Mrs Craw-
ford and In which She was named sole
heir OF the large estate. set aside. Mrs
Crawford declares that the criminal
charge against her is brought simply for
the purpose of influencing the civil itiga-
tion over the estate.
Joshua b. Crawford was a we'll known
character in Atlanta for many years. He
was recognized shrewd in business
rats and close to the past penny In all
financial transactions. He owned much
money and property and added to his for
tune by demanding every penny called
for in the notes, mortgages and other ne
9otiable Instruments which he handled.
- we'll as the principal II payment was
mol forthcoming he realized on the Sc
cLrity NJ invariably acquired There
were thirty nieces and nephews and other
relatives who expected 10 share in his es-
tate when he died
Wife Called Adventures.
Crawford was born in October, 1888.
Ills first wife. Mrs. Nancy E. Craw-
ford, was eight years his junior. She
Died early in 1855. at the age of sixty
six. Twelve months later he married
again. his second wife being probably
twenty years younger than the first
Within a Month after his marriage he
died at the age OF seventy-fve. His Sec
ond wife and his relatives have been
fighttng in the courts ever since TO re-
cover a part OF the estate.
Just one year ago, June l.. 1912. three
wears after Crawfords death. ur. Harris
with the coroner of Carroll county, ex-
humed the body and began the chemical
ANALYSIS 10 which he has just testified
Counsel for the contending heirs now in
Innate that a more exhaustive examina-
tfon Of the poison mystery will probably
re made and that indictments will be
sought before the grand jury.
Crawford and his first wife made their
Wills at the same time in 1907. about a
wear before she died. and two years be-
fore his death BY her will he inherited
her estate. His will provided that in the
event he survived his wife the estate
should go to the four minor children OF
George Crawford, an adopted son. and Il
c. s Crawford. a nephew. and TO Lula
Miller, a niece Following his second
marriage a new will was not made. and
the old instrument was automatically sci
aside, the wife mheriting the property.
Compromise Reached.
A contest was set UP by George Craw-
ford for his minor children and c. S
Crawford and Lula Miller. beneficiaries
named in the will. In 1910. after sensa-
tional litigation in the courts, COM
promise was reached whereby property
estimated at between $4,000 and $4,000
was carved out of the estate for these
contestants. this being the estimated
value of the. Nancy e. Crawford estate
that had descended to Joshua B. Craw-
1sga upon hta fiEst Wife'n-dsath.-But mons