Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-09
CRENSHAW ADMITS
Theft AND ARSON
Confesses at Charlottesville to
Stealing Platinum and Burn
ing Laboratory.
SAYS HE COULDN'T HELP IT
Father and Sister Testify as to
Subnormal Mentality-De-
fendant Collapses.
SAYS HE COULDN'T HELP IT
Especial to The Tlmes-pispatch. J

was made in Circuit
Court to-day by s. Dabncy Crcnsha ".
IN" Of Richmond. young chemistry
student at the University of Virginia.
VINO vas put on the stand in his Own
behalf in connection with the taking
of $500 worth Of platinum from the
chemical laboratory Of the university
preceding the fire which destroyed
'nat building on the night of Jam
uary IS.
The young defendant was calm a.
he answered the questions put "a him
BY his kindly faced attorney. Robert
a scott OF Richmond. He first was
asked as TO his school and colle g ca
reer' and then. pontblank. to tell
"hethcr he took the platinum and
burned the laboratory. lie stated that
nc had done both as charged and testi-
hed TO by the Commonweaith's wit
ncsses.
Then Crcnshaw was asked to relate
the various times he had taken thing.
that did not belong to him. and he re-
lated incidents in his carly youth
Also the taking of money from his
fathers trousers and from his mothers
key basket.
ne defendant then told of taking
sums OF money from the cash drawer
OF firm in Richmond. to which he
had access: of taking quantity OF
platinum summer before last from the
chemical laboratory OF the Virginia
Carolina Chemical Company. in Rich
mona where he was working under
MS fa,her. This was quite a large
quantity, He said he had been office
boy there. and had had the run OF the
piace. lie vas quito often in the
laboratory when not engaged. and one
DAY some one remarked that the ono
VINO look that platinum would Lave
small fortune" He said that he then
wen; there after IL O'clock at night
and went into the place with a latch
key; that he collected together and
carried off what platinum he could
lay his hands on. He then sold this,
as lie didn't know what to do with II.
re frst asked Richmond jewelrv
hrm about making sale of it, and.
through this firm. SO, the name OF the
nrm In Newark. y. l.. with whom he
subsequently dealt. This was the firm
10 whom he made sale of the platinum.
sToLE WATCHES. MONEY ANE
JEWELRY FROM STUDENTS
ne witness then told of things he
TOOK when first at the University of
virginia. consisting OF jewelry. watches
and sums OF money. lie was A studen,
ot general chemistry. and was making
AN independent study OF the refining
OF gold. Then he took things from m,
Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house. mostly
clothes which '|ere too large for him.
He kept them all for several months.
and then gave away different suits 10
jan!tors and walters. lie said he had
no use for the suits, laughingly adding.
They were too big" lie stated he
carried them away openly on his arm
and hung them up in his closet.
Then young Crenshaw came to the
time when he robbed the chemical
laboratory on January 2s He was
taken over the whole incident-the
burGiarizinG of the Office and lecture
room. first explaining his course in
cffectinG an entrance and the manner
in which he secured the platinum he
went TO seek. Some was in the lab
orator% and some in Professor Dun
nington's Office. lie said he couldn't
exactly explain his taking the blow
pipes. wrench and other articles. lie
then effected an entrance into the cell
lar. after locking The doors upstairs.
and set the loose stuff he found there,
consisting OF boxes and excelsior, on
nre. lie made his way back to his
room by skirtinE the old ice pond and
coming around President Alderman's
house, ou Carr'S Hill. He also took
some cocaine and fine wire which he
found. these being the same that were
exhibited yesterday by Detective Twin
ing. lie said he took them because
they were something out of the usual
run"
The defendant then related how tn
hid the things about his room, and
afterwards went out and aroused vari-
GUS students to so to the fire lie
stayed around for several hours, until
the fire was over. Asked by Mr. Scott.
at this point. if he knew he was doing
wrong In the various offenses he had
related. he answered: Yes felt il i'm
"a way. but couldn't exactly help my
self" The incidents followed sort
OF stress or strain he felt. which would
be relieved after he committed the
acts.
KNEW 1T WAS WRONG. but
IMPULSE TOO STRONG
In the chemical laboratory incidents
the impulse had been working on him
for some weeks. In tho ono at the
university, the impulse ran over a
month or more. Ie stated In reply to
question by counsel. that he made "a
hard fight" against IT, each time, but
on the night when he went TO the lab
oratory, he could not resist it, Asked
here as 10 his feeling, whether his acts
were right or wrong, he said he had
felt always that they were wrong, but
he lad not realized there was any
thing W.T. ns with himself. But only
physical disability coulL have pre-
vented his acting as he did.
The defendant hero explained a Let
ter found In his cffests. asking for
c:otations on platinum. by SAYING he
VI, I,.I