The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-20
DEATH WILLIE CRAWFORD
Is SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Illegal Operation Performed
Upon Girl Causes Fatal
Complication.
MAN FIGURES IN CASE
VDeathbed Confession Made
by Victim to Prevent Other
Girls Suffering Sim
,, liar Fate.

pretty Willie Crawford, who died las
night at Erlanger hospital afte
twelve day illness.
Behind the death certificate, whicl
assigns peritonitis as the cause o
death, lies hidden what is alleged u
be a pitiful and heart -rending story
1t is the old story of the deep Low,
of young girl leading her into pit
falls and snares, so that she in he
more desperate moments of despair
attempted to perform or allowed Il
be performed on her a criminal oper'
alton in an attempt to conceal hel
shame. The operation" was unsuc-
cessful, blood poison set in, and last
night at o'clock the young woman
died.
Victim Tells Story.
However, before she died, and as
she lay on her deathbed she made
known her story to a friend at the
hospital, hoping, she declared, ii
might be a warning TO other young
women who might unsuspectingly
become victims under similar cir
oumstances.
The name of a well-known young
imam about town" was mentioned by
Miss Crawford, and it is at his doo
that she lays her disgrace. However,
as statements made by her were al
various moments of nationality and
irrationality. the blame has not as
yet been conclusively placed at this
mans door.
Capt. w. H. Hackett, of the detec-
dive department, is working on the
case in an effort to ferret out the
facts and bring to an accounting the
guilty party. So far no arrests have
been made, but the friends of Miss
Crawford are determined that her
death shall be avenged If the finger
df guilt can be conclusively and di-
rectly pointed at the guilty one. Be-
sides the name of the man who Is
believed to have been guilty, the
names OF other young men are said
to have found their way into the
case through either piece of forg-
cry or at the point of a pistol.
DIR. j. Webster Horton, the attend
ing physician, told clearly of the case,
and while he doubted that the guilty
party would ever be connected to the
point of conviction, he was of the
opinion that the case should be in
vestigated thoroughly in an effort to
right such a grievous wrong DR..
Horton stated that when he was
called into the case, he of course saw
what was the matter and. realizing
the delicate condition of Miss Craw-
ford. ordered her to her home, and
there he made an investigation. Upon
examination he saw that an attempt
had been. made by some one to Ferr,
form a criminal operation. He at
once informed the mother, and the
daughter was removed to Erlanger
hospital, where 1t was found her con-
Sarinuc Affar the
operation by Dr. Horton, he stated,
Miss Crawford began to improve,
and for awhile he thought she would
recover. However, despite every
effort and everything known to med
ical science. she died last night.
Several days ago Miss Crawford,
seeming to realize the critical nature
of her condition, and, believing that
death was inevitable, called in a
friend. young officer at Fort Ogle- |
thorpe, and barred her life's story to
him.
She claimed she was telephoned to
by a young man, who asked her to |
go riding with another girl and a |
man friend of his. She stated she
went once or twice with this same |
man, who gave a fictitious name, but
whose identity she later learned. |
Il our VI hNt IIipS WIN NIio SOuIS
man, who by chance was married, |
and she then realized her condition.
She said that she called on him for
help, but that it was never given.
and she remained at her work until
one day her condition became so Sc
rious she tainted before they could
get her home.
Signs at Pistol Point.
She Is said to have first told that |
this young man who had wrongcd
her had at the point of pistol made
her sign a statement saying that she
had been intimate with four other
young men, all of whom are promi-
nent. However, DIR. Horton stated
hat when he advised with her guar
1ian about this young attorney
was sent to the hospital and he, to-
sether with DR.. Horton, asked her
'egarding the statement in which
she is said to have implicated four
-oung men. 1t was then Miss Craw-
ord denied she had been made to
,ign anything and said that If a
statement was out to the effect that
The had been intimate with anybody
t was a forgery. The dying declara-
ion was, of course, then not given
md the true facts and the cause of
Willie Crawford's death were prob
bly buried with her. :
However, the report was current P,
It the hospital that Miss Crawford ,
ad stated that the young man who
ad wronged her had taken her rid
ng and at the point of a pistol had
lade her sign a statement implicat-
ng four other men and had also
tated that it was this young man
1ho had attempted to perform a
riminal operation in an effort to
de her shame and save him from
IMPLICATION In the affair. r. I
A conference was held this morn !
1g between DR.. Horton, Captain of
detectives w. H. Hackett and the
lother of Miss Crawford, at which
II the details of the case were gone y
vcr. The mother stated that since !
he death OF "Billy" her daughter, !
Iiss Ruth Crawford. had told her
1at one night shortly before Billy" r
ad been taken to the hospital she I
ad confided IN her of her relations I
, the young man in question. She
dted that BILLY" had come in and :
lid she had spent two hours of c
pony with the guilty man and that n
> had ;oi tured her d. adfully in an =
fort to perform a criminal opera c.
on on her This statement is con- h
dered .maFing enough to Ak 'he C,
nit of tho nan in question aud an p
-ress is lktly to occur soma time "
Iring the afternoon or tonight. hf- ci
n the conference 1t was thought cl
aet bV Cant Hackett to take the ~