The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-04-27
DR., {. {, CRAWFORD
KILLED Az bIENVILLE'

Dr.. C. C. Crawford, aged about t.
4 prominent physician. was shot AM
instantly killed within sight Of hi
| home in Bienville, Monday morning
| at g ;4j and his cousin, Omar Craw
ford, prominent young business mai
Of that town, is being held charged
with his death.
The tragedy is a deplorable one
owing to the prominence of both mel
IN the town and surrounding com
munity. DR.. Crawford during hi,
residence Of 16 years in Bienyille haj
built up a wide practice and enjoyed
, the confidence and esteem of all who
knew him. He was a prominent fg
[ ire m the Bienville Parish Medical
Society, Of which he was a charter
member, He is survived by his wife
and seven children.
Omar Crawford moved to BienyiIle
from Liberty Hill about three years
ago, and entered the mercantile bust
ness as Il member Of the firm of
Crawford d Lea, where he has been
quite successful. He is a young mar
RED man, progressive, and possessing
splendid business ability and has
many friends.
Mondays tragic occurrence is the
elimination Of trouble which started
several weeks ago when DR.. Crawford
Is said to have accused Omar Craw
f2rd of betraying his confidence and
invited him to a pistol duel. Friends
interviewed and succeeded in ayertine
a tragedy at the time and sought t
reconcile the two men. In order tc
avoid trouble Omar Crawford left
BienVille for about two weeks to give
the matter time to blow over, accord;
Ing to statements of his friends A
few days ago he returned to Bienyille
anu resumed his duties in the store
and friends hoped their differences had
been settled until Monday when the
shooting occurred. However, it is stat.
ed by many that DR.. Crawford open.
~ declared that nothing short of the
grave would settled the matter with
him. DR., Crawford had left his
nome at at $40 a. H., and was
driving his car slowly toward the bust.
ness section of town and was turn.
ing northward into the model road
when, according to witnesses, two
shots were fired from the direction of
Crawford & LEAFS warehouse, and he
fell over in the right hand side Of his
car, dying instantly. An examination
by DR.. r. G. Ferguson, parish coroner,
disclosed 10 buckshOt wounds, 10 of
which were in the left side of his
face and head and four in the left
breast and left arm.
After hearing the testimony Of sew.
eral witnesses the coroner's jury rem.
dered its verdict, which was that DR..
Crawford had met hts death from gun
shot wounds inflicted by Omar Craw.
ford and recommended that war.
rant be issued for his arrest and that
he be held pending investigation Of
the case by the grand jury. Sheriff
j, b, Currie, and deputies Henderson
Jordan and Cornelius Harrison reach.
ed the scene as quickly as possible.
after the shooting took place, and as.
sisted in the investigation. District
attorney W. D. Golf was also present
at the coroners inquest.
DR.. Crawford's body was carried tc
SpriDshill Cemetery near Ringgold
for interment Tuesday, being accom-.
panied by host Of friends.
Shortly after the coroner's inquest
a warrant was issued for Omar Craw.
ford and he was arrested and is be.
ing held in the parish Jail charged
with murder to await the action of
the grand jury.
Following is the testimony render.
ed before the coroner's jury:
State of Louisiana, Parish Of Bien.
vile.
Be it known that on this the oath
day of April, 1922, I, r. G. Ferguson
coroner of Bienville Parish, did hold
an inquest over the body of DR.. G.
G. Crawford in the town Of Bienville,
after selecting D. q. Cummings, L. r.
Wilson, ]. e. Boddie, r. G. CAN'T and
W. J. Huckaby, all residents Of Bien.