The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-07-01
CROCKER GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE
FOR MURDER OF AGED MINISTER

Hui'y, Witn recommendation to
mercy" was the verdict returned last
evening by the jury which had heard
the testimony in the case against John
Watts Crocker, who was tried in the
court of general sessions on the
charge of numbering the Rev. John
Vincent Davis, well known minister.
and, at the time of his death, superin-
tendent of the Richland county home,
of which Croker was an inmate. The
tragedy occurred May 2s.
The echo of the words of the verdict
had hardly died in the court room
when Judge Townsend, after asking
'Crocker if he had anything to say, ID
which he replied in the negative, SEN
fenced the prisoner to serve the re-
mainder of his life in the state peni-
teniary. The convicted man, after
asking for his hat, was at once taken
from the court room and spent the
night at the county Jail. Today he
will be transferred to the state peni-
tentiary to begin the service of his
life sentence. Crocker is Ga years of
age. The Rev. Mr.. Davis was ~ at
the time of his death.
No Emotion.
Crocker heard the verdict and the
sentence with no show of emotion.
When the jury returned to the court
room with its verdict, he walked
slowly to the prisoners dock, placed
his hands on the railing in front of
him and raised his eyes wearily to the
judge. He seemed exhausted. After
sentence had been passed, he asked
for his hat and was at once taken
away.
The trial of the case was again fol-
lowed closely yesterday, the testimony
and the arguments of the attorneys
holding the attention of the spectators
in the court room. When court recon-
vened in the morning, the defense pre-
senter witnesses who told of having
known Crocker for several years in
Spartanburg county. Among these
witnesses were Joe Fowler, j. r.
Brown, C. A. Brown and Dr.. w. A.
Smith.
The state, in reply to the testimony
relating to insanity, recalled to the
stand DR.. Oscar LaBorde and also
placed on the stand Frank Williams,
Harry DesPortes, j. B. Scott, E. L.
Horter and w. F. Mediin. --r'- -
The defense made efforts to con-
vince the jury that Crocker was of
diseased mind and body and the state
contendcd that he had sufficient men,
tality to distinguish between right and
wrong.
The taking of testimony was con-
cluded at go o'clock and the argu-
ments of attorneys at once begun. The
case went to The jury at 5:35 o'clock
and verdict was returned at 1926
o'clock.
Occurred il May.
Crocker, who was an inmate at the
county home, shot and killed the Rev.
John V. Davis, superintendent Of the
home, on the morning of May %. He
| had abscntcd himself from breakfast
on that morning and later when Mr..
laws otti ~ u W aoS'liu Ihc SbSpD lS0t-
ing to the house occupied by Crockcr,
carrying with him some tobacco, he
was shot by Crocker, two balls enter
ing his body. There had been some
words between CrocEer and Mr.. Davis
before the crime, Mr.. Davis having
spoken to Crocker about Mrs. Crocker
working in the kitchen. The testimony
was that on the day before the trag-
cdy Crocker had told Mr.. Davis that
he, Mr.. Davis, would "leave here be-
fore the setting of tomorrow's SUM-"
The defense produced testimony
showing that several Of Crocker's rel
atives had been insane, some Of then,
having been admitted to the state
hospital. 1t also produced evidence TO
show that Crocker had been a sufferer
from pellagra and had been consid-
cred of unsound mind by acquaint-
ances and it based it's case on plea
of insanity.
The Rev. Mr. Davis was widely
known in this section and had many
friends in this community, and his
death was generally deplored.-The
| State