Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-22

Men Serving Life Terms for
Killing Deputy Marshal
Were TRUSTEES at Camp,
Mother III in Atlanta

GAINESVILLE, Ga, April 21.--
George and Decatur Crawley and
| Blaine Stewart, three of Georgia s
most notorious prisoners, escaped
| from the Hall county changing
! about $50 Sunday night, ACCORDING
| to advices reaching here. Details OF
| the escape are lacking, the report
merely stating the three men were
missed when a final check-up for the
night was made by camp officials.
Authorities throughout Georgia
and neighborinS states have been
notified and a posse has been or
gained here TO scour surrounding
territory for the escaped men. 1t
is believed hat the two CraWley
boys are hea lei for Atlanta, where
it is reported their mother is crlti-
cally i'll. She is said t olive on West
North avenue. and the Atlanta po-
lice have been asked to watch FOR
the two b"y3 and arrest them If they
attempt 10 Sc her.
The three men were serving SEN
fences imposed in connection with
the killing of United States Deputy
Marshal Ben F. Dixon. six years
ago. George and Decatur CraWley
were life-termers, while Stewart had
served two years of a ten-year SEN
tence. Stewart is a cousin or the
Crawley brothers.
According to officials at the camp,
the three men had been supplied with
citizens clothes smuSgled into the
camp, as their prison garb was found
about three miles from the camp on
the railroad. The three were TRUSTEES,
having made model prisoners, ac-
cording to officials, who said from
the time of their Incarceration they
had been excellent in their deport-
ment and had won the confidence OF
their guards.
The CraWley case was one OF the
most celebrated in the history OF
the state and attracted nation wide
attention.
Killing Of Deputy
The escaped men We're accused OF
killing the deputy marshal who had
gone to the Crawley home in the
Businesses of the mountains near
BIairs vile, Ga, to arrest George and
Decatur Crawley for violation of
the selective service act. The mar
shall was accompanied by the shcr-
if of Union county, and when, the
two approached the house-a small
mountain cabin--the CraWley boys.
with their sister and Stewart. bar
ricaded the door and refused them
admission. When the marshal APP
preached, shot from the interior
killed him. 1t was never establish
ed who fired the shot.
Immediately after the shooting, the
boys and the girl escaped into North
Carolina. whe.e they hid themselves
in the mountains. A detachment or
United States soldiers from Camp
Gordon went after tn out was
unsuccessful.
Captured BY Young
Later, S. Glenn Young, who re-
Gently has gained considerable pub
lefty through his connection with
the Herrin, ILL.,. prohibition raids,
and then a, United States deputy rev.
enue agent stationed in North Caro-
lima, went after the quartet and ar
rested them single-handed.
The capture was spectacular.
Young discovered their hiding place
in a densely wooded mountain sec
ton. and surprised the group early
one morning. They surrendered
after he had slipped into the house
unawares and had covered them with
his revolver.
Sentenced to Hang
The trial attracted huge crowds,
and the three were sentenced to
hang after they had been found
guilty. Rose Crawley was given q
life sentence, also being found guilty
by the jury.
The quartet was brought TO At
Ianta and confined in the Fulton
county tower. A bitter and lengthy
legal battle was Immediately begun
by attorneys who sought TO have the
sentence set aside, finally resulting
in the four getting a new trial.
At the second trial, George and
Decatur We're given life sentences
and Stewart ten years. The case
against Rose Crawley was mol
pressed after the three men had been
sentenced