The Washington times., 1933-12-14
ALLEGED KILLER
SEEN IN TOWN
DAY Of CRIME
State Continues to Wrap Web
Of CircumstantiaI Evidence
Around Defendant

days before the murder (January
IL, 1892, told him he was broke,
and wanted to borrow some money
on a watch he had so he could
get to Richmond.
Got Loan On Stolen Watch
Coleman was former prison
road camp guard whose life was
saved by Crawford when the guard
was attacked by another prisoner.
For this Crawford received par
don.
Coleman advanced Crawford 81
on the watch. which was placed
in evidence. Paul Boeing, brother
of the slain woman, will be called
to the stand to identify it as one
stolen when Crawford worked at
the 1lsley home.
Crawford was placed at Hern-
don. Va, two days before the MUIR
der by Robert Hughes. the next
witness.
Hughes testified that he met
Crawford and another coIored
man who was introduced as
"Charlie Johnson" This was the
man named by Crawford in his
confession as the actual killer.
Crawford asked Hughes if he
knew where they could spend the
night, and Hughes directed them
to the home of Hammond NokeS,
a colored farmer.
He Dresses as Woman
Nokes, who dresses as a woman,
caused a stir in the courtroom as
he took the stand and identified
Crawford as coming to his home
that day and leaving the next
morning.
Rastus Nokes, his brother, also
testified as to the two men COM
ing, and stated that the next
morning Crawford jotted down
the Nokes address in a small note
book. The prosecution hopes to
link this book with one found in
Mrs. Ilsley's car, which was stolen
following the murder and aban-
doned in Arlington county.
NokeS also said that Crawford
left, saying he was on the way to
Middleburg to find work.
Ice Delays Defendant
The colored man on trial for
his life, the sheriff and State
troopers who are guarding him
had difficulty getting to the trial
today because of ice on the roads.
Each day after court adjournS
Crawford is taken to the Alex
andria city Jail for safe keeping. |
This morning the calvacade start
ed for Leesburg an hour earlier
than usual.
So slippery were the roads that |
1t was feared the cars would not |
be able to get through. They ar
rived, however, just in time for the
morning session.
The diminutive negro showed
little concern as he heard wit |
nesses slowly involve him in the |
case yesterday.
Girl Against Him
Only once did he show signs
Of nervousness. It was when |
Miss Berda De Neal, his sweet
heart" told the jury under ex-
animation by Commonwealth At
torney John Galleher that he
had been in Middleburg shortly
before the crime and that she |
received a note from him about |
noon the day before the finding
of the bodies. She said:
"He sent note to my house
by some cOlOred man. He asked
me in the note to get him some
food because he was hungry,
but he forgot to say where he
was staying.
"This was on the day before
they found Mrs. IlsIey and Mrs,
Buckner dead"
Damaging testimony also was
given during the second days
session of the trial by DR.. Oscar
B. Hunter, Washington patholo-
glSt. He described the finding
OF human flesh and hair under
the finger nails of Mrs. nsley,
and declared them to be those
Of a negro.
Brother Is Witness
A dramatic touch was lent to
the session yesterday when Paul
Boeing, of New York, brother of
Mrs. 1lsley, described in q broken
and sometimes choking voice, the
finding of his sisters body in the |
cottage on the palatial estate on
which she lived,
He said he was sleeping in the
large town house on the estate |
when Mrs. IlSley and Mrs. Buck |
ner were murdered in the cottage,
about 100 yards away.
After nearly an hour on the
stand under examination by the
commonwealth counsel, defense
attorneys declared they would |
spare Boeinp from a long cross
examination. and confined them
selves, to few questions.
Others teStifying yesterday were
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, |
wealthy Virginia sportsman and
friend Of Mrs. Ilsley; Miss Wini-
fred addux. friend of the society
matron: DR.. H. A. Splitter: DR..
John H. Gibson. county coroner:
Harry w. Frost, another promi-
nent sportsman; Harry Leonard,
Of Middleburg, who resided rear
the Ilsley estate. and Alexander
Grayson, colored enploye on the
estate.