Evening star., 1933-01-18
HSLEY SUSPECT
FACESEARLY TRIAL
Crawford to Be Returned
From Boston to Answer
Murder Charge.

George Crawford, "a, ex-convict, un-
der Indictment in Loudoun County, Va.
charged with the murder of Mrs. Spen'
Ger Ilsley. 42-year- -old Middleburg socl-
etv euuestrienne and her maid, Mrs
Nina Buckner, IS, on the Ilsley estate
January 49, 1882. probably will go on
trial at Leesburg in the term OF court
which opens February 13, Virginia au-
thorities stated today.
The suspect. sought throughout the
country since the battered bodies OF the
two women were found BY Mrs. Ilsley S
brother, Paul Boeing, now is held by
Bcstcn police who picked him up on a
housebreaking charge and established
Identification through flrgerprints on a
circular issued by the Washington Po-
lice Department.
Said to Admit Identity.
Sergt John McArdle and Special In
vestigator Joseph McDevitt of the Bos-
ton police announced after an interview
with Crawford that he admitted his
Identity and acknowledged he knew Mrs
Ilsley. but denied knowledge of the
crime and said he had not been in
Middleburg since September, 1881.
The hunch of a fingerprint student in
the Boston Bureau of Identification led
to discovery that the Joseph Taylor,
alias Charles Smith," arrested there
really was the suspect wanted in Vir-
ginia.
Trapped by Student.
Thomas j. O'Conncr of Worcester,
the student, saw the descriptive circular
sent to every police department in the
United States after the Ilsley slayings
and had hunch that some day he
would run across Crawford Since then
he has checked the fingerprints of every
colored man arrested in Massachusetts,.
Last week when Joseph Taylor" was
arrested and fingerprinted OConnor's s
intuition showed results.
When Virginia officers return with
Crawford it is understood he will be
lodged in the Alexandria Jail to avoid
any possible outbreak of violence.
Feeling ran high in Middleburg after
the murders last year 1t is believed
now. however. that no interference will
be offered when Crawford is brought to
trial
Commemorative Attorney John Gal
leher of Loudoun County after tele-
phone conversation with Boston au-
thorities was convinced they are hold
Ing the right man.
Galleher will leave for Boston today,
armed with requisition papers for
Crawford's return. Although charge
has been placed against the suspect in
Boston, Galleher expects no difficulty in
effecting extradition.
The arrest of Crawford climaxed a
manhunt spurred by rewards which at
one time totaled almost $4,000, Under
Ca11a1,ortc f1rityata dotartiucS
and police have searched all over the
United States for the man who was
linked to the double Staying by note
said to be in his handwriting. This
was found in the car stolen from Mrs.
Ilsley on the night of the murders, and
believed to have been used by the slay-
er in his escape.
Expenses Reduce Fund.
Expenses OF the investigation have
reduced the fund raised by Mrs. Ilsley's
wealthy friends, and Galleher said the
reward received by Crawfords captors
will be far below the original amount.
Once before during the search Craw-
ford was discovered in Boston. but un-
accountable delay resulted in his escape
before police went to arrest him. In
the first instance, he was traced through
a letter pinned inside the sleeve of a
coat he mailed to Birdie Neal, a colored
woman with whom he had been friendly
when he was a servant on the Ilsley
estate in Middleburg.
Authorities had watched her mail
closely after the murders, and ore day
in March package arrived which the
postmaster recognized as addressed IN
Crawford's handwriting. Sheriff z. S.
Adrian was summoned from LeeS6urg,
and brought the Neal woman to the
post Office where she opened the parcel.
A search of the coat in the package re-
veased a letter which said Crawford was
living in Boston under the name OF
Charles Smith and was employed as
houseman. He gave his home and en-
ployer's address, and asked the woman
to communicate with him. The author
tiles ordered Birdie Neal to write CraW-
ford, saying she would join him soon,
and then released her.
Escapes Police Trap.
BY the time Boston police were notified
and went to the address Crawford had
given he had fled-only a few hours
before they arrived. Mr.. Galeher. VINO
had been in charge of the Ilsley in
vestigation from the first day, was not
Informed of the letter incident until
several days after 1t occurred.
Suspected Crawford.
Mrs. Ilsley and her maid had been
living in a small cottage on the rear
of the -Ilsley place, while the mansion
she had inherited on the death OF her
husband, Spencer Ilsley. retired Mil
waukee banker, was rented to Miss ka-
trina Mccormick, daughter OF Mrs.
Ruth Hanna Mccormick
Miss Mccormick had stayed at the
place during the foX-hunting season,
and had left few days before the mur-
ders took place. When the big house
was vacated, Paul Boeing who had been
visiting his sister and living in the
small cottage with her, decided to sleep
In the other house to guard it.
The Summer before, when Mrs. Ilsley
was visiting friends in Milwaukee, her
large house at Middleburg was broken
into and valuables stolen. Shortly after
this robbery, Crawford, who had been
employed on the place after his release
from a Virginia prison, disappeared.
After a second burglary on the estate
in the Winter of 1881, Mrs. Ilsley caused
a warrant to be issued for the colored
man. When local authorities failed to
get him, she came to Washington to
seek the aid of a private. detective. She
had returned from this trip only few
DAYS before she was killed.
Heard Her Call Dog.
On the night she was slain, Mrs. Us
ley attended an i-prohibition meet
ing in Upperville with friends. she re-
turned about IL O'Clock, stopped for a
few minutes at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. William Hit, declined their In
vitation to stay all night, took woras
friend home and then went back to the
cottage A short time later, a neigh
Dor, Mrs Alice Fouble, heard Mrs. Ilsley
on the porch of the cottage whistling
and calling for her dog The dog was
in the big house with Boeing.
The next morning Boeing arose about
9 O'Clock and walked to the cottage tc
have breakfast with his sister. When
he entered the house he'found his sister
dead, lying in the doorway of her bed