Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-12-23
VERDICT RETURNED
LESS THAN TWO HOURS
Testimony of Colored
Witnesses Convict
A ccused Man
Brilliant Defense
Made BY Houston
Leesburg Va. A Jury Of ~ men
found George Crawford Guilty and
recommended life imprisonment.

Leesburg, Na.-George Crawford,
on trial for the murder OF Mrs.
Agnes B. Ilsley. wealthy sports
woman. is being hurried along the
road to conviction by the testimony
of many Negroes and especially by
that OF BERTHE DeNeal. described az
one-time sweetheart of the acA
cused man. N
Mrs. DeNeal testified Crawford
had sent her note early on the
night the crime was committed,
asking her TO send him some food
in the woods where he was hiding.
She testified she sent the food.
1t was Mrs. DeNeal again who
identified the handwriting OF
note found in an abonded car as
that OF Crawford. She has proved
TO be one OF the most valuable
witnesses for the prosecution. In
spite OF everything, she told re-
porters she still loved Crawford.
Courtroom. orderly, But Tense,
There have been no outwZ
manifestations of hostility aud N
disorder whatsoever. but the at
\ mcsphere issextrcpcis. tense.
i snssi ss5 "a Il dIirsrs1
parts OF Virginia ali during the
j Christmas season OF 1891 asd near
iddIeburg the day before the crime
white and colorsd witnesses idonf'
flied him as being ia Richmo
Washington, Warrenton and Lyncfae'..
burgh during December, 1881.
Throughout the hearings, which
have brought forth much inform-
alton which Crawford did not inn
! part to his attorneys. the ex-chauf-
feur has received brilliant defense
from Dean Charles n. Houston and
his associates, Mesrs. Leon A
Ransom, Edward p. Lovett and
James G. Tyson. Mr.. Ransom con-
Quoted an illuminating and pains
taking REORGANIZATION of DR..
Arthur Hunter. Washington skin
specialist who testified that Mrs.
Isley's fingernails had under them
bits OF skin and hair OF Negro.
Mr.. Ransoms examination ELECTED
the opinion that the skin under the
nails was darker than he (Ransom)
and Crawford is about Ransom's
color.
Jury Issue Holds Interest
The primary interest of the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment Of Colored People in the
Crawford case remains the issue
of Negroes serving upon juries, il
was declared here by Walter
White, who has attended all the
sessions. The n. A. A. G. p wants
Crawford TO have a fair trial and
his accordingly secured the finest
possible legal counsel
mo four attorneys anywhe
any color, could give defe
any drawer, more painst -.
more brilliant, or more sci
defense than Messrs. Hid
Lovett. Ransom and Tyson,
Mr.. White.
The four colored lawyers
first Negro attorneys eva -
handle q case in the Loudo,
county courthouse, have won Il -
greatest respect Of everyone. 1
GLIDING the prosecution. John &c
leher, Frank Wray and senat
Cecil Conner; the newspapermc'
the townspeople in general, az
Judge McLemore. II Is evident tina
OF the lawyers present, Dea'
Houston stands head and should
above the resst. al
Dean Houston. in HIS exa1'ha-
ton of the Jury Commissioners
secured the frank mission from
them that they die not considct
any Negroes in Loudoun county
| qualified to serve as Jurors. G. 4.
Whaley. one commissioners, became
fConksnwe1 a. u.-. AZ n