Crime:

On June 25, 1910, Mary Agnes Crawford died suddenly -- the cause of death was attributed to Acute Meningitis.  Three weeks later on July 15 her father, Walter C. Crawford passed away -- the cause of death was allegedly Uremic Poisening.  Two weeks after that, on July 29 her mother died -- it was thought that she also succumbed to Uremic Poisoning.  In mid-September of 1911 another sister, Elise, died, which raised suspitions that the family might have been victims of murder.

Dr. J.C. McGuire who had treated Elise claimed that her symptoms were not connected with the heart trouble she had suffered but that they more closely resembled morphine poisoning.  Dr, McGuire admitted Elise to Charity Hospital where she died the following morning.  The coronor's report conclulded that morphine had been found in her stomach.  Relatives reported that Elise's sister, Annie Crawford has an addiction to morhpine.  She had worked in the drug department of the New Orleans Sanitarium but was dicharged for alleged irregularities in her accounting medications.  In her position at the hospital she became familiar with the actions of poisons and other drugs. 

Out of work since losing her job, relatives noted that Annie never wanted to fine clothing.  It was determined that she was the insurance beneficiary of each deceased family member; Mary Agnes was insured for $300, her father for $800, her mother for $800, and her sister Elise for $250.  Annie Crawford was arrested on September 27, 1911 and charged with the murders by poisoning of her mother, father, and two sisters during the prior 15 months.  Another sister, Gertrude, said "I don't want Annie to nurse me if I ever get sick.  She gices such funny medicine".

District Attorney ???? Adams said, "It was established today the that Annie Crawford is a drug fiend and probably is addicted to morphine.  It is also established that she had access during the past three weeks to morphine and was in a positions to obtain it in practically any quantity.  During the indisposition of Elise Crawford she bitterly complained that her food and drink were drugged.  I have charged Annie Crawford with the murder of her sister Elise".  The New York Times reported that Annie had admitted poisening Elise but said that she accidentally administered the wrong medication -- she thought she had given Elise calomel tablets. 

The presiding Judge at the trial for the murder of Elise announced a mistrial through failure of the jury to reach a verdict.  Anne Crawford was not tried for the murder of her mother, father, or sister because they had been buried -- forensics at that time could not verify suspitions of murder on buried corpses.

Source: New York Times, September 28, 1911