THE DAILY DEMOCRAT
Seventh Year, Marlin, Texas, Number 198
Saturday, November 2, 1907 - Page 1, Column 3 & 4
THE CRISWELL TRAGEDY
Few Developments -- Was Assault
to Murder and Suicide.
There are no further developments in the Criswell tragedy. The report
given in Friday's Democrat is substantially the full facts as developed.
It was simply a case of assault to murder upon Mrs. Hickerson, followed by
suicide. The motive, if any, behind the assault on Mrs. Hickerson will
ever remain unknown. The most generally accepted theory is that Criswell
was suffering from a temporary derangement of reason and that in this condition
he sought to take the life of the estimable lady. She has two very ugly
wounds in the face and neck but without complications she will recover.
The only additional information as to the
circumstances immediately preceding the tragedy that comes to light is the fact
that the pistol with which Criswell killed himself, was given to him by Mrs.
Hickerson when he came to her house in response to the calls of herself and
daughter. This pistol had been left with them by John C. Criswell, father
of Will Criswell, and was left there that they might protect themselves while
Will Criswell while Will Criswell and wife, their nearest neighbors, were away
from home.
Mrs. Hickerson says that when Will came
over in response to her request, that he appeared in the very best of humor, and
that she requested him to remain in the house the rest of the night. That
she went into an adjoining room to prepare a bed for him and that while she ws
in the act of arranging the bed that Will caught her head with one hand and with
the other inflicted the wounds as previously described. A bloody razor
with gaps in it and a pocket knife were found on Criswell's person. The
pistol with which he shot himself was lying by his side. A portion of his
clothing, ignited by the explosion of the gun, had burned away.
Dr. Baird, who was first called to attend
the wounded lady, called in Dr. Allen and the two dressed the wounds and Mrs.
Hickerson is now resting nicely.
Justice Dashiell, County Attorney Connally
and Sheriff Poole, conducted the investigation and are agreed as to finding of
the court that it was a plain case of assault to murder and suicide on the part
of young Criswell and further, that his mind was evidently unbalanced at the
time.
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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.