This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: FORD, CROSSON, CROISSIN Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/REX.2ACIB/3863.1.1 Message Board Post: Not related but may of interest to someone who is. Vern D /////////////////////////////////////////////// Transcribed by: "Dee Sardoc" <[email protected]> /////////////////////////////////////////////// Stockton Daily Argus Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA ************************* >>Friday, 17 Feb 1860<< EXECUTION -- CRAWFORD and CROISSIN, the murderers of LEWIS and FORD, will be executed today in the jail yard. They have for some time past exhibited little hope of obtaining any respite from the Governor, and have been daily devoting their time to a preparation for death. >>Saturday, 18 Feb 1860<< EXECUTION -- Thomas CRAWFORD and William CROISSIN were executed in the jail-yard yesterday afternoon at 10 minutes past 3 o'clock, the former for the murder of John B. LEWIS, and the latter for that of John V. FORD. About 50 persons were admitted to the yard, while the roofs of the houses in the neighborhood that could command a view of the scaffold were crowded with people eager to witness the death scene. The condemned men were attended by the clergy, with whom they were engaged in prayer and the reading of the scriptures up to the moment the Sheriff gave notice that the time had arrived for the execution. They walked from their cells to the foot of the scaffold pale and with trembling step. At this point they seemed to recover courage, and mounted the platform with firmness. They looked around upon the sea of faces turned toward them, and expressed a desire that there should be no delay in the execution. CRAWFORD addressed a few words in a low tone to the Sheriff, to the effect that he died innocent of any intent to commit murder, that he was not possessed of a bad heart, and that he killed LEWIS in a moment when all consciousness of what he was doing had left him. While his feet were being bound he discovered that he had upon them a boot and a shoe, and turning to the Deputy Sheriff, smilingly remarked that "it would make no difference in a few moments." CROISSIN exhibited great nervousness, but spoke freely with the clergy and those who came upon the platform to bid him good bye. To Mr. OVERTON, the jailor, he gave a grasp of the hand and remarked that "he was a small man, but had a big heart," and thanked him for his kindness to him while a prisoner under his charge. Sheriff O'NEAL read the death warrants, after which the doomed men were bound securely, hand and foot, with handkerchiefs. CROISSIN remarked that the binding was tighter than was necessary, but that "it matter not." Neither of them expressed any wish to speak to the crowd, and having shaken hands with the clergy, (among whom were Rev. Mr. HILL, Rev. Mr. KING and Rev. Mr. McDONALD,) the black caps were drawn over their heads, and at precisely 10 minutes past 3 (Haas' time), the drop fell and they were launched into eternity. CRAWFORD was killed instantly and not a motion of the muscle was discernable, the fall having broken the neck and instantly paralyzed the system. CROISSIN, though a man of greater weight than CRAWFORD, struggled some 3 minutes, and a violent contraction of the muscles continued for about 15 minutes. At the end of about 20 minutes pulsation ceased, and the physicians in attendance pronounced the bodies lifeless. Thus have CRAWFORD and CROISSIN, who commenced the journey of life with hopes, perhaps, as bright as most of us, expiated the crime of murder upon the scaffold. Neither of them, it is but charitable to suppose, intended the commission of the terrible deed for which they have suffered the extreme penalty of the law; but both were under the control of those reckless practices and passions which must ultimately lead to crime. Of the former history of either of them we are unacquainted; but are informed that CROISSIN has relatives in this city who mourn most bitterly the fate that has befallen him. CRAWFORD, previous to the killing of LEWIS, had been in this county but a short time, and was personally known to very few, and had no acquaintances whatever with him who fell a victim to his passion. The bodies were taken down, and that of CROISSIN delivered to his friends and deposited in a velvet-covered coffin. The body of CRAWFORD was placed in a common redwood coffin and interred at the county's expense. A funeral service was held at the Baptist Church, on Centre street, and the remains of the deceased taken thence to the City Cemetery, and at half-past 5 o'clock, they were buried. CRAWFORD came from Madison, Illinois, in 1853, having previous to that time resided near St. Louis. CROISSIN emigrated from Texas to Arkansas in 1851 and shortly after came to this State. Both crossed the plains, and both after their arrival here, for several years conducted themselves in a manner that foreshadowed anything but an ignominious death upon the gallows.