Berry was living in Jacksonville, Florida, but was murdered enroute in Camden County, Georgia. Murdered by Knowles "Hopps" DOWLING and Wilbert M. STEEDLEY.
Spouse: Wannie Lee SWEAT
Married: 25 JUL 1915 Pierce Co, GA
---
Waycross Journal-Herald
Waycross, Ware County, Georgia
Transcribed & donated by: Pamela D. Hudson
Issue: March 8, 1933
NEWS BRIEFS
-Man's Body Unidentified-
The body of an unidentified man, in his underclothes, with evidence of having met foul play, was found near the Folkston-Kingsland road, seven miles west of Kingsland, late Monday. The skull was fractured, and the body indicated it had been hidden in the underbrush several weeks. No progress was made yet.
Issue: March 16, 1933, Thursday
REVOLTING MURDER PLOT UNCOVERED TODAY
-Hart Crews Met A Gruesome Death-
-Wilbert Steedley Arrested In Ware. "Hopps" Dowling Sought-
Piecing together fragmentary evidence that at first was unimpressive but over a period of several weeks has grown steadily more damaging in its nature, Deputies Cy Stephens and Jim Bennett of Ware county have unearthed one of the most brutal slayings in the criminal annals of South Georgia, the details of which are revealed here today in connection with the announcement of the arrest of Wilbert Steedley, in connection with the murder of Hart Crews, who's partially decomposed and sparsely clad body was found in the woods near Kingsland on March 6.
Authorities are seeking "Hopps" Dowling alias Knowles Douglas, who is believed by local authorities, to have been the leading spirit in the murder plot.
Both Steedley and Dowling are residents of Ware county.
Steedley has been delivered to Sheriff J. B. Godley of Camden county, in which county the crime is alleged to have been committed during the early morning of February 13th, and meanwhile the investigation is being pushed here, and a widespread search is being conducted for Dowling.
Hart Crews, the victim, formerly lived in Pierce county, near Blackshear, but recently had made his home in Jacksonville (Florida) where he was employed as a collector for a furniture company.
-Body Found-
His body was found some distance from the Folkston-Kingsland highway, in Camden county, partially covered with bushes on March 6th, and when it could not be identified was buried near the spot where it was found.
There was every indication that the victim had been knocked in the head with a heavy instrument. Most of the clothing had been removed from the body.
When newspapers carried the information that an unidentified body had been found near Kingsland, relatives of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th, made inquiries. Last Sunday, March 12th, the body was positively identifed by his wife and members of his family, and was brought back to Pierce county for internment, his teeth, clothing and general features being the marks of identity.
-Case Launched-
Crews' wife came to Waycross from Jacksonville and appealed to local authorities to help find the slayer of her husband, and Sheriff Henry J. Sweat assigned Deputies Stephens and Bennett to the case.
The two officers went to Blackshear, Crews' former home, where he had last been seen on Sunday, February 12th, and made inquiries as to the object of his visit there.
It was learned that Crews had come to Blackshear to bring back a brother who had visited him in Jacksonville. He left Sunday afternoon for the return trip to Jacksonville, carrying with him a bucket of lard, a bucket of syrup and several pieces of home cured meat, according to the Crews' family. He was last seen in Blackshear on that late Sunday afternoon.
With this information in mind the two officers recalled that on that very Sunday afternoon, February 12th, they had gone to a tourist camp several miles found of Waycross to investigate a particular matter, and that they had observed a restless attitude on the part of "Hopps" Dowling.
Dowling approached Deputy Stephens and gave him a phoney tip concerning a liquor car that was to come through that night, and then drove off in a car.
-Got License Number-
"We took his license number as he drove off, as I felt certain he was up to something", Stephens states, describing the handling of the case.
The two officers, discovering that night that the liquor tip was off color, were at a loss to explain Dowling's actions.
The next day the sheriff's office was asked to investigate the stealing of a quantity of meat, and they immediately went to the home of Mrs. "Deal" Scurry, where they knew Dowling spent a great deal of time, thinking perhaps Dowling had stolen the meat and secreted it there.
A small quantity of meat was found in the house but none of it bore the marks which were given to distinguish the stolen property.
-Piecing It Together-
Informed by the Crews family that Hart Crews had carried several pieces of cured meat with him when he set out for Jacksonville, both officers remembered having seen the meat in the Scurry woman's home, and their wits began working. They had seen two buckets, answering the description of those carried off by Hart Crews.
They went back to Mrs. Scurry's, found that the meat had been disposed of, but were able to get the two buckets.
The meat and the buckets, one containing syrup and the other lard, had been brought there by "Hopps" Dowling and Willbert Steedley, early Sunday night, February 12th, the Scurry woman admitted.
The bucket was carried back to Blackshear, and positively identified as that carried from the Pierce county home by Hart Crews. It bore a pin scratched world "Ferl", the first name of Crews' sister-in-law, by whom the lard had been given to Crews.
-Car Identified-
Further investigation revealed that the car in which Dowling had left the tourist camp, after giving the phoney liquor tip, was Crews' automobile.
Further information regarding the case is in the possession of officers, showing that Crews was murdered on the Folkston-Kingsland road early Monday morning, following the scene between Dowling and the officers near here late Sunday.
Dowling and Steedley were arrested at Ludowici (Long Co, GA) on Monday, February 14th, charged with driving an automobile under the influence of liquor. They were acquitted.
Officers at Ludowici informed local authorities the two men were using the car which answers the description of that stolen from Crews.
-Steedley Comes Home-
Dowling was last seen in Ludowici, and it is not known whether he returned to Waycross. Steedley came back to Waycross after being released from jail, and was arrested here early Monday morning, March 13th.
Dowling has a criminal record in several South Georgia counties, having served on several chaingang terms for cow stealing and other offenses. He also is accredited with a jail break in Wayne county (GA).
He is described as a dark man, about 5 feet 8 1/2 or 9 inches tall, weighing about 165 or 170 pounds, brown eyes, dark hair, walks erect and square shoulders.
The details of the case have been kept secret as far as possible until after the arrest of Steedley, the entire case having been handled under the supervision of Deputies Stephens and Bennett.
The precision and astuteness with which the evidence has been pieced together is regarded as one of the "smartest pieces of work" ever shown in criminal detection in the state.
Issue: September 22, 1934, Saturday, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING ARRESTED FOLLOWING LONG MANHUNT
-Wanted Here on Murder Charge, Held In Mobile-
Knowles "Hopps" Dowling, fugitive from Ware county, wanted on a charge of murder, --?-- today in Mobile (Alabama), --?-- being held for lo--?-- after being positively identified.
Dowling is wanted in connection with the brutal slaying of Hart Crews of Blackshear and Jacksonville, Florida, whose partially decomposed body was found in the woods of Camden county (Georgia) on March 6, 1933.
He was arrested on information furnished Mobile authorities by Sheriff Henry J. Sweat of Waycross, whose office has been constantly searching for Dowling for more than a year and a half.
He is wanted here for investigation in other crimes.
Sheriff Sweat is negotiating with Alabama authorities over the return of Dowling to Waycross.
The arrest follows a manhunt that has extended over several states, and reflects the highest credit on the sheriffs office here.
There is no doubt in the mind of Sheriff Sweat that the man held in Mobile is Dowling.
Issue: September ??, 1934, ??, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING RETURNED TODAY
-Alleged Murderer Brought Back From Mobile-
Knowles Dowling, alias Hopps Dowling, alias Frank Moore, was lodged in the Ware county jail here today, to be held for trial in connection with the brutal murder of Hart Crews, which occurred near here last February.
Dowling, arrested in Mobile Friday, came back to Georgia without an extradition fight, but he insists he knows nothing about the slaying of Crews. He denies that he knows Wilbert Steedley, Ware county farmer, who already has been convicted and is serving a life sentence, and who named Dowling as the actual perpetrator of the crime.
Dowling disappeared immediately after Crews' decomposed body was found in the woods near Kingsland, Ga., and since that time has been a fugitive. He has been in Mobile, to the knowledge of local officers, since January, going under the name of Frank Moore, and spent a month and a half in a Mobile hospital. He went to Mobile from Florida.
He was returned to Waycross today by Deputy Sheriff O. M. Cross of Ware county, and Deputies Godley and Moore of Camden county, who made the trip to Mobile and return by automobile. The round trip required slightly more than twenty-four hours.
-Spectacular Case-
The arrest of Dowling, brings a significant development in one of the most spectacular murder cases in recent South Georgia history.
Wilbert Steedley of Waycross is serving a life sentence in connection with the murder, having been convicted some months ago at Woodbine in Camden County. He told the court that Dowling actually committed the murder.
Dowling disappeared, immediately after the finding of Crews' body in the woods near Kingsland, and although Sheriff Sweat and deputies have conducted a relentless manhunt, the Ware countian has evaded arrest for some eighteen months.
He was arrested at Mobile on information furnished by Sheriff Sweat's office.
Crews' body was found partially decomposed and sparsely clad, on March 6, 1933. He was not identified at that time and was buried in a pauper's grave. It was indicated that the man had been hit in the head with a heavy instrument.
-Investigation-
News stories on the finding of the unidentified body, led to an investigation by the famiy of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th. The body was exhumed, and was identified as that of Crews.
It developed that Crews, a resident of Jacksonville (Florida), had been on a visit to his former home in Blackshear and was returning to Jacksonville by automobile when he disappeared.
A thorough invistigation, the full details of which have not been revealed, led to the swearing out of warrants for Hopps Dowling and Steedley. Steedley was arrested several days later, but Dowling who has a criminal record in Waycross and Ware county, made his escape.
Dowling has been traced thru several states, and on several occasions has barely slipped through the hands of the law.
He lived several miles south of Waycross on the Jacksonville highway, where his family still resides.
-END-
Spouse: Wannie Lee SWEAT
Married: 25 JUL 1915 Pierce Co, GA
---
Waycross Journal-Herald
Waycross, Ware County, Georgia
Transcribed & donated by: Pamela D. Hudson
Issue: March 8, 1933
NEWS BRIEFS
-Man's Body Unidentified-
The body of an unidentified man, in his underclothes, with evidence of having met foul play, was found near the Folkston-Kingsland road, seven miles west of Kingsland, late Monday. The skull was fractured, and the body indicated it had been hidden in the underbrush several weeks. No progress was made yet.
Issue: March 16, 1933, Thursday
REVOLTING MURDER PLOT UNCOVERED TODAY
-Hart Crews Met A Gruesome Death-
-Wilbert Steedley Arrested In Ware. "Hopps" Dowling Sought-
Piecing together fragmentary evidence that at first was unimpressive but over a period of several weeks has grown steadily more damaging in its nature, Deputies Cy Stephens and Jim Bennett of Ware county have unearthed one of the most brutal slayings in the criminal annals of South Georgia, the details of which are revealed here today in connection with the announcement of the arrest of Wilbert Steedley, in connection with the murder of Hart Crews, who's partially decomposed and sparsely clad body was found in the woods near Kingsland on March 6.
Authorities are seeking "Hopps" Dowling alias Knowles Douglas, who is believed by local authorities, to have been the leading spirit in the murder plot.
Both Steedley and Dowling are residents of Ware county.
Steedley has been delivered to Sheriff J. B. Godley of Camden county, in which county the crime is alleged to have been committed during the early morning of February 13th, and meanwhile the investigation is being pushed here, and a widespread search is being conducted for Dowling.
Hart Crews, the victim, formerly lived in Pierce county, near Blackshear, but recently had made his home in Jacksonville (Florida) where he was employed as a collector for a furniture company.
-Body Found-
His body was found some distance from the Folkston-Kingsland highway, in Camden county, partially covered with bushes on March 6th, and when it could not be identified was buried near the spot where it was found.
There was every indication that the victim had been knocked in the head with a heavy instrument. Most of the clothing had been removed from the body.
When newspapers carried the information that an unidentified body had been found near Kingsland, relatives of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th, made inquiries. Last Sunday, March 12th, the body was positively identifed by his wife and members of his family, and was brought back to Pierce county for internment, his teeth, clothing and general features being the marks of identity.
-Case Launched-
Crews' wife came to Waycross from Jacksonville and appealed to local authorities to help find the slayer of her husband, and Sheriff Henry J. Sweat assigned Deputies Stephens and Bennett to the case.
The two officers went to Blackshear, Crews' former home, where he had last been seen on Sunday, February 12th, and made inquiries as to the object of his visit there.
It was learned that Crews had come to Blackshear to bring back a brother who had visited him in Jacksonville. He left Sunday afternoon for the return trip to Jacksonville, carrying with him a bucket of lard, a bucket of syrup and several pieces of home cured meat, according to the Crews' family. He was last seen in Blackshear on that late Sunday afternoon.
With this information in mind the two officers recalled that on that very Sunday afternoon, February 12th, they had gone to a tourist camp several miles found of Waycross to investigate a particular matter, and that they had observed a restless attitude on the part of "Hopps" Dowling.
Dowling approached Deputy Stephens and gave him a phoney tip concerning a liquor car that was to come through that night, and then drove off in a car.
-Got License Number-
"We took his license number as he drove off, as I felt certain he was up to something", Stephens states, describing the handling of the case.
The two officers, discovering that night that the liquor tip was off color, were at a loss to explain Dowling's actions.
The next day the sheriff's office was asked to investigate the stealing of a quantity of meat, and they immediately went to the home of Mrs. "Deal" Scurry, where they knew Dowling spent a great deal of time, thinking perhaps Dowling had stolen the meat and secreted it there.
A small quantity of meat was found in the house but none of it bore the marks which were given to distinguish the stolen property.
-Piecing It Together-
Informed by the Crews family that Hart Crews had carried several pieces of cured meat with him when he set out for Jacksonville, both officers remembered having seen the meat in the Scurry woman's home, and their wits began working. They had seen two buckets, answering the description of those carried off by Hart Crews.
They went back to Mrs. Scurry's, found that the meat had been disposed of, but were able to get the two buckets.
The meat and the buckets, one containing syrup and the other lard, had been brought there by "Hopps" Dowling and Willbert Steedley, early Sunday night, February 12th, the Scurry woman admitted.
The bucket was carried back to Blackshear, and positively identified as that carried from the Pierce county home by Hart Crews. It bore a pin scratched world "Ferl", the first name of Crews' sister-in-law, by whom the lard had been given to Crews.
-Car Identified-
Further investigation revealed that the car in which Dowling had left the tourist camp, after giving the phoney liquor tip, was Crews' automobile.
Further information regarding the case is in the possession of officers, showing that Crews was murdered on the Folkston-Kingsland road early Monday morning, following the scene between Dowling and the officers near here late Sunday.
Dowling and Steedley were arrested at Ludowici (Long Co, GA) on Monday, February 14th, charged with driving an automobile under the influence of liquor. They were acquitted.
Officers at Ludowici informed local authorities the two men were using the car which answers the description of that stolen from Crews.
-Steedley Comes Home-
Dowling was last seen in Ludowici, and it is not known whether he returned to Waycross. Steedley came back to Waycross after being released from jail, and was arrested here early Monday morning, March 13th.
Dowling has a criminal record in several South Georgia counties, having served on several chaingang terms for cow stealing and other offenses. He also is accredited with a jail break in Wayne county (GA).
He is described as a dark man, about 5 feet 8 1/2 or 9 inches tall, weighing about 165 or 170 pounds, brown eyes, dark hair, walks erect and square shoulders.
The details of the case have been kept secret as far as possible until after the arrest of Steedley, the entire case having been handled under the supervision of Deputies Stephens and Bennett.
The precision and astuteness with which the evidence has been pieced together is regarded as one of the "smartest pieces of work" ever shown in criminal detection in the state.
Issue: September 22, 1934, Saturday, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING ARRESTED FOLLOWING LONG MANHUNT
-Wanted Here on Murder Charge, Held In Mobile-
Knowles "Hopps" Dowling, fugitive from Ware county, wanted on a charge of murder, --?-- today in Mobile (Alabama), --?-- being held for lo--?-- after being positively identified.
Dowling is wanted in connection with the brutal slaying of Hart Crews of Blackshear and Jacksonville, Florida, whose partially decomposed body was found in the woods of Camden county (Georgia) on March 6, 1933.
He was arrested on information furnished Mobile authorities by Sheriff Henry J. Sweat of Waycross, whose office has been constantly searching for Dowling for more than a year and a half.
He is wanted here for investigation in other crimes.
Sheriff Sweat is negotiating with Alabama authorities over the return of Dowling to Waycross.
The arrest follows a manhunt that has extended over several states, and reflects the highest credit on the sheriffs office here.
There is no doubt in the mind of Sheriff Sweat that the man held in Mobile is Dowling.
Issue: September ??, 1934, ??, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING RETURNED TODAY
-Alleged Murderer Brought Back From Mobile-
Knowles Dowling, alias Hopps Dowling, alias Frank Moore, was lodged in the Ware county jail here today, to be held for trial in connection with the brutal murder of Hart Crews, which occurred near here last February.
Dowling, arrested in Mobile Friday, came back to Georgia without an extradition fight, but he insists he knows nothing about the slaying of Crews. He denies that he knows Wilbert Steedley, Ware county farmer, who already has been convicted and is serving a life sentence, and who named Dowling as the actual perpetrator of the crime.
Dowling disappeared immediately after Crews' decomposed body was found in the woods near Kingsland, Ga., and since that time has been a fugitive. He has been in Mobile, to the knowledge of local officers, since January, going under the name of Frank Moore, and spent a month and a half in a Mobile hospital. He went to Mobile from Florida.
He was returned to Waycross today by Deputy Sheriff O. M. Cross of Ware county, and Deputies Godley and Moore of Camden county, who made the trip to Mobile and return by automobile. The round trip required slightly more than twenty-four hours.
-Spectacular Case-
The arrest of Dowling, brings a significant development in one of the most spectacular murder cases in recent South Georgia history.
Wilbert Steedley of Waycross is serving a life sentence in connection with the murder, having been convicted some months ago at Woodbine in Camden County. He told the court that Dowling actually committed the murder.
Dowling disappeared, immediately after the finding of Crews' body in the woods near Kingsland, and although Sheriff Sweat and deputies have conducted a relentless manhunt, the Ware countian has evaded arrest for some eighteen months.
He was arrested at Mobile on information furnished by Sheriff Sweat's office.
Crews' body was found partially decomposed and sparsely clad, on March 6, 1933. He was not identified at that time and was buried in a pauper's grave. It was indicated that the man had been hit in the head with a heavy instrument.
-Investigation-
News stories on the finding of the unidentified body, led to an investigation by the famiy of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th. The body was exhumed, and was identified as that of Crews.
It developed that Crews, a resident of Jacksonville (Florida), had been on a visit to his former home in Blackshear and was returning to Jacksonville by automobile when he disappeared.
A thorough invistigation, the full details of which have not been revealed, led to the swearing out of warrants for Hopps Dowling and Steedley. Steedley was arrested several days later, but Dowling who has a criminal record in Waycross and Ware county, made his escape.
Dowling has been traced thru several states, and on several occasions has barely slipped through the hands of the law.
He lived several miles south of Waycross on the Jacksonville highway, where his family still resides.
-END-
Berry was living in Jacksonville, Florida, but was murdered enroute in Camden County, Georgia. Murdered by Knowles "Hopps" DOWLING and Wilbert M. STEEDLEY.
Spouse: Wannie Lee SWEAT
Married: 25 JUL 1915 Pierce Co, GA
---
Waycross Journal-Herald
Waycross, Ware County, Georgia
Transcribed & donated by: Pamela D. Hudson
Issue: March 8, 1933
NEWS BRIEFS
-Man's Body Unidentified-
The body of an unidentified man, in his underclothes, with evidence of having met foul play, was found near the Folkston-Kingsland road, seven miles west of Kingsland, late Monday. The skull was fractured, and the body indicated it had been hidden in the underbrush several weeks. No progress was made yet.
Issue: March 16, 1933, Thursday
REVOLTING MURDER PLOT UNCOVERED TODAY
-Hart Crews Met A Gruesome Death-
-Wilbert Steedley Arrested In Ware. "Hopps" Dowling Sought-
Piecing together fragmentary evidence that at first was unimpressive but over a period of several weeks has grown steadily more damaging in its nature, Deputies Cy Stephens and Jim Bennett of Ware county have unearthed one of the most brutal slayings in the criminal annals of South Georgia, the details of which are revealed here today in connection with the announcement of the arrest of Wilbert Steedley, in connection with the murder of Hart Crews, who's partially decomposed and sparsely clad body was found in the woods near Kingsland on March 6.
Authorities are seeking "Hopps" Dowling alias Knowles Douglas, who is believed by local authorities, to have been the leading spirit in the murder plot.
Both Steedley and Dowling are residents of Ware county.
Steedley has been delivered to Sheriff J. B. Godley of Camden county, in which county the crime is alleged to have been committed during the early morning of February 13th, and meanwhile the investigation is being pushed here, and a widespread search is being conducted for Dowling.
Hart Crews, the victim, formerly lived in Pierce county, near Blackshear, but recently had made his home in Jacksonville (Florida) where he was employed as a collector for a furniture company.
-Body Found-
His body was found some distance from the Folkston-Kingsland highway, in Camden county, partially covered with bushes on March 6th, and when it could not be identified was buried near the spot where it was found.
There was every indication that the victim had been knocked in the head with a heavy instrument. Most of the clothing had been removed from the body.
When newspapers carried the information that an unidentified body had been found near Kingsland, relatives of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th, made inquiries. Last Sunday, March 12th, the body was positively identifed by his wife and members of his family, and was brought back to Pierce county for internment, his teeth, clothing and general features being the marks of identity.
-Case Launched-
Crews' wife came to Waycross from Jacksonville and appealed to local authorities to help find the slayer of her husband, and Sheriff Henry J. Sweat assigned Deputies Stephens and Bennett to the case.
The two officers went to Blackshear, Crews' former home, where he had last been seen on Sunday, February 12th, and made inquiries as to the object of his visit there.
It was learned that Crews had come to Blackshear to bring back a brother who had visited him in Jacksonville. He left Sunday afternoon for the return trip to Jacksonville, carrying with him a bucket of lard, a bucket of syrup and several pieces of home cured meat, according to the Crews' family. He was last seen in Blackshear on that late Sunday afternoon.
With this information in mind the two officers recalled that on that very Sunday afternoon, February 12th, they had gone to a tourist camp several miles found of Waycross to investigate a particular matter, and that they had observed a restless attitude on the part of "Hopps" Dowling.
Dowling approached Deputy Stephens and gave him a phoney tip concerning a liquor car that was to come through that night, and then drove off in a car.
-Got License Number-
"We took his license number as he drove off, as I felt certain he was up to something", Stephens states, describing the handling of the case.
The two officers, discovering that night that the liquor tip was off color, were at a loss to explain Dowling's actions.
The next day the sheriff's office was asked to investigate the stealing of a quantity of meat, and they immediately went to the home of Mrs. "Deal" Scurry, where they knew Dowling spent a great deal of time, thinking perhaps Dowling had stolen the meat and secreted it there.
A small quantity of meat was found in the house but none of it bore the marks which were given to distinguish the stolen property.
-Piecing It Together-
Informed by the Crews family that Hart Crews had carried several pieces of cured meat with him when he set out for Jacksonville, both officers remembered having seen the meat in the Scurry woman's home, and their wits began working. They had seen two buckets, answering the description of those carried off by Hart Crews.
They went back to Mrs. Scurry's, found that the meat had been disposed of, but were able to get the two buckets.
The meat and the buckets, one containing syrup and the other lard, had been brought there by "Hopps" Dowling and Willbert Steedley, early Sunday night, February 12th, the Scurry woman admitted.
The bucket was carried back to Blackshear, and positively identified as that carried from the Pierce county home by Hart Crews. It bore a pin scratched world "Ferl", the first name of Crews' sister-in-law, by whom the lard had been given to Crews.
-Car Identified-
Further investigation revealed that the car in which Dowling had left the tourist camp, after giving the phoney liquor tip, was Crews' automobile.
Further information regarding the case is in the possession of officers, showing that Crews was murdered on the Folkston-Kingsland road early Monday morning, following the scene between Dowling and the officers near here late Sunday.
Dowling and Steedley were arrested at Ludowici (Long Co, GA) on Monday, February 14th, charged with driving an automobile under the influence of liquor. They were acquitted.
Officers at Ludowici informed local authorities the two men were using the car which answers the description of that stolen from Crews.
-Steedley Comes Home-
Dowling was last seen in Ludowici, and it is not known whether he returned to Waycross. Steedley came back to Waycross after being released from jail, and was arrested here early Monday morning, March 13th.
Dowling has a criminal record in several South Georgia counties, having served on several chaingang terms for cow stealing and other offenses. He also is accredited with a jail break in Wayne county (GA).
He is described as a dark man, about 5 feet 8 1/2 or 9 inches tall, weighing about 165 or 170 pounds, brown eyes, dark hair, walks erect and square shoulders.
The details of the case have been kept secret as far as possible until after the arrest of Steedley, the entire case having been handled under the supervision of Deputies Stephens and Bennett.
The precision and astuteness with which the evidence has been pieced together is regarded as one of the "smartest pieces of work" ever shown in criminal detection in the state.
Issue: September 22, 1934, Saturday, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING ARRESTED FOLLOWING LONG MANHUNT
-Wanted Here on Murder Charge, Held In Mobile-
Knowles "Hopps" Dowling, fugitive from Ware county, wanted on a charge of murder, --?-- today in Mobile (Alabama), --?-- being held for lo--?-- after being positively identified.
Dowling is wanted in connection with the brutal slaying of Hart Crews of Blackshear and Jacksonville, Florida, whose partially decomposed body was found in the woods of Camden county (Georgia) on March 6, 1933.
He was arrested on information furnished Mobile authorities by Sheriff Henry J. Sweat of Waycross, whose office has been constantly searching for Dowling for more than a year and a half.
He is wanted here for investigation in other crimes.
Sheriff Sweat is negotiating with Alabama authorities over the return of Dowling to Waycross.
The arrest follows a manhunt that has extended over several states, and reflects the highest credit on the sheriffs office here.
There is no doubt in the mind of Sheriff Sweat that the man held in Mobile is Dowling.
Issue: September ??, 1934, ??, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING RETURNED TODAY
-Alleged Murderer Brought Back From Mobile-
Knowles Dowling, alias Hopps Dowling, alias Frank Moore, was lodged in the Ware county jail here today, to be held for trial in connection with the brutal murder of Hart Crews, which occurred near here last February.
Dowling, arrested in Mobile Friday, came back to Georgia without an extradition fight, but he insists he knows nothing about the slaying of Crews. He denies that he knows Wilbert Steedley, Ware county farmer, who already has been convicted and is serving a life sentence, and who named Dowling as the actual perpetrator of the crime.
Dowling disappeared immediately after Crews' decomposed body was found in the woods near Kingsland, Ga., and since that time has been a fugitive. He has been in Mobile, to the knowledge of local officers, since January, going under the name of Frank Moore, and spent a month and a half in a Mobile hospital. He went to Mobile from Florida.
He was returned to Waycross today by Deputy Sheriff O. M. Cross of Ware county, and Deputies Godley and Moore of Camden county, who made the trip to Mobile and return by automobile. The round trip required slightly more than twenty-four hours.
-Spectacular Case-
The arrest of Dowling, brings a significant development in one of the most spectacular murder cases in recent South Georgia history.
Wilbert Steedley of Waycross is serving a life sentence in connection with the murder, having been convicted some months ago at Woodbine in Camden County. He told the court that Dowling actually committed the murder.
Dowling disappeared, immediately after the finding of Crews' body in the woods near Kingsland, and although Sheriff Sweat and deputies have conducted a relentless manhunt, the Ware countian has evaded arrest for some eighteen months.
He was arrested at Mobile on information furnished by Sheriff Sweat's office.
Crews' body was found partially decomposed and sparsely clad, on March 6, 1933. He was not identified at that time and was buried in a pauper's grave. It was indicated that the man had been hit in the head with a heavy instrument.
-Investigation-
News stories on the finding of the unidentified body, led to an investigation by the famiy of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th. The body was exhumed, and was identified as that of Crews.
It developed that Crews, a resident of Jacksonville (Florida), had been on a visit to his former home in Blackshear and was returning to Jacksonville by automobile when he disappeared.
A thorough invistigation, the full details of which have not been revealed, led to the swearing out of warrants for Hopps Dowling and Steedley. Steedley was arrested several days later, but Dowling who has a criminal record in Waycross and Ware county, made his escape.
Dowling has been traced thru several states, and on several occasions has barely slipped through the hands of the law.
He lived several miles south of Waycross on the Jacksonville highway, where his family still resides.
-END-
Spouse: Wannie Lee SWEAT
Married: 25 JUL 1915 Pierce Co, GA
---
Waycross Journal-Herald
Waycross, Ware County, Georgia
Transcribed & donated by: Pamela D. Hudson
Issue: March 8, 1933
NEWS BRIEFS
-Man's Body Unidentified-
The body of an unidentified man, in his underclothes, with evidence of having met foul play, was found near the Folkston-Kingsland road, seven miles west of Kingsland, late Monday. The skull was fractured, and the body indicated it had been hidden in the underbrush several weeks. No progress was made yet.
Issue: March 16, 1933, Thursday
REVOLTING MURDER PLOT UNCOVERED TODAY
-Hart Crews Met A Gruesome Death-
-Wilbert Steedley Arrested In Ware. "Hopps" Dowling Sought-
Piecing together fragmentary evidence that at first was unimpressive but over a period of several weeks has grown steadily more damaging in its nature, Deputies Cy Stephens and Jim Bennett of Ware county have unearthed one of the most brutal slayings in the criminal annals of South Georgia, the details of which are revealed here today in connection with the announcement of the arrest of Wilbert Steedley, in connection with the murder of Hart Crews, who's partially decomposed and sparsely clad body was found in the woods near Kingsland on March 6.
Authorities are seeking "Hopps" Dowling alias Knowles Douglas, who is believed by local authorities, to have been the leading spirit in the murder plot.
Both Steedley and Dowling are residents of Ware county.
Steedley has been delivered to Sheriff J. B. Godley of Camden county, in which county the crime is alleged to have been committed during the early morning of February 13th, and meanwhile the investigation is being pushed here, and a widespread search is being conducted for Dowling.
Hart Crews, the victim, formerly lived in Pierce county, near Blackshear, but recently had made his home in Jacksonville (Florida) where he was employed as a collector for a furniture company.
-Body Found-
His body was found some distance from the Folkston-Kingsland highway, in Camden county, partially covered with bushes on March 6th, and when it could not be identified was buried near the spot where it was found.
There was every indication that the victim had been knocked in the head with a heavy instrument. Most of the clothing had been removed from the body.
When newspapers carried the information that an unidentified body had been found near Kingsland, relatives of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th, made inquiries. Last Sunday, March 12th, the body was positively identifed by his wife and members of his family, and was brought back to Pierce county for internment, his teeth, clothing and general features being the marks of identity.
-Case Launched-
Crews' wife came to Waycross from Jacksonville and appealed to local authorities to help find the slayer of her husband, and Sheriff Henry J. Sweat assigned Deputies Stephens and Bennett to the case.
The two officers went to Blackshear, Crews' former home, where he had last been seen on Sunday, February 12th, and made inquiries as to the object of his visit there.
It was learned that Crews had come to Blackshear to bring back a brother who had visited him in Jacksonville. He left Sunday afternoon for the return trip to Jacksonville, carrying with him a bucket of lard, a bucket of syrup and several pieces of home cured meat, according to the Crews' family. He was last seen in Blackshear on that late Sunday afternoon.
With this information in mind the two officers recalled that on that very Sunday afternoon, February 12th, they had gone to a tourist camp several miles found of Waycross to investigate a particular matter, and that they had observed a restless attitude on the part of "Hopps" Dowling.
Dowling approached Deputy Stephens and gave him a phoney tip concerning a liquor car that was to come through that night, and then drove off in a car.
-Got License Number-
"We took his license number as he drove off, as I felt certain he was up to something", Stephens states, describing the handling of the case.
The two officers, discovering that night that the liquor tip was off color, were at a loss to explain Dowling's actions.
The next day the sheriff's office was asked to investigate the stealing of a quantity of meat, and they immediately went to the home of Mrs. "Deal" Scurry, where they knew Dowling spent a great deal of time, thinking perhaps Dowling had stolen the meat and secreted it there.
A small quantity of meat was found in the house but none of it bore the marks which were given to distinguish the stolen property.
-Piecing It Together-
Informed by the Crews family that Hart Crews had carried several pieces of cured meat with him when he set out for Jacksonville, both officers remembered having seen the meat in the Scurry woman's home, and their wits began working. They had seen two buckets, answering the description of those carried off by Hart Crews.
They went back to Mrs. Scurry's, found that the meat had been disposed of, but were able to get the two buckets.
The meat and the buckets, one containing syrup and the other lard, had been brought there by "Hopps" Dowling and Willbert Steedley, early Sunday night, February 12th, the Scurry woman admitted.
The bucket was carried back to Blackshear, and positively identified as that carried from the Pierce county home by Hart Crews. It bore a pin scratched world "Ferl", the first name of Crews' sister-in-law, by whom the lard had been given to Crews.
-Car Identified-
Further investigation revealed that the car in which Dowling had left the tourist camp, after giving the phoney liquor tip, was Crews' automobile.
Further information regarding the case is in the possession of officers, showing that Crews was murdered on the Folkston-Kingsland road early Monday morning, following the scene between Dowling and the officers near here late Sunday.
Dowling and Steedley were arrested at Ludowici (Long Co, GA) on Monday, February 14th, charged with driving an automobile under the influence of liquor. They were acquitted.
Officers at Ludowici informed local authorities the two men were using the car which answers the description of that stolen from Crews.
-Steedley Comes Home-
Dowling was last seen in Ludowici, and it is not known whether he returned to Waycross. Steedley came back to Waycross after being released from jail, and was arrested here early Monday morning, March 13th.
Dowling has a criminal record in several South Georgia counties, having served on several chaingang terms for cow stealing and other offenses. He also is accredited with a jail break in Wayne county (GA).
He is described as a dark man, about 5 feet 8 1/2 or 9 inches tall, weighing about 165 or 170 pounds, brown eyes, dark hair, walks erect and square shoulders.
The details of the case have been kept secret as far as possible until after the arrest of Steedley, the entire case having been handled under the supervision of Deputies Stephens and Bennett.
The precision and astuteness with which the evidence has been pieced together is regarded as one of the "smartest pieces of work" ever shown in criminal detection in the state.
Issue: September 22, 1934, Saturday, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING ARRESTED FOLLOWING LONG MANHUNT
-Wanted Here on Murder Charge, Held In Mobile-
Knowles "Hopps" Dowling, fugitive from Ware county, wanted on a charge of murder, --?-- today in Mobile (Alabama), --?-- being held for lo--?-- after being positively identified.
Dowling is wanted in connection with the brutal slaying of Hart Crews of Blackshear and Jacksonville, Florida, whose partially decomposed body was found in the woods of Camden county (Georgia) on March 6, 1933.
He was arrested on information furnished Mobile authorities by Sheriff Henry J. Sweat of Waycross, whose office has been constantly searching for Dowling for more than a year and a half.
He is wanted here for investigation in other crimes.
Sheriff Sweat is negotiating with Alabama authorities over the return of Dowling to Waycross.
The arrest follows a manhunt that has extended over several states, and reflects the highest credit on the sheriffs office here.
There is no doubt in the mind of Sheriff Sweat that the man held in Mobile is Dowling.
Issue: September ??, 1934, ??, p. 8
HOPPS DOWLING RETURNED TODAY
-Alleged Murderer Brought Back From Mobile-
Knowles Dowling, alias Hopps Dowling, alias Frank Moore, was lodged in the Ware county jail here today, to be held for trial in connection with the brutal murder of Hart Crews, which occurred near here last February.
Dowling, arrested in Mobile Friday, came back to Georgia without an extradition fight, but he insists he knows nothing about the slaying of Crews. He denies that he knows Wilbert Steedley, Ware county farmer, who already has been convicted and is serving a life sentence, and who named Dowling as the actual perpetrator of the crime.
Dowling disappeared immediately after Crews' decomposed body was found in the woods near Kingsland, Ga., and since that time has been a fugitive. He has been in Mobile, to the knowledge of local officers, since January, going under the name of Frank Moore, and spent a month and a half in a Mobile hospital. He went to Mobile from Florida.
He was returned to Waycross today by Deputy Sheriff O. M. Cross of Ware county, and Deputies Godley and Moore of Camden county, who made the trip to Mobile and return by automobile. The round trip required slightly more than twenty-four hours.
-Spectacular Case-
The arrest of Dowling, brings a significant development in one of the most spectacular murder cases in recent South Georgia history.
Wilbert Steedley of Waycross is serving a life sentence in connection with the murder, having been convicted some months ago at Woodbine in Camden County. He told the court that Dowling actually committed the murder.
Dowling disappeared, immediately after the finding of Crews' body in the woods near Kingsland, and although Sheriff Sweat and deputies have conducted a relentless manhunt, the Ware countian has evaded arrest for some eighteen months.
He was arrested at Mobile on information furnished by Sheriff Sweat's office.
Crews' body was found partially decomposed and sparsely clad, on March 6, 1933. He was not identified at that time and was buried in a pauper's grave. It was indicated that the man had been hit in the head with a heavy instrument.
-Investigation-
News stories on the finding of the unidentified body, led to an investigation by the famiy of Crews, who had been missing since February 12th. The body was exhumed, and was identified as that of Crews.
It developed that Crews, a resident of Jacksonville (Florida), had been on a visit to his former home in Blackshear and was returning to Jacksonville by automobile when he disappeared.
A thorough invistigation, the full details of which have not been revealed, led to the swearing out of warrants for Hopps Dowling and Steedley. Steedley was arrested several days later, but Dowling who has a criminal record in Waycross and Ware county, made his escape.
Dowling has been traced thru several states, and on several occasions has barely slipped through the hands of the law.
He lived several miles south of Waycross on the Jacksonville highway, where his family still resides.
-END-
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