by Linda Paris
It is Feb 24, 1922 and the newspaper headlines are full of scandal and violence:
“FRENCH BLUEBEARD TO PAY FOR CRIMES WITH GUILLOTINE!”
“WOMAN DRINKS POISON”
Mabel Normand, a famous Hollywood actress has “collapsed” as a result of the murder of William Desmond Taylor, a Hollywood director who was mysteriously murdered in his apartment on the evening of February 1st.
Holding it’s own amongst the many sad tales that were featured in the evening newspaper on that day are the headlines slated Waco, Texas:
“MAN IS SHOT DEAD BY GIRL IN COURT”
“GIRL KILLS MAN IN WACO COURT AS TRIAL OPENS”
“GIRL MURDERS MAN IN COURT”
The girl was Marcine Matthews and she was just 17 years old.
Two years earlier J. S. Crosslin had been convicted of criminally attacking Marcine, age 15 at the time. She became pregnant as a result of the assault and needed surgery to deliver the baby. The surgery destroyed her health and the pregnancy ruined her chance of getting an education.
Crosslin had been found guilty and sentenced to 9 years for the crime however, the verdict had been recently overturned due to a technicality and he was given a second trial.
Marcine Matthews was to testify in Crosslin’s second trial and when the day arrived, she walked into the courtroom, through the doors and directly towards the witness stand.
Marcine fumbled slightly, then turned around and aimed a gun directly at the defendant J.S. Croslin.
She walked quite calmly towards him and took careful aim at Crosslin shooting him, right there in the courtroom from approximately ten feet away. Then Marcine deliberately took several more steps towards him. This placed her within feet of her target and she shot him again.
Croslin attempted to rise in his chair when the first bullet hit him in the stomach. The second shot hit him in the right arm below the elbow. As he tried to turn away…the third shot entered his back under the right shoulder blade.
W.H. Forrester, the attorney for the girl managed to stop her just after the third shot. He took the weapon from her and carried her to a room in the sheriff’s office. She was locked in the room until the scene was under control.
Croslin was a former pastor and had moved to 6 different towns in Texas before settling in Waco where he had been involved in religion since 1892.
He then became involved in the Real Estate business and apparently did quite well for himself.
He was found guilty of assaulting the girl in her own home when he came by to collect rent. Since Marcine’s mother had died when she was a small child she was there alone.
After the shooting she was sent to the “Evangelina Home” in Waco and her bond was set at $4000.00. Soon, however, the townspeople rallied around her and her bond was quickly paid.
By March the 2nd, 100% public sympathy was in Marcine’s corner.
The headlines read:
“BRAVE YOUNG GIRL SHOOTS MAN ON TRIAL IN WACO COURT”
J.S. Croslin was 55 years old and survived by a wife, 2 sons, 2 daughters, 2 sisters and a brother. He had lived in Waco for 28 years.
When you read this story you are struck by the fact that this is one of those things that would never happen now. No one would be able to walk into a court house with a gun in their pocket.
Not today.
Apparently Marcine took the 25 caliber gun from home and hid it in her suitcase.
Apparently Marcine took the 25 caliber gun from home and hid it in her suitcase.
An attendant who was with her while she was getting dressed for court that day left the room, giving Marcine the opportunity to retrieve the gun. Her little brother, however, came into the room unexpectedly and interrupted her in the process of putting the gun in her right pocket. She was forced to put the gun in her left pocket instead.
Witnesses said that she had difficulty pulling the gun from her pocket and when she finally got it out she had to transfer it to her right hand before shooting.
Marcine later told the police that she worried about it being in her left hand pocket. Mrs. Murdock from the Evangeline Home stated that Marcine had held up “wonderfully” the entire time she had been there. and that she did not shed a tear.
Mrs. Murdock also stated:
“She told me that when she entered the courtroom all she could think of was to empty the gun.”
Interestingly, Marcine’s father, J. E. Matthews, was the proprietor of a gun range and that was where Marcine had learned to shoot.
She fired 3 shots at Croslin…all taking effect.
Marcine’s words tore at everyone’s hearts in the days following the shooting:
“He disgraced me, ruined my health and deprived me of school privileges.” she stated after the killing, “but he will never ruin another girl.”
On March 20th 1922, a Grand Jury adjourned without finding an indictment and Marcine was freed from all charges.
Interestingly, Marcine’s father, J. E. Matthews, was the proprietor of a gun range and that was where Marcine had learned to shoot.
She fired 3 shots at Croslin…all taking effect.
Marcine’s words tore at everyone’s hearts in the days following the shooting:
“He disgraced me, ruined my health and deprived me of school privileges.” she stated after the killing, “but he will never ruin another girl.”
On March 20th 1922, a Grand Jury adjourned without finding an indictment and Marcine was freed from all charges.
Paris Creative, LLC (copyright 2011, all rights reserved)
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