 1853 - 1888 (34 years)
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| Name |
Robert Mason Crumpler |
| Birth |
3 Dec 1853 [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
19 Jun 1888 |
Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama  [1, 5, 6] |
| Burial |
Magnolia Cemetery, Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama [1, 7] |
| Notes |
- From Garth Matthews, History of American Crumplers (his ref J1.1-B4.4):
1880 [US Census] Living at parental home with siblings in Haw Ridge, Coffee
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| Person ID |
I602081873 |
Walsh - Wilson Family Tree |
| Last Modified |
15 Nov 2026 |
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| Event Map |
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 | Burial - - Magnolia Cemetery, Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama |
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| Documents
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 | Sheriff Penton Shoots and Kills a Man - Montgomery Advertiser, 22 Jun 1888
The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), Friday 22 June 1888, page 2. Sheriff John W. Penton shot R. E. Crumpler at Andalusia late on Monday 18 June 1888, after seizing Crumpler's mule team over a court judgment that Crumpler had appealed. Crumpler tried to take back the reins outside Prestwood's bar-room; Penton kicked him and shot him in the throat. (Image from Newspapers.com.) |
 | Inquest on R. E. Crumpler - Montgomery Advertiser, 27 Jun 1888
The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), Wednesday 27 June 1888, page 1. The coroner's jury found that R. E. Crumpler died "from a pistol shot in the hands of John W. Penton unlawfully on the 18th day of June, 1888." After the inquest his body was taken to the Methodist church for the funeral. Sheriff Penton, who had surrendered, was held for first-degree murder; on appeal the charge was reduced to second degree and he was released on $2,500 bail. (Image from Newspapers.com.) |
 | Penton convicted and caught near Chattanooga - Weekly Advertiser, 25 Apr 1889
The Weekly Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), Thursday 25 April 1889, page 10. At the Covington County Circuit Court, John Penton was tried for the murder of R. E. Crumpler. Out on bond, he fled while the jury deliberated; the verdict was murder in the first degree with life imprisonment. He was found and arrested near Chattanooga. (Image from Newspapers.com.) |
 | High-handed conduct of John Penton - Montgomery Advertiser, 18 Sep 1889
The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), Wednesday 18 September 1889, page 1. Penton, convicted of Crumpler's murder and escaped, rode into Andalusia with his kinsmen, built a bonfire in the street, took over a bar-room and caroused all night. No one tried to arrest him. (Image from Newspapers.com.) |
 | Was Game to the End - The Tennessean, Nashville, 11 May 1891
The Tennessean (Nashville), Monday 11 May 1891, page 1 ("An Alabama Desperado Dies With His Boots On"). A posse under Detective Cheatham of Montgomery arrested John W. Penton, the fugitive killer of R. E. Crumpler, at Milton, Florida. His friends opened fire; Penton ran in handcuffs and was shot dead. Four of the posse and Penton's brother were wounded. (Image from Newspapers.com.) |
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| Sources |
- [S90946] Garth Matthews, Matthews, History of American Crumplers, (Unpublished manuscript, sent to Craig Walsh 14 Nov 2026), Ref J1.1-B4.4, Chapter 4: John Crumpler Snr and the J1 John Jnr line.
- [S90950] The Weekly Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), (Newspapers.com), 25 Apr 1889, Weekly Advertiser, 25 Apr 1889, p. 10. Newspapers.com clipping: https://www.newspapers.com/article/210340202/ (Reliability: 3).
State vs. John Penton, for the murder of R. E. Crumpler, at the Covington County Circuit Court: Penton, out on bond, fled while the jury deliberated. The verdict was murder in the first degree with life imprisonment. He was later arrested near Chattanooga.
- [S90949] The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), (Newspapers.com), 18 Sep 1889, Montgomery Advertiser, 18 Sep 1889, p. 1. Newspapers.com clipping: https://www.newspapers.com/article/210340227/ (Reliability: 3).
Penton, "the ex-sheriff of the county, who was convicted at the last term of the court of the murder of Crumpler, and escaped," came into Andalusia with his kinsmen, built a bonfire in the street and caroused all night. No attempt was made to arrest him.
- [S90951] The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee), (Newspapers.com), 11 May 1891, The Tennessean, 11 May 1891, p. 1. Newspapers.com clipping: https://www.newspapers.com/article/210340271/ (Reliability: 3).
Detective Cheatham of Montgomery and a posse arrested John W. Penton, convicted of murder in Alabama and a fugitive, at Milton, Florida. Penton's friends opened fire; Penton ran in handcuffs and was shot dead. Four of the posse and Penton's brother H. C. Penton were wounded.
- [S90949] The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), (Newspapers.com), 22 Jun 1888, Montgomery Advertiser, 22 Jun 1888, p. 2. Newspapers.com clipping: https://www.newspapers.com/article/210340131/ (Reliability: 3).
Sheriff John W. Penton shot Mr. R. E. Crumpler late on Monday evening, 18 June 1888, at Andalusia. Penton was trying to collect the fine and costs of a Chancery judgment that Crumpler had appealed, and had levied on Crumpler's two-mule lumber wagon. When Crumpler tried to take back the reins in front of Prestwood's bar-room, Penton kicked him and then shot him in the throat.
- [S90949] The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), (Newspapers.com), 27 Jun 1888, Montgomery Advertiser, 27 Jun 1888, p. 1. Newspapers.com clipping: https://www.newspapers.com/article/210340176/ (Reliability: 3).
The coroner's jury found that R. E. Crumpler, lying dead at the residence of Mrs. Frank Smith in Andalusia, "came to his death from a pistol shot in the hands of John W. Penton unlawfully on the 18th day of June, 1888." His funeral was at the Methodist church. Justice M. V. Hare held Penton for first-degree murder; on appeal Probate Judge Malachi Riley reduced it to second degree and set bail at $2,500.
- [S4945] Find A Grave Website, (www.findagrave.com), Find a Grave memorial 18258455, Magnolia Cemetery, Andalusia: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18258455/robert-e-crumpler (Reliability: 3).
Memorial for "Robert E Crumpler", 3 Dec 1853 - 19 Jun 1888, with a transcription of the Southern Star (Ozark), 4 Jul 1888: "Robt. Crumpler a saloon keeper at Andalusia" was shot by Sheriff Penton, who claimed self-defence; eye-witnesses said Penton kicked him and shot him as he fell. Every newspaper report and the memorial give his middle initial as E., not M.
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