The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-02
the LATEST MURDER CASE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

From the Boston Traveller June 29l
In Tie Police Court this forenoon, before Judge
Laid. John Crane was arrested COR the murder of
his wife Ann, and by the request of y. j. Thomas
the counsel Tor the government, The case post
poned I'LL wednesday, when the examination viii
take place. The circumstances connected with this
AFFAIR are very curious and date back some i've
months. Al tlat tlme Joan Crane heavily IN
deot and was putting up a block Of buildings in
Cambridge ON which he wished to raise some money
for The purpose OF paying his creditors. lie sue
ceeded IN mortgaging his buildings 10 man in Bos.
ton named Symonds for $4,000. and received a
check for the amount on the 18th OF February last.
lie cashed The check, and after paying the premium
for insurance on his building and some small debts
went home lie afterwards stated that the On usp of h
hnfItlng home without paying hts other debts
the sickness Of his wife and his desire tina. she should
make VIII. soon after his arrival home he states
That he went 10 ms grocery store Brighton street.
Ola Cambridge. and deposited the money in box
which was n-ide his safe. lie locked both the box
and the safe, "a he thought securely He then re-
turned 10 Boston visited few places aud came
home at about ten or eleven O'Clock In the evening
Tie went ~ once 10 his store investigated and found
everything all right. Early the next morning when
the hoy opened the store he found The safe opened
lts Key upon the n0or the box which was insiIe of
the safe unlocked ami the money gone subsequently,
. lew collars were round wing ON the moor he.
hind the safe. Crane states that he had lost
the key 10 his safe some davs before lie
went Immediately after breakfast 10 Boston and
made an appointment to meet his counsel at nine
0'cOcA. Al hali.pasi nine O'Clock he began TO make
out Ms papers 10 go into bankruptcy, and at five
o.ciock the same day, without having notified his
creditors IN the meantime. he got an adjudication
IN bankruptcy. During an examination. which
occurred subsequently he told his creditors that he
had beeh robbed aud had no money with which to
paw his debts. and that some money which was
found M his wallet belonged 10 his wife and he had
borrowed II OF her lie also stated that his mother
had lett MS wife. 0s trustee for his children con.
siderable money and he had been IN the hab,t OF
borrowing or her from time 10 time. He also
said That his wife was accustomed TO he In.
toNitated. thinking that the wife would be an
important witness IN regard 10 the true ex.
PLANTATION or this case the counsel for the credi.
tors procured all order from Judge Lowell for
an examination OF Mrs. Crane on the 18th OF June.
The warrant was served 10y the United States Deputy
Marshal on the lsth and on the 10Th Mr. Crane came
into court with PHYSICIANS certificate that his wife
was unable TO leave her house. The examinatio ion
was accordingly post poned till the oath inst and on
sunday the 2lst II was reported that she had been
found dead. corOner's inquest was held and
post nortem examination showed that six ribs had
been broken and the liver badly lacerated. These
injuries. Ny. Crane said, were caused by her falling
Down 'talrs; hut II has been ascertained that the
STAIRS are so hcklf carpeted and padded that such
injuries would he almost impossible from fall their
entire length. lhc theory OF the government II that
crane cndcaNotpd 10 prevent her from being a wit
hesa m nc BANKRUPTCY case and ~ last resort vo
renee was committed. crane ~ slightly butt, gen
uenanN looking man. and does not in the least pre-
sent The appearance of rough lie Is very much
cNcHeo ana evidently feels his dangerous position.
NiNisTtR go l,t ssiA.-Thc Washington correspond
emf ~ the Boston fjrerfiSey mentions as o ruTnoi
thai General Banks is 10 be appointed Minister to
NNsYN .H- 49,.