, 1891-08-16
HE WANTED HER MONEY.
Sensation in the American
Colony in London.
Mrs. Walter Berkeley Crane
Appeals to the Courts
For the Annulment of Her
Marriage.

hoENboNs @huhs q" ANN NSe1'i $500
been occasioned in the American colony
here by an action brought by Mrs. Walter
Berkeley Crane, formerly Miss Alice
Cooper OF New York, but more recently
of Paris, who is seeking, in the divorce
division Of her maiesty's high court of
Justice, to procure the annulment of her
marriage. The case came up for a hear
ing today and quite a number of Ameri-
cans were present TO listen to the pc
titioner's story. The story OF the strange
wedding of the young couple was told in
court today by Sir Henry James, who ap.
peared for the petitioner.
He SAID that Mrs. Crane was born in
New York. Her father died many years
ago, and subsequent to his death, when
Miss Cooper was I years old, Mrs.
Cooper and her daughter went abroad
and resided at Pau. Here. Miss Cooper
for the first time met Mr.. Crane, who
was her cousin Mrs. Cooper, some time
after the death OF her first husband, mar
ried a gentleman named Seabright. 1t
was the custom of Mrs. Seabright and her
daughter to visit England quite fire.
luently. and it was during one of these
visits in 1883 that the marriage between
Miss Cooper aud MIR. Crane took place.
The first time hat Mr.. Crane proposed
marriage TO Miss Cooper she refused to
accept him as her husband. Mr.. Crane
then. without the knowledge of the pc
t%itiorer, obtained a special license, which
permitted any clergyman to perform the
marriage ceremony without the publica-
ton OF the banns. After having obtained
this license, he invited Miss Cooper to 90
with him to st Paul's cathedral, urging
as a pretext to induce her to go that he
desired she should hear the beautiful
musical service rendered there, and saY-
ing that she ought not to miss the oppor-
tunity TO listen to the music and singing.
He finally induced her to accompany him.
They took a cab aud started ostenslbly
for St. Paul's, but IN reality. though Miss
Cooper had no idea of it. for the church
of st. Brides on Fleet street. Shortly be-
fore they arrived at St. Brides Crane
drew a revolver aud told Miss Cooper that
unless she would agree to marry him
Immediately he would shoot himself.
Miss Cooper was in delicate health at the
time, and was overcome with fear that he
would carry his threat into execution.
Almost dazed by the conduct of her
escort, she, when the cab reached st.
Brides, allowed Crane to hurry her from
the conveyance and into the church. Here
a clergyman was found and Crane pro-
duced his special license. at the same time
asking the clergyman to marry him to the
lady who stood beside him. Miss Cooper
was so frightened that she made no pro-
test, but allowed the ceremony to proceed,
and in a few minutes the clergyman pro.
nounced them man and wife. Upon the
conclusion of the ceremony Mrs. Crane
returned to her mother. and the marriage
had never been consummated.
Mr.. Crane, apparently satisfied that BY
his marriage he would obtain control of
the money, which he believed his wife
possessed, returned to America shortly
after his marriage. Letters have passed
between Mrs. and Mr.. Crane since the
%latter's ARRIVAL in the United States, but
in them no mention il made of their
marriage.
Continuing, Sir Henry James SAID that
the citation in the present action had been
served upon the respondent in America.
He, Sir Henry, took the opportunity TO
condemn the manner in which the re
spondent and his father treated the matter.
They had expressed regret that the lady
was not as wealthy as they had supposed
she was and had demanded money, init
mating that if proceedings to annul the
marriage were not undertaken in England
steps would be taken in the United States
to set it aside.
The solicitor for Mrs. Crane testified
that he went to New York and saw Mr..
Crane, who is a clerk in a real estate Of
fee. After announcing his business to
the respondent, Mr.. Crane said: 81 went
into the marriage for money. | don't
care a damn cent Tor the girl. l thought
she had money, but afterwards found that
she had none. or at least very little"
The solicitor also testified that MIR.
Crane asked him for money on condition
hat he (Crane) would make no defense
in the action which Mrs. Crane would
bring in the English court.