The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-14
FORCED INTO MARRIAGE.
, WIFE OBTAINED AT THE PISTOLS
NOZZLE.

rbe remarkable Story of Mrs. Walter
Rerreley Crane, Who is Seeking a
n;vorce in England From Her New
York Husband.
From the NelU York Times.
LONDON, Aug. 11.-Much gossip has been
..,ssioned in the American colony here by
', action brought by Mrs Walter Berkeley
r,sae formerly Miss Alice Cooper of New
York but more recently of Paris, who is
..ekng in the divorce division Of her
o.iestys high court of justice to procure
,ba snnulment of her marriage The case
same up for q hearing to-day, ana quite
number of Americans were present in
,ba courtroom to listen to the details of
tbe petitioners story, which lacked nothing
oftbe romantic to make it extremely inter-
esiing.
1ouDg couple was told in court by Sir
Henry James, who appeared for the petit
tioner. He said that Mrs. Crane was born
IN New York Her father died many years
AGO aud subsequent to his death. when Miss
Cooper was years old, Mrs. Cooper and
ber 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, married a gentleman named
Seabright 1t was the custom of Mrs. Sea-
bright and her daughter to visit England
quite frequent, and it was during one of
these visits in 1888 that the marriage be-
tween Miss Cooper and Mr.. Crane took
place.
The first time that Mr.. Crane proposed
marriage to Miss Cooper she refused to &C
cept him as her husband. Mr.. Crane then.
without the knowledge of the petitioner,
obtained special license, which permi tied
any clergyman to perform the marriage
ceremony without the publication of the
bans. After having obtained the license he
invited Miss Cooper to go with him TO St.
Pau's cathedral, urging as a preteXt to in-
duce her to go that he desired that she
should hear the beautiful musical service
rendered there, aud saying that she ought
not to miss the opportunity to listen to the
music aud singing. He finally induced her
to accompany him. They took a cab and.
started, ostensibly for st. Pauls, but in
reality, though Miss Cooper had no idea of
it. for the Church of st. Brides in Fleet
street.
Shortly before they arrived at st. Brides
Crane drew a revolver from his pocket and
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 ex4
ecution. and, almost dazed by the conduct
Of her escort, she, when the carriage reached
81. Brides, allowed Crane to hurry her from
the conveyance into the church Here a
clergyman was found and Crane produced
bis special license, at the same time asking
Ia pi 20 lad
who stood beside him. Miss Cooper was SO
frightened that she made no protest, but
allowed the ceremony to proceed, and in
few minutes the clergyman pronounced
them man and wife. Upon the conclusion
of the ceremony Mrs. Crane returned to her
mother, and the marriage had never been
Mr.. Crane, apparently satisfied that by
bis marriage be would obtain control of the
money which he believed his wife possessed,
to America shortly after his mar
riage. Letters have passed between Mr..
and Mrs Crane since the latter's arrival in
the United States. but in them no mention
Is made Of their marriage.
Continuing, Sir Henry James said that
the citation In the present action had been
served upon the respondent in America.
tie. Sir Henry. took the opportunity to
condemn the matter In which the respondent
'hd MS father treated the matter. They
ad expressed regret that the lady was not
IS wealthy as they had supposed she was,
nd had demanded money, intimating that
proceedings to annul the marriage were
rot undertaken in England, steps would
% taken in the United States to set it
side.
The solicitor for Mrs. Crane testified that
ne went to New York and saw Mr.. Crane.
who is a clerk in q real estate office. After
his business to the respondent,
dr. Crane said: 81 went into it the mar
-iagel for her money. I had money, but
found that she had none, or at
least very little"
The solicitor also testified that Mr.. Crane
asked him for money on condition that he
ICranel would make no defense in the action
which Mrs. Crane would bring In the En-
glsh court. Judgment il the case will be
tomorrow.
FOR MENTAL DEPRE sSION.