The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-22

Niagara. Crandall WAS confronted face Il
face in a Los Angeles street by his ole
f,iend and sohoolmate, William b. STREET.,
the treasurer Of Eric county, who had gone
to California for his health. Crandall got
away before the astonished tourist could
intercept him. A search was made. hut
G andall could not be found. Renewed in
terest was taken in finding Crandall. Fresh
rewards were offered. and this Pacific coast
Was strewn with photographs and circulars.
The hunted man remained in Los Angelo q.
and was not molested, il anybody there
had any idea that Bryant b. Wilson wts
Bryant B. Crandall.
Dlacovery came tive years later, and not
through the agency of the police or the
member "a of any societies interested in pun
ishing Crandall as a swindler. Two months
ago Secretary Tiffany received a letter from
ing if the offer of the reward for Crandall
was open. Mr.. Tiffany replied in the affirm
alive, and paid NJ further attention to the
woman. He had followed so many false
clues that he had begun to despair OF sue
cess in demonstrating that he was right in
his theory Of tho disappearance. Mrs. Row
land next disclosed what she knew, and
urged the mans arrest. The authorities
here we're slow. The expense Of sending
officers across the United States to identity
the suspect was great, and experience in
previous cases, where the claimants for the
reward had been sure they had the right
fellow, tended to make them hesitate. Mrs.
Rowland began telegraphing, and used the
wires freely in stirring up tho Buffalo folks.
Had she not done 30 there is q possibility
that the wife deserter and insurance
swindler would be free now. At length De-
tective Diehl was sent to Los Angeles. He
had known Crandall. and he wired
back that there was no doubt about
the prisoners identity. Had the pris-
oner resisted coming back, the chances
are that even with Diehl's assurance the
prosecutors would not have gone to the
Expense of sending witnesses to
California n making u fight for extradi-
tion. The accused ma came back vo!un-
tarily. and refused TO affirm or deny that he
was Crandall until after he a been
lodged in Buffalo jail and inspected BY
dozens of his former acq%uaintances. His
son. his father-in-law and officials who
knew him we'll readily recognized him. He
10 older, rather inhrm, walks with a cane,
and is addicted to the morphine habit. but
all OF Crandall's characteristics ale plainly
to be seen. He made no attempt to change
his personal appearance. and how he es-
capped detection for 80 many years il q
source OF aMAzsment to everybody.
CrRndall might have held out longer IL
the reporters had not induced him to talk,
In his interviews he let slip many remarks
which confirmed his identity. One enter
RAAcAAA AAUA NV nAAH W. WtavU q C0Id Vi
publication, in which ''B. Is. Crandall' ap-
peared. That was compared with letters
and checks written by Crandall before he
disappeared. The writing was almost a
perfect fac-simile. Then he confessed. He
declined to tell why he loft Buffalo. His
story Of what he did afterward was oom-
monplace. He simply went 10 Los Angeles
anu lived there.
Mrs. Crsndall'has gone to her brothers
home in the country. She has not seen her
husband. and she expresses no desire to SEQ
him. He SAWS he will live with her again il
she will lot him. About that Mrs. Crandall
will probably have something to say. She
may want I better explanation than he can
give about his relations with Mrs. Bryant
=. Wilson in Los AnRsles. 1t ia suspected
that Mrs. Wilson is "Mrs. Rowland" but
Crandall does not believe il. He says that
he has no idea who Mis. Rowland is, and
tho Buffalo detective who went 10 Los
Angeles did mot SEQ her. She has since
written. asking that the $1,000 reward DO
pnid to her through the Los Angeles chief
of police. That. probably. will not be
done. Secretary Tiffany 10 inclined 10 in
aist on knowing who she 10 and throwing
more light on the matter.