The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-23

A Fatal Betrayal by Church Of England
Clergyman

Clergyman.
DETROIT. MICH, April IA remark
able story Of crime, in which two coun-
tries are interested. has finally developed
out Of the Identity OF the unknown woman
Who died in Mrs. n. r. Lanes iying-in
hospital. February g. Even the way in
which public attention was first called TO
the crime is remarkable. a newspaper
man happened I'm the undertaking estab-
lishment OF Frank Gibbs one DAY and
kicked coffin that was lying in one
corner Of the room. The undertaken was
Indignant, and said: Here, don't Kick
that coffin there's body in IT, and I've
got 500 for keeping a."
Tho newspaper man reported the matter
TO the health office, end an investigation
was started. II was learned that the body
In the coffin had been embalmCd two
months before and kept in the undertake
ing shop all the time. being moved on
three different occasions, when Mr.. GIBBS
shifted his quarters.
The death certificate showed that the
girl had died just two months before.
The name on the death certificate was
Myrtle Crook, the cause OF the death was
set down as pneumonia, and the doctor 8
name was j. ID. Seaman. When Gibbs
found the case had been reported he hur-
red 10 bury the body i'm Potters Field.
The health board ordered 10 dug up, ana
It was laid on a slab in another under
taking establishment, where post-mor-
TEN was held and sufficient evidence Sc
cured TO show that the girl had died OF
an operation, and not from pneumonia,
as stated in the certificate.
The body Of the poor girl lay for five
days on a slab subjected TO public gaze,
in hope some one might identify her out
Of the thousand or more who viewed the
body. not one could furnish a clew 10 her
Identity. and 81 was finally buried. III
was more than a nine-days sensation.
owing to the peculiar circumstances when
surrounded the case.
Prosecutor Fraser was afterward VISIT
Cd by a woman. who told him remark
able story. She said that she had been
am inmate of the Lane Lying-in Hospital
I'm January, and there met girl who an
sworod the description given of Myrtle
Crook. but that she knew no such per
son.
She said the girl she knew was Emily
Hall and that she was an English girl
and there was something very peculiar
about her coming here. Prosecutor Fras-
or was interested. and Immediately de-
voted his entire attention TO the case. lie
hunted I'D cOrrObOratiOn in every field,
and has finally established "A case which
leaves no room for doubt, and which VIII
call the attention OF TWO countries 10 the
case.
one OF the first things that Fraser learn
Cd. and ne early called to his assistance
the aid Of Chief of Detectives Baker was
that the girl arrived in Detroit January
@ and went direct TO Mrs. Lanes nos
pital. He also learned that all arrange
mcnts had been made for her coming
there: that she arrived in the night was
driven direct TO Mrs. Lanes, and -FOUR
DAYS later an operation was perloiheu'
from which she never rallied.
The doctor who performed the opera
tion is known. Then Fraser had the
body re-exhumed and when his strange
informant gazed upon the features hhe
said: "That is Emily Hall. but these are
NOT ber clothes" His further inVestiga-
lion developed the fact that Emily Han
had frequently talked to his informant
about Birmineham had said that her par
ents were worried TO death about her.
and that she was going back home as
soon as she was well.
With this much Of clew, the prosecu-
fo, and chief Of detectives went 10 work.
They established the fact that she had
received "A letter which was heaueu
princess villa. station road. Dudley,
England" and was signed Jon. lie also
established the fact that on February b
a registered letter was received in De-
troit addressed to Mrs II. j. Lane No.
$50 Lincoln avenue, which contained 800
The price for the work.
The detective and prosecutor have Sc
cured the evidence of two persons, one
of whom swears that Emily Han told
! her that she had been wronged by a man
who sent her TO this country, ana was
| CLERGYMAN and the other Of whom makes
aFidayit that Emily before her death. said
she had been led astray by Church OF
England clergyman, who resided In Biz
miugham.