The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-25
CRANEY AND HIS FAD
The Fordham Case Recalls the Story
of a Mysterious Package.
IT'S DEPOSITED IN A BANK
A Married Daughter of the Suicide
Awaits Orders From Her
Fathers Advisor for the
Parcel Now In the Vault.

Parcel NOW IN the Nduit.
Missoula, Jan. 24-The recent domes-
tic woes of Mrs. Julia Fordham have
recalled the incidents connected with |
the death of her former husband, Ser |
geant Craney of the Third infantry, |
and the disappearance of his money |
and valuable jewelry. 1t viii be re-
membered that Craney was arrested py |
Sheriff Bill Berry for the murder OF
man at the old Craney place near the
Four Mile house, and that he COM |
mitted suicide i'm the county jail ratner J
than pay the penalty for his crime.
Craney was a clever lrishman, whose
fad was valuable tewelry, OF which ne
had considerable. He had diamond
rings, one a handsome solitaire cum
buttons. studs and pins, which were
worth in all about 81 500. Beside these
he owned a fine watch and two heavy
gold chains. In the Helena banks ne
had deposited $1,000, which he drew out
soon after his arrest. When he COM
mitted suicide none of his property
could be found nor has II been located
to this day.
This was in 1884. Since then frequent
inquiry has been made, but the only
information that has been obtained has
come from Major Gageby, now at Fort
Niobrara, but at that time Craneys
captain. IN T6SDOilSc " a i'AANA hOAA
Judge Woody, Major Gageby wrote
some time ago that Craney gave him
a package in 1884, which he said was
not to be opened until his children
were of age or until his Oldest daughter
was married. This package Major
Gageby deposited In the First National
bank when the Third infantry left
Fort Missoula, with instructions that IT
was not to be given out unless upon
his order. The package is still there.
Last month Miss Craney was married
and the letter from Major Gageby was
presented to Cashier Keith. who, how
ever, said that he could not consider
II as an order. Major Gageby has
been requested to send an order for the
delivery of the package to Miss
Craney, now Mrs. McDermott, but II
has not yet been received.
Nobody knows what the package
contains, although Mrs. Craney-Ford-
ham believes that the contents are
some deeds and other papers and
Craney's watch and chain. She does
not think that Craney gave his money
and diamonds to his captain. Sergeant
Craney had two friends and advisors
at the fort. One was his captain, the
other Lieutenant Gerloch, then quar-
termaster. To one or the other of these
men, II is believed. the money and
jewels were given by Craney after he
was locked up.
A Standard reporter this morning
called upon Judge Sloane. who has al
ways acted as counsel for Mrs. Ford
ham since Craney's death, and from
him learned the following: When
Craney, after his arrest, drew $4,000
from the banks in Helena, he deposited
the money with Sheriff Berry in the
jail office Out of this sum he paid
some debts, among them his attorneys
fee to Judge Stephens. who defended
him. This left about $1,000 in the safe
at the Jail and Sheriff Berry told
Craney that he must put II somewhere
else, as he did not wish to be response
BILE for the money.
Craney then sent for Lieutenant Ger
ioch and gave him, il is supposed, all
his Jewels and the money. Naturally
of a suspicious temperament, he was
uneasy about his valuables and the
following day he sent for his wife and
gave her an order on Lieutenant Ger
loch for the money. but said nothing
about the Jewels. Mrs. Craney secured
the money and gave Lieutenant Ger
loch a receipt for it,
A short time after this, Craney
changed his mind again and gave Ger
loch an order for the money once more.
Mrs. Craney says that she turned the
money over TO Gerloch, but took no re-
ceipt for IL. This is the last that is
known of the disposition of the money
or the Jewels. Some time ago, a let
ter was sent to Lieutenant Gerloch,
who is now a captain. He replied that
he remembered receiving the valuables
from Craney but that he had deposited
them in the safe of Bennett * Co. s
store, the night before that building
was burned in September. 1884. The
fire destroyed everything. Gerloch
wrote that he was on his way to the
theater and had the package in his
pocket. Not wishing TO have so much
money on his person, he left IL as
stated above and the next day 1t was
lost in the fire.
Such is the story of Sergeant era
ney's diamonds. 1t is possible that
some of them may be in the mysterious
package that lies in the vault of the
First National bank. 1t will not be
known until Major Gageby orders the
delivery of the package TO Craneys
daughter. according to the old soldiers
instructions. Mrs. Craney- Fordham.
however. is positive that the package
which was given by Craney TO his cap
tain was made up before the murder
was committed which led to Craney'
arrest. II this is so, the diamonds are
not there. as Craney wore the stones
after that.