The herald., 1897-10-07
A MURDER
MARRIAGE
Trick to Defeat the Ends
of Justice
THE LEGAL CONSPIRATORS
A SANTA MONICA COURT ROOM
DISGRACED
THE LEGAL C0NSPIRAT0RS
The Examination of Crandall by One
Justice Followed by His Mar
riage by Another

When Deputy Sheriff Clements and
w. p James of the district attorneys $
office started for Santa Monica yester-
day morning with Frank Crandall,
whose examination was held on charge
of numbering Jack Bowman, they did
not dream that they We're going to at
tend the wedding as we'll as the exami
nation of their prisoner. Nevertheless
they We're present at the marriage, al
though not conscious Of the fact until
afterward, when the information nearly
upset the dignity of at least one Of the
officers.
The play was a crafty strategic move
on the part of defendants counsel and
the plans, which had been well laid,
worked out to perfection. At the time
of the killing Crandall was cohabitng
with a woman named May Froiis. who
had been one of the party living at the
camp at Ballona. Whatever the woman
may know concerning the murder can
not be ascertained, although it is certain
that the prosecution expected to sum-
mon her as a witness when the case
|
being so, Crandall became very anxious
to make the woman his wife, and she
was willing to have the marriage per-
formed If permission could be secured
| from the sheriff. Crandalps lawyers
broached the matter to Sheriff Burr
who, after comforting with the district
attorney, came out flat-footed against
the proposition and stated that under no
circumstances would he permit the mar
riage to take place until after Crandall's
trial on the capital charge.
| The attorneys for the prisoner, Messrs.
NJ. w. Conklin and W., H. Shinn, then
decided upon strategic move. Yester-
day morning, after the officers in charge
of Crandall had left this city for Santa
Monica, May Froiis was sent to the
county clerks office and secured mar
riage license. Armed with this she re-
turned to Justice Guidinger's court at
Santa Monica, where the examination
was being held. Justice Wells was
looked up and agreed to perform the
marriage ceremony. Everything was
arranged beforehand, and just after the
hearing was completed and Crandall
had been held over for trial for murder,
without bail, the justice and the woman
came inside the railing together. At
| the same time Mr.. Conklin walked over
in front of Deputy Sheriff Clements and
engaged him very earnestly in conver-
sation. Mr. Shinn did likewise with
Assistant District Attorney James
Crandall had been fully instructed as
to his part, and he walked directly over
to the spot where Justice Wells and
May Froiis were standing, appare ntly
to speak to them. The justice imme-
diately pronounced the words of the
marriage ceremony, which Is very brief
| The proper answers were given all in a
conversational tone, and the knot was
soon tied. Then Justice Wells turned to
Messrs. Conklin and Shinn and asked
them If they were ready to affix their
names to the document as witnesses of
the marriage. Conklin excused himself
| from his ardent conversation with Glenn
entS, remarking that he must sign
| Crandalls marriage certificate. This
was the first intimation the sheriff S
officer had that he had been imposed
upon, and the news came like thunder
bolt
Have you married these, people?" he
inquired of Justice Wells.
| Yes, sir" was the answer.
Then it was that Deputy Sheriff Glenn
ents lost his temper and said some very
unpleasant things about the people who
had been able to get prisoner married
under his very nose without his knowing
it, Mr.. Conkliny and Mr.. Shinn appa-
rently felt just as good as Clements did
blue, and congratulated the newly mar
ried couple on the successful issue of the
| saba Gpn lr11 1T =
supremely happy and after spending a
few minutes together kissed each other
good bye and parted, Crandall to return
to the county Jail in charge of ar officer.
The success Of the matrimonial coup
will destroy any hope the prosecution
may have had of putting May Froiis on
the witness stand, as the law provides
that wife cannot be compelled to tes-
tify against her husband.
The preliminary examination of
Frank, better known as "Doc," Gran
dali, for the murder of Jack Bowman at
Ballona on the 14th Of last month, was
opened before Justice Guidinger in the
town hall at Santa Monica yesterday
morning. The court room was we'll filled
with spectators. The prosecution was
represented. by Deputy District Attor-
rey James and Messrs. Conkling and
Shnn looked after the interests Of the
DEFENDANT Crandall sat inside the rail-
ing. apparently the least concerned man
in the court room. Only once did he
show what keen interest he really took
I in the proceedings and that was when
Ruby Grant or Mrs. Bowman, as she
calls herself, gave her testimony to the
effect that Crandnll had threatened the
day previous to the shooting to kill
Bowman. While the woman was on the
stand Crandall's eyes fairly glared at
her. His lips trembled as the woman re-
lated the terrible threat.
The first witness called was Henry
Brenerman, who works in livery sta
BILE at 1875 San Pedro street. He was the
only eyewitness to the shooting and ac-
companied Crandall to Ballona on the
morning Of September 14th. Crandall
had told Brenerman that he was going
to the camp where he had been staying
to get some of his things. The two drove
to Ballona in buggy and Cranfall went
to the little fisherman's cabin, where he
found Billy White and Maud. Wilson to-
gether He inquired for Bowman and
was told that he had gone up the beach.
Crandall and the witness then followed
Bowman. Crandall asked Bowman for