Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-23
ANOTHER vRooMAN STORY.
Walters Wife Having Trouble With Her
Family Over Her Property

Another chapter has been added to
the rather romantic history Of the Vroo-
man family, and it is decidedly interest
ing
The Vroomans used to live in this
city and while here obtained their full
share Of attention. That was when
Frank B. Vrooman was pastor of the
Salem Square Congregational Church.
His brother, Walter Vrooman, was then
superintendent and general manager of
the famous U. c. Me Club which had
a short but eventful career in the old
rink building.
Since the Vroomans departed from
Worcester, news of them occasionally
comes in the form of press dispatches.
The scene of the present chapter is laid
in the city of Baltimore, Maryland.
The principal character is Mrs Walter
Vrooman. When Walter Vrcoman was
in Worcester he was a single man, and
not until the beginning of last year did
he venture upon the sea of matrimony
Then he chose as his life partner, Miss
Anne Grafflin of Baltimore. She was 49,
while the groom-elect was but 27.
George w. Grafflin, a prominent bust
ness man of Baltimore, had been dead
but months when his daughter was
married The members of the Graff1in
family, and especially an only brother Of
the bride, objected more on account of
the disparity of ages, than any real dis
like to Mr.. Vrooman. So painful to the
brother was the subject that he would
never discuss it, and not even would he
converse about any arrangements that
might be necessitated by the marriage
and the removal Of his sister from the
city.
The elder Grafflin left no WILL and his
business, of course went to his chill
dren. The only son was general man
ager, and, just before the marriage, Miss
Anne Graffiin signed a deed, which
she claims. she did not read but which
she imagined was only an authority to
her brother to sign for her in matters
relating to the business 1t proved
however, to be a deed of trust covering
her interest in her fathers estate.
After the deed was signed she was
furnished copy OF it and showed it to
the young Mr. Vrooman a few days be-
fore the marriage, which occurred Feb
ruary %, 1897. He told her that it had
given her brother full control of all her
property, except some insurance poll
cies valued at $4,000, which she owned
in common with her sister, and a house
valued at 1000 and mortgaged for
$40, 900. She refused to believe, saving
that if it was true she was outrageous
~ deceived and would break the deed
Immediately. Mr. Vrooman got a law
yer to look over the deed and tell her
that what he said was true She got a
st. Louis lawyer to tell her the same
after she had gone there to live. She
then went to Ex-Governor Stone of Mis-
souri, and he told her that the deed was
very broad in its provisions and de-
prived her Of all control Of her property
until it was revoked.
Then she wrote her brother, upbraid-
ing him and asking him TO repudiate
the deed. He replied testify because of
the aspersions on his honesty made in
the letter. She wrote again 10 the same
effect, and he told her she could have
him bonded and her interest protected
by the courts Then in March the suit
was brought to set the deed aside
Mr., Grafflin contends that his sister
knew the full purport of the deed the
time she signed it. He says that he has
neglected to furnish her with the prom
ised $500 per month because She has not
left her address and she left the city
the day Of her Iparriage. He impugns
Mr.. Nrooman's motives in marrying his
sister, and points olst that II was con
trary to her fathers wish.