The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-07
Mrs. Charles L. Crane Creates q
Scene in Fashionable West
minister Place.
WAS LOOKING FOR HUSBAND.
Chases Mrs. Minnie Crandall, With
Whom He Boards, Through
House in an EndeavOr to
Wreak Vengeance.

Mrs. Emma Crane, wife of Charles I.
Crane, an insurance agent with Offices in
the Century building. created a sensation
in the fashionable Westminster place resi-
dence district last evening by demolishing
a heavy oval plate glass in the front door
of the residence of Mrs. Minnie randa
No. 800 Westminster place, chasing Mrs.
Crandal through the house and laying siege
to the premises for fifteen minutes. waiting
Tor the besieged to appear, to the great
deIectation of the neighbors. The siege was
raised only on the appearance Of the pri-
vate Waterman on the beat. When he came
on the scene Mrs. Crandall plucked up cour-
age to return from her place OF hiding and
requested the Waterman to arrest Mrs.
Crane.
The disturbance was the elimination of
the marital troubles of Mr.. and Mrs. Crane.
ar: crane has been living apart from his
Wiie Tor six years. Mrs. Crane lives at No.
SOLO Westminster place, three blocks west of
MIS-. Crandall, with her three children, the
eldest OF whom Is a boy OF II years old. MI.
crane has been boarding with Mrs. Gran
daII FOR six years, two years of which Mrs.
otaHdall has occupied the present house
at NO. 400 Westminster place. Mrs. Crane
mas been cognlzant of her husbands pres
ence in Mrs CrandalIs house, but UP to
her dislike for nOtOriety, she says.
Last evening she went for a drive in her
trap, accompanied by her son, Frank. They
left the house about S o'clock and drove
east on Westminster place. Passing Mrs
Crandall's house, Mrs. Crane saw Mrs.
Srandau sitting on the veranda, and, yield
ing 10 a sudden impulse, she stopped and
sent her son to inquire OF Mrs. CrandaIl
whether Mr.. Crane was In the house. The
boy says Mrs. Crandall replied CURLY and
insulted his mother, which so angered Mrs.
Crane that she jumped out of the rig and
started up the walk to the veranda. Mrs.
Crandall saw her coming and. fearing
rrOflhla RAJ into fha e.gI, Iii -
door. Mrs. Crane. Infatuated, broke in the
neayy glass panel With her fist, cutting her
hand and wrist badly. She then reached in
side the broken glass and opened the door
ana searched the house for the woman. Mrs.
Crandal, however. had sought refuge in an
outer building and Mrs. Crane, baked of
her prey, went outside and sat down on the
Veranda steps to await her return.
Neighbors Were Interested.
Mrs. Crandall sent her servant in search
Of an officer. She returned with the private
Waterman Meantime the uproar had at
tracted the attention OF the neighbors, who
hocked around the house, listened to the
story Of Mrs. Crane, sympathfzed with her
and speculated on the outcome.
When the night Waterman came on the
scene Mrs. Crandall emerged from her hid
Ing place and in hysterical tones demanded
the arrest Of Mrs. Crane on a charge OF
disturbing her peace. The night watchman
MINOR the policeman on the beat, who
informed Mrs. Crane that, as Mrs. CraHdall
requested her arrest, she would have to 90
to the station. At this Mrs. Crane. with
the oficeTs permission, went across the
street to the residence Of Judge Seldom of
the law firm of Seldom & Blair and re-
quested him to accompany her to the sta
ton and bail her out. Judge Seldom as
the Eighth District Station. the Judge ar
irving there on the car at the same time.
Before they arrived at the station Ser
geant Henry Sullivan, in whose precinct the
disturbance occurred. telephone. in to the
Lieutenant in charge that Mrs. CrandalI
had decided not to prosecute, and when
Mrs, Crane arrived she waS imroa1Ia taIv
leased.
Mrs. Crandail. when seen after the dis
turbance, was apparently greatly distressed
at the possible light in which the ghb
would view the occurrence.
The least said about 1t in the newspa-
pers the better for all concerned" she said.
Just think. what viii the nelghbors say?
l did not give Mrs. Crane any cause for her
action tonight, but 1 know she will say all
and keep boarders and roomers. and all Of
them are respectable. I Fave only one gem
tieman boarder. Mr.. Crane, and two ladies.
Mr.. Crane has been with me two wears. He
has been separated from his wife several
years. but l am not responsible for that.
l have heard several times that she has
against me, and l told Mr.. Crane that he
had better leave to avoid trouble. He did
leave here twice. but did not return to his
wife. He told me he would not return to
her, and when he left here he went to a
hotel. Then he came back and asked me
to let him room here again. and I did so.
HsioS lt Phlu we'll u MS TOOIn, ana II L
did not give him quarters, he said. he
would only go to some other boarding
house. I am not TO blame If he refuses to
return to his wife.
Mrs. Crane drove up here tonight, and
her son asked me If Mrs Crane was here.
l told him no, which was the truth. and
then they grew angry and Mrs. Crane
Jumped out Of the rig and started toward
the door. l did not want a scene and re-
treated into. the house. Then she broke the
glass door"
Says Husband Was H~ypnotized.
Mrs. Crane declared that Mrs. Crandsl
had hypnotiZed her husband.
Il do not know what secret power or In
iuence she possesses over him she said,
but 1t Is sufficient TO induce him to leave
his family for her. She was the cause OF
him leaving me six years ago, as he con-
fessed to me. He Is a good man, and / love
him. and he is the kindest and most in
dulgent husband and father when Temporal
lily away from her influence. He supports me
and the children and sees that our every
want is supplied, and every little while comes
home and says he has determined TO make
amends for the past. only to break Els
promise within a few days. About four |
years ago he sued for divorce. but I fought
the suit and compelled him to withdraw 1t.
Later l was compelled to sue him for main
tenance."
Mr.. Crane could not be found last night. |
He had not returned to the Crandal res
idence at midnight.