Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-04

was dictated to the stenographer that
the court having been informed Of the
death of Mrs. Crandall, all proceedings
in the case would cease.
There was question for some time as
to the exact status Of the cas- but 1t
is agreed that the verdict returned
by the jury will stand. All proceed
ings with regard to the appointment
OF a c~onservator are null and void and
nothing in the way of the administers
ton of the estate will be done until
the will, IL n was made by Mrs.
Crandall, is probated. Temporary al.
engagements as to the care of the cd.
tate will be made before Judge John
son this afternoon. The estate will
probably show an inventory Of the
value Of 100000. The chief assets
are the Crandall block and the Witter
block.
It is believed by Mrs. Kirschbaum
and Mrs. Stearns that the proceedings
brought by Rodney Crook N the
other relatives fastened Mrs. Gran
dalls death. They sal that she asked
for information of the trial almost con-
stantly and was greatly grieved over
the revelations made to prove her in
sane. The visit of the jury is also in
stanced. The two experts stated on
the witness stand that the visit of the
jury would prove injurious. They both
agreed that excitement Of this nature
might cause her death.
A Jurors Opinion.
Rodney G. Crook. a brother Of Mrs.
Crandall and the principal petitioner.
who has been receiving $75 a month
for several years as a member OF the
board OF. directors of the Crandall ms
yestment company, a nominal Office in
which he was never called upon for
any action or the sacrifice of any time.
was present in the court when the yer.
dict was rendered.
Several members of the Jury after
being dismissed, stated that they felt
that never before had such an out.
rage been perpetrated upon an aged
and dying person by that persons rel
atives as is the case here.
There Is no doubt" said one. that
the poor old lady did not know whether
there was a fly on her head or an
elephant. | have no doubt that she
was insane and incompetent to man
age her estate, but Lawyer Toney,s
Illustration about the coyotes not wait
ing until their prey was dead before
they pounce upon it, was a good one
for this case. The poor old woman
was not allowed to die in peace. She
will know the verdict, but 1t will
be shown upon the records Of the court
as will the action Of these relatives"
Her last words were in criticism Of
her brother Rodney. "To think, she
said in hoarse and hesitating speech.
that brother Rodney would do such q
thing" This was at IL o'clock Monday.
She lapsed Into a comatose state at
that time and regained con.
seriousness.
The death Of Mrs. Crandall will
bring on an even more spirited and ac-
rimonious contest than the one closed
by her death. II she made a will 1t
VIII undoubtedly be attacked, as the
relatives who instituted the proceed
1ngs in lunacy make no secret Of their
opinions that she was unduly infu-
enced in making her will. Her
brother Rodney and Mrs. Kirschbaum
her sister. are nearest of kin. There
are about twenty other relatives far
Their removed.
Mrs. Crandall was q pioneer and a
member of the Pioneer Ladies' Aid So
ciety, which recently gave expressions
OF disapproval Of the proceedings
against Mrs. Crandall. She came 10
Denver from Prophetstown, Ill, in 1860
and with a few thousand dollars life
insurance which she collected on the
death of her husband, made several
shrewd investments in real estate.
The results of her labor were the
ownership Of the Crandall block on
Seventeenth and Welton and the wit.
ter block. She also owned several good
lots and had some interests in mines.
For a long time before his death Gov.
ernor Cooper managed her affairs. All
OF her property Is now In the CrandaIl
Investment company OF which N. @.
Tanquary has been the general man,
ager since it was created.