Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-13

Disavowtng the possession Of "occuit''
powers and denying the charge that by
means of spirit writings. purportins to
be from his dead wife, she secured $4,000
from eighty Fenton J.
Hurd. grandfather Of DR.. Lee M. Hurd
Of Greenwich. Conn.,. Mrs. Laura r.
Cramer. State Department employe. to-
day answered the rule recently issued by
the District Supreme Court against her.
DR.. Hurd. as cOnservator OF the estate
Of his grandfather, who has been ad1udg-
ed Incapable by q Connecticut tribunal.
sought an Injunction to prevent Mrs.
Cramer from drawing against an account
kept by her at the Washington Loan and
Trust Company or from disposing Of
the contents Of a safe deposit box said
to have been rented from the same COM
pany. He also seeks an accounting Of
the $4,000 which he claims his grand
father gave Mrs. Cramer during the ten
years Mr. Hurd resided at Mrs. Cramer's
home In this city.
A Believer in Spiritualism.
The elder Hurd, Mrs. Cramer says.
shared with many thousand Americans
the belief that departed spirits may COM
municate with their loved ones left be-
hind This belief he entertained since
early manhood. and she knew that he re-
ceived, from time to time, through the
medium of certain persons. supposed COM
munications from his deceased wife, but
she has no knowledge that he was ever
Influenced in his business affairs by such
communications.
Being a member Of the Roman Cath
olic Church. Mrs. Cramer AYERS. she neither
processes nor believes In spiritualism. and
has at no time ever claimed the powe. 8
Of medium or acted the part. she
frequently discussed the doctrine with
Mr.. Hurd. she says, and often attempted
to dissuade him from his belief in spirit
manifestations, but without success. Mr..
Hurd had suggested to her. she alleges.
his opinion that she might be possessed
of the powers of a medium, but she took
no stock in the suggestion. She denies
fatty ever giving any supposed conmuni-
cations to Mr.. Hurd from his deceased
wife to procure money from him.
Influence of a Daughter.
Through Attorney A. A. Birney Mrs.
Cramer admits she had some influence
over the elder Hurd. but declares II was
never a dominating influence. 1t was
such only, she alleges. a. arose from the
strong affection which he felt for her
and which she had earned by giving him
the care of a daughter during the many
years of their close association. Mr.
Hurd, she states, was anected thereby
only as a father might be influenced by
a wise suggestion from an anectionate
daughter in whom he had confidence.
In admitting that Mr.. Hurd had made
her presents of money aggregating $27.-
600 and no more. for which she gave
him no pecuniary consideration, Mrs.
Cramer says her elderly patron was
actuated by desire to compensate her
for the affectionate care which she. for
many years, showed him and Tor which
he was intensely grateful"
Mrs Cramer says she had assumed the
part Of a daughter to Mr.. Hurd when
he was incensed at and In fear or bodily
harm from his son. Byron Hurd, rather
OF DR.. Hurd, and that il was but natural
that Mr Hurd should seek to provide
for her future in the event she lost her
position or became incapac1tated for
work.
In Fear Of His Son.
By means OF an open letter, which
she says she found in Mr.. Hurd's desk
addressed to his son, Mrs. Cramer ex-
plains to the court that the octogenArian
had some time ago formed the intent to
dispose of his wealth. which at that time
amounted to $4,000, in order to divert
It from his son. Byron Hurd. In the
letter the old man accuses the son OF a
threat to kill him and his bride. should
he persist in q determination to take
second wife The son is alleged to have
declared that no woman should take his
mothers place and to have sworn by
everything most holy to kill both his
father and the latter's bride. IL he should
take one.
To q Miss Smith. in whom he had be-
come interested, the letter states. MI.
Hurd gave $4,000, and announced to
the son that by other gifts he had re-
duced his wealth $4,000. a sum far I'm
excess, he explains, Of widows dover
Ia his entire estate at the time he wish
ed to marry Miss Smith.
Letter to His Son.
The letter appended to the answer is
dated Washington, D. c.. and addressed
.Son Byron" It reads: