The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-14


the restraining order asked by DR.. Lee
NJ Hurd. as eonservator of the Fenton
]. Hurd estate. enjoining Mrs. Laura r.
Cramer from removing deposits from the
Washington Loan and Trust Company.
and enjoining that company from permit
ting these deposits to be removed.
Mrs Cramer filed her answer 10 the
charges of having fraudulently obtained
grandfather.
She acknowledged that she received
about $4,000 from Fenton J. Hurd, but
denied that she employed fraudulent
methods. She said the amount was not
commensurate with the affection the old
man owed her for the care and kindness
she had shown him.
Lost Wife I'm 1891.
According to Mrs. Cramer. the friend
ship began shortly after the death OF
his wife, in 1891. when he became. at his
request, a member OF her household.
and found In her home kindness and
consideration which he had never re-
ceived from his own son and grandson.
Il is alleged in her answer that old
Mr. Hurd entertained fear of Byron
Hurd, his son, and his lack OF conf
dence in his son and grandson made her
home a refuge to him and her friendship
the boon of his declining years.
To the charge that she is a medium
Mrs. Cramer said that being member
OF the Roman Catholic Church she nei-
Their processes nor believes In spiritual
ism. and has at no time ever claimed
the powers OF a medium or acted the
part She frequently discussed the doc
trine with MIR. Hurd. and often at
tempted TO dissuade him from his belief
in spirit manifestations. but without sue
cess. Mrs. Cramer denied fatty ever
giving any supposed communications 10
Mr.. Hurd from his deceased wife to pro-
cure money from him. Mrs. Cramer ad
mitted she had some influence over Hurd,
but that the same was not dominant"
influence.
Owed for Her Care.
In admitting the receipt of about ST.
900 from Hurd Mrs. Cramer said that
in doing so he was actusted by a de-
sire TO compensate her for the afrec-
tionate care which she, for many years.
showed him and for which he was In
tensely grateful
That marriage was az one time talked
OF between Mrs. Cramer and Hurd may
be surmised from a letter written, as
follows;
washington. D. c., March Is, 1905.
'9fv dear friend. Mrs. Cramer: You
NAV think 1t strange that I. with my
good health and vigorous constitution,
have never married again. and no doubt
you have heard me say that there is no
real happy life only In a married life.
Now, I will tell you why I never have.
nor never will, marry again. Fanny, my
sons wife. told me herself that Byron
| Chis SOM said that no woman could ever
| take his mothers place, and she said he
swore by all that is great and good. and
as true as there is God in heaven, that
/ II I got married that he would shoot and
kill both of US.
so, you see, If I should marry there
would be no happiness in II, for he
might appear and carry out his threats,
and Fanny said that with his malicious
| disposition she has no doubt bat that he
/ would do it.
so have drawn up a note Of $4,000,
which I think Is small enough compensa-
/ ton for the happiness you have and are
| giving me. and think Mr., Ross, who is
! To settle my estate, viii pay the note
out of the first money collected out Of my
estate, for 1t is my wish that he should
do so, and it would be foolish for them
| to ltigate the note. for when ali the
circumstances are explained there Is not
/ a Judge in the court in the United States
but what would give you a judgment for
the value of the note. and they would
have to pay the cost, Truly yours,
/ "F. J. HURD."
Saved Her Own Money.
In concluding her answer, Mrs. Cramer
said that the money which is deposited
to her credit in the Washington Loan
and Trust Company is in no part that
received from Hurd; that she had been
for many years in the government serv-
ice, and that during this time she has
saved money, and that with her own
means she purchased the house in Cor
coran street. which she occupied for
some length Of time and then sold
Mrs. Cramer attaches 10 her answer a
letter which old Mr.. Hurd wanted for
warded TO his son. in which the unkind
treatment which old Mr.. Hurd received
from his son is referred 10.
Mrs. Cramer alleges to believe that
Fenton J. Hurd is being unlawfully held
in Greenwich by his grandson; that his
liberty has been taken from him by Dr.
Hurd, in hopes of obtaining the remain
der OF his fortune. and that he was ad-
judged incompetent by the Probate Court
OF Greenwich on false representations by
DR.. Lee NJ. Hurd
Postal saving. stamn Ann~ox.a