Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-28
lively TIME AEAD NEEDED THE SPRTSFOR HIGH PRESSURE
Strenuous Protection Against
Read Court Be Urged
TARIFF REVISION
Commnte Commisi
to CueC Cmmohn mendRe for Appoprah
Testimony of Fenton J. Hurd
Read in Court.
TOLD TO ATTEND BALL
Letter" Directed Him to Take
Grandson and Young Women.
DENIAL OF ENGAGEMENT MADE
Presents of Jewels and Cash to
Women Who Knew His Belief
in Spiritualism.

That the fact that he was a strong be-
| lever in spirit manifestations and tha
he was susceptible to directions from the
spirit world was admitted by Fenton j
Hurd, the octogenarian. who gave $36OOt
to Mrs. Laura r. Cramer. the State De
partment employe; $4,000 to another
woman, who sent him spirit letters
and $4,000 to a third woman, with whom
he had become engaged, was brought ou
today In the reading of the voluminou:
testimony before Justice Gould in Equity
Court No. 2.
Lee M. Hurd of Greenwich, Conn.
grandson of Fenton J. Hurd and con
serVator of his estate, to join his name
as plaintiff in the suit by which il
$4,000 given to Mrs. Cramer.
The court passed until the conclusion OF
the hearing a decision on the question o.
lack Of Jurisdiction raised by Mrs
Cramer's attorneys. who claim the Dis
trict Supreme Court exceeded it's power
when it granted ancillary letters to DR.
Lee NJ. Hurd.
Made Many Presents.
In the testimony it Is shown that Hurt
made presents Of jewelry and cash te
other women who knew his weakness
for spirit letters. One of the witnesses
who says she has been converted from
spiritualism. admits that she wrote such
letters. but did SO to satisfy Fenton J
Hurd's whims.
One letter, which, it is claimed, the
elder Hurd accepted and carried out In
al Its details. related to the inaugural
ball following Mr.. Taft's induction into
the White House. In this letter he was
directed to take his grandson, Lee M
Hurd, and two young women to the
ball The spirit" told him to purchase
tickets. secure glad rags" including
top hats, for himself and grandson and
a carriage to take them to the ball.
This occurred prior to the removal of
Mr.. Hurd to Mrs. Cramer's house and
when he had rooms in lodging
house.
Denies There Was Engagement.
F'enton ]. Hurd. in his testimony read
to Justice Gould today. denied that any
betrothal existed between him and Mrs.
Cramer. He declared he considered he
was too old to marry, and abandoned the
idea Of taking another wife when he was
prevented from marrying Miss Smith.
He denied ever borrowing any money
as claimed by Mrs. Cramer. Mrs. Cra-
mer said she loaned him. 500 On cross
examAnation 7he was shown = letter writ
ten by him to a Mr.. Ross, in which he
directed the payment Of the money in
the event of his des tn before the money
was repaid.
The witness remarked: by gosh! That
Is my handwriting, but 1 don't remember
even borrowing a dollar from her.
DR.. Lee NJ Hurd and his wife, Mrs
Violet Hurd, were interested auditors al
the reading Of the testimony
Mrs Cramer claims, it is understood,
that Mr.. Hurd broke Off his engagement
through fear of his son. as he told her.
ment to Miss Smith. He thought the
threats might be executed by the son
should he wed Mrs. Cramer. The de-
fendant says that when the wedding idea
was dropped Mr.. Hurd promised to take
care of her during his life and provide
for her at his death.