The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-11-21

Angered over trivial matter
Frank Cravens, the son of Attorney
L. v. Cravens, 548 State street, IN
pumped four shots into the
body of Mrs Grace Cravens, his step
mother, about ten this morning, and
then turning the gun on himself he
fired the remaining two So calibre
bullets into his own body
The lives of both are despaired of
and both were taken in ambulances,
one the police ambulance and the
other a private one to St. Margaret's
hospital where DR. T. w. Oberlin and
DR.. H. E. Sharrer are in attendance.
GIRL ONLY WITNESS.
The only witness of the alteration
proceeding the shooting is the house
maid who is too unstrung and too
nervous to give a coherent account of
what happened. Even the maid left
the house before the actual shooting
took place.
THE INJURED.
MRS. GRACE GREEN -CRAVENS shot
four times. according to most accounts.
one bullet pierced her body near the pit
of the stomach Another struck the
lower left side Of her abdomen. 1t hit
a steel corset stay. doubled it up and
drove 1t into her side for an inch or so.
Another shot grazed her arm. The shot
in the stomach is said to be the most
serious. Grave doubts as to her recov-
cry are entertained. She was removed
to St. Margarets hospital in the police
ambulance. where she was operated on
for two hours
FRANK CRAvENS. One shot fred
at self, according to most reports. two
according to some. Shot entered the
torso just below the heart 1t passed
through the entire body and came out
Of his back.
1t is not believed that there are any
intestinal perforations. His recovery
is believed to be probable. The revolver
used was a 3s-caliber magazine gun.
The above descriptions Of the injuries
are not official. but are the result of the
best information obtainable
Frank Cravens is nineteen years old
A couple of years sago he suffered the
loss of a leg in railroad accident in
the stone quarry at Thornton. Since
that time he has been supported by
father
INVOLVED IN QUARREL.
This morning he became involved IN
a quarrel over a couple of revolvers
,, ,s,,y, l,a -I-
hidden from him. He was sunen and
quiet for a while and then he appeared
with a revolver in his hand.
Without warning he fired four shots
at Mrs. Cravens. all of them taking
effect. Then turning the gun against
his breast he fred the remaining shots
into his own body.
HUSBAND IN COURTHOUSE.
1t is understood that there has beer
trouble between Mrs. Cravens and hel
step-son for some time No one
thought, however. that it would result
in such a murderous assault
Attorney L. v Cravens was in tn,
Hammond superior court house at the
time the shooting occurred. He wa.
notified that his wife was shot anc
FASTENED to her bedside in the hospital
pathy OF many friends today. He is tn,
innocent victim of conditions over
which he had no control. The sympthS
of the whole community goes out Il
him in his hour Of great sorrow. Mr.
Cravens was one of the highest officers
in Indiana Masonry at one time and
came to Hammond to be a law partner
of J. c. Ibach Of the appellate court.
IN SUPERIOR COURT ROOM.
Attorney Cravens was in the LAX,
superior court room al the time the
shooting occurred Captain George
Hanlon telephoned to D Z. Boone, whc
happened to he at the phone, to notify
Cravens.
Boone called him out Of the court
room and told him that there was trou-
bile at home and that he had better get
there as quickly as possible. Cravens
smiled as though he thought 1t was a
joke
Boone insisted ana finally told him
that his Wife had been shot He
jumped on the first car and started for
home without another word. In the
meantime Attorneys L j. Bomberger
and Frank Gavit started out with Cav
it's ear to overtake him. They arrived
at the house Just before he did ans
found Mrs Cravens and the boy lying
on the floor in pools Of their own blood
HANioN FIRST ON SCENE.
Captain Hanlon was the first on the
scene. He called the police patrol, the
ambulance. the doctors and finally At
torney Cravens himself Cravens gave
away to uncomfortable grief when he
saw what had happened at home but
afterwards he became very calm and