Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-23
WIDOW OF DARING
YEGG WITH $4,000
LOOT BESTS COPS

New Orleans. July 18.-After days of
grilling at the hands of the New Or
leans police Mrs. Charles Craven, o I
Mrs. Charles Prator. daughter Of q for-
mer governor and widow Of an expert
craftsman who was killed while pull
ing off a job" has been released. She
steadfastly refused to reveal the hiding
place Of $54, 900 in money and $4,000 In
diamonds which she says Ia concealed
in the outskirts of Savannah. Ga. The
money was obtained by the bandit hus-
band of the girl widow In a series OF
clever robberies which. baffled the
police OF Dixie.
The pretty widow OF the famous ye&g
has had an adventurous career With
millionaire while robbing his rich cOm-
panions, che was received by the best
OF society. She Is the daughter Of the
late Ex-Governor MncCorkle, OF West
Virginia, and her early training iii so-s
ciety enabled her to play the role Of q
m~illtonaire's wife.
You can torture me, Kill me. but
I'll never reveal the hiding place OF the
money and Jewels said the girl when.
she was arrested. "I know where the
mony Is that Charlie obtained by blow
ing express cars and safes, and robbing
postoffices and banks, before he was
killed in Florida, five months ago.. but
he gave 1t to me. al I'm moi going To-
let go Of It,"
Papers In the trunks OF Mrs. Craven
Indicate that she Is q stepdaughter Of
the late Ex-Governor MacCorkle. 81.
West Virginia, A society news item,
clipped from a Dallas paper OF three
months ago., stated that she was visit
Ing the parents Of ""her late husband
who had been killed In q railroad wreck
m Florida Other clippings show that
she n her husband had been fetedN by
society In several cities.
Robbed Palm Beach Gussts.
She smilingly added that her husband
had posed as a millionaire at Palm
Beach hotels. and robbed many guests
OF thousands of dollars.
Mrs. Craven said that her husbands
real name was Charles Lee Prator. ana.
that his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. j. b.
Prator. are living in Dallas. A Dallas
society clipping reads:
Mrs. Charles Lee Prator Of Jackson
vile, Fla. is visiting Mr.. and Mrs. ].
b. Prator here. Mrs. Prator formerly
was Miss Ev MacCorkle Of West yir-
ginta, daughter Of Ex-Governor Mac
Corkle. Her husband recently waa
killed in q railroad wreck In Florida,
DO you think that / would give up
that little fortune after my husband
rislke and gave up his life nsecur-
much; I still revere Charles memory,
and believe hat l am entitled to the
treasure, after he was killed while
robbing a postoffice to give mesmoney
to 1--we a life of case.
Yes, the money and diamonds are
part of the loot my husband secured
with his revolver. and by his ability
to crack safes. But I. nevertheless,
believe that I am entitled to it, Just
the same. The ~treasure is now hidden
in Savannah, but 1t never will be dis
covered. They may kill me, but they
never will kno where 1t is.
Will Conceal Treasure.
They think they will be able to trail
me to the hiding place OF the treasure
when they get me ack in Savannah;
but they are fools for thinking SO. Z
am somewhat OF d detective myself.
and can go and come from the hiding
place with perfect security"
Mrs. Craven also is known a. Eva
Slack MacCorkle. She q away from
a convent in Ontario some years ago
She says she was put there by her step
father, who, she y was former
governor OF West Virginia She de-
clares she met Craven In Norfolk. Va,
a little more than a year ago. and that
they a been married only about eight
months when he was killed.
Mrs. Craven laughed when she en-s
tered into d recital OF her life story.
"One never would think that Il spent.
13 years Of my life in a Catholic con-
vent, would one?" h paused, 20 see
what effect this would have on her au-
ditors. Nevertheless. 1t liz tr,re.s 7 was
born in Toronto. Canada. andSwhen =
small girl my father died and I was
placed in a convent at Hamilton, Ont
My mother then moved to Charleston,
w. Va, where she is now"
S3