The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-11-19
STATEMENT BY
MRS. c. B. CROWELL
Reviews Events Leading Up
to Beginning of Divorce
Proceedings
DENIES ALLEGATIONS
MADE BY MIR. CROWELL
Makes Plea in Behalf of Her Invalid
Son-Says She Never Was Welcome
at Crowell Home-Her Life in Cal
ifornia an Open Book.

ifornia an Open Book.
To the People of Brattleboro:-
! ask YOU to hear me, not for my
sake but for my boy 5. For his 50 Ike
left M home and am living in exile;
for his sake I waived contest in your
court when, knowing how that absence
could bc misconstrued, Mr.. Christie
Crowcll publicly charged me with the
most shameful sin and divorced me on
that charge; for his sake now lay
pride aside and come before YOU, a
woman cruelty prosecuted, asking no
Kindness for herself but only hear
ing for a little child. For, though by
sacrifice ! may save his body, his hon
or lies in the hands of the world; as
YOU Judge the mother 50 will you treat
the son. For his honor hear the de-
Tense | could not make in court.
came among YOU a western girl,
stranger to your ways OF life and
thought. know ! Numbered often and
misunderstood. Yet in spite of it all
many Of YOU reached kindly hands to
ne. That ! shall never forget, my
heart IL grateful. | was unwelcome
in the family whore went. There was
no welcome in that home for any bride,
much less for one SO young, afraid an
formed. When in October on the wit
ness stand Mrs. Mary Crowell was
asked if my husband could not come
west To make a home with his wife
and son she replied: Certainly not,
unless he wishes to desert his family
altogether. This statement is filed
OF record In that sentence hes NY
tragedy. They were his family-not
his wife and child. Christians, they
yet set aside the bidding OF Christ that
mau should leave mother and father
aud cleavc to his wife | do not blame
them now. They were not capable Of
greater vision.
Igshallstel vou no more OF all the
sadness that lay behind the scene; the
rest YOU must guess. The years were sad.
In time ! found Joy in writing and IL
lustrating and always my little son
and | had our life apart. To him |
! was not . wcsterner unwelcome, bgt
! his mother.
ln the spring Of 1912 contracted to
/ illustrate a book for Mr.. Robert Wal
! lace OF this work Mr.. Crowcll thor.
oughly approved as the Crowclls al
! WAYS urged me 70 make money. AS the
work progressed Mr.. Wallace stayed
more and more 1T our home, alway-
with the knowledge, consent and ap
/ rroval Of Mr.. G.. Crowell and Or. Law
/ ton, who had legal control over Mr.
! Wallace S movements. Every phase OF
| my relations and work with Mr.. Wal
Race was known to Mr.. c. Crowell. On
\ Oct. ii, 1912, | became guardian OF
! Mr.. Robert Wallace with the approval
! and assistance OF Mr.. &. CroWell, DR.
n Lawton. th" probate court of Vermont
and Mr.. Wallace 5 family. In this mat
ter the late Mr.. George T.. Crowell be
came my boudsman.
On Nov. >. 1912, ! left for a visit
20 my mother, accompanied by my sol
and b. Mr.. Wallace There was n,
secrecy about this visit: il had beer
planned since the preceding spring an,
was openly discussed. Before lcavin.
| received letters OF approval, person
al aud official, from DR.. Lawton, VIII
WAS, Is alWayl, most puuctilious il
the discharge Of his duties These let
tiers are filed for use in court. Ais
other statements made in this articl
are Substantiated by documents and al
| hdayits now ready for use in court.
Before leaving, Mr. Christie Crowel
wrote to Mr. Wallace's father invit
ing his son to share the trip west wit
me and extending the hospitality of m
mother $ home.
On the trip west my son fell serious
~ i'll. For year he lay at death
door, and mas never since been able t
return east, being continually under til
care of doctors. He is unable to eve
travel around California and we m
forced 20 live in the mountains, ia
from any Of my friends or relative
i Here alone hc Is free from asthm;
Three attempts to change his residenc
have resulted i'm prGstrating Hines
y within twenty four hours.
During my five years stay Mr.. {
Crowell has visited us twice, the vi
It's being most friendly. He has nevt
requested me 10 return, has indeed rca
I
and has continually promised an
! planned residence here. His attitude |
Mr.. Wallace was also friendly. II
sent him boxes Of cigars and invest,
= 800 in business in which Mr.. Wa
lace was interested
In August, 1916, to my shock IN
grief ! received letter from Mr..
Crowcll requesting a divorce Such
thing had never been discussed betwet
rs. He said he had no complaint
make save that our tcmpcraments we
Incompatible. But he no longer desire
= to live west I'm the first place.
said, man had offered to invest ST.
GOO in the Brattleboro Water Worl
and the offer seemed too good OF
. to lose; III the second place he 60
N Sdcrcd his first duty to be TO his motht
: This letter is also on file and a COZ
viii be sent TO any interested par
who will write me.
! was Mortified. | knew that N
II 4