The New York herald., 1920-01-27
.SPANGS BELIEVED
DAUGHTER UNRULY
Mrs. Ancker Once Under evil
Influence" of Another
Woman, Is Testimony.
AIR THE AFFAIRS OF FAMILY
Will Contestant Appears Unconcerned
at Trial Over 100000
Bequest.

FAMILY skeleton, inferred fifteen years
ago. was resurrected yesterday at the con-
test Of the will OF Mrs. Rosa e. Spans.
being tried before Surrogate Cohalan and
a jury in the Surrogate's Court. The ex-
huming disclosed bitter controversy be-
tween Mrs. Spa-g and her daughter. who
no" Is F..sputing the will, which leave.
more than 100000 for the benefit Of
abandoned children
"hen about nineteen years of age the
daughter. whose name, il was revealed
Is Mrs. Mabel Spang Ancker wife OF
wealthy merchant. Of COPENHAGEN. Dem
mark. instead of Mrs. crome. as she ba.
hitherto appeared, aroused the mothers
ire because of her companionship with
another woman
fmally, Mrs. Spans had her daughter
taken to an institution in an effort to free
neI from the other womans influence
IL was the hope of Mrs Spane and her
husband, Charles n Spang, Pittsburg steel
MANUFACTURER. who later left an estate Of
upward or IS. 900. that the forced retreat
OF their daughter could be accompIishe5
Without acquainting their friends Of the
situation. but every precaution went for
( nausht when the young woman applied
proceedings
charles c. Lockwood. State Senator and
, formerly legal adviser of the Spangs. told
OF ther atairs while being cross-examined
oy Henry w. Taft. counsel for the propon
ents OF the will, George W Wickershan,
CoIonel Michael Friedsam and Or. Henry
dwight Chaplin. Edgar T. Brackett. one
time State Senator. representing Mr..
Ancker, objected to hearsay TESTIMONY
that her mother had been cruel.
Affair Spoiled Their Pence.
Mr.. Taft explained that letters found
among Mrs. Spang's effects at the Wal
dort. where she had lived, showed the
trend of the family opinion toward the
oaughter' Several of the letters were
written by Mr. SpanS to his wife at the
time Mrs. Ancker was trying to gain he,
liberty He wrote that the affair OF
Mabel had completely ruined the peace
ana happiness of our lives and il nov
threatens to have our private life exposed
/ to public view
Mr.. Spang thought that it would be best
| 10 suppress everything rather than have
public disclosure. Another time he wrote
| 70 Mrs. Spang from the Duquesne Club
| In Pittsburg that his relatives were dis
Gusted with the whole affair and con
demned her for bringing upon them un-
\ peasant notoriety. though he was glad
that the lawyers had shown dexteritv in
tacturer said he approved every step takcr.
by Mrs. Spang 10 guard their daughters
morals, regardless of what his relative,
thought. Jurlsts he consulted approved
pacing the young woman in an institution
for unruy children
! In this letter Mr. Spane added that ne
was sending his wife s2o00oo for herself
Mr.. Taft was skeptical of such generosity
as he read this paragraph There n1iIrt
! De a mistake; NC don't send our wives
that amount every week" he exclaimed.
( There's no mistake about that" re-
sponded Senator Lockwood. "Tt Was quite
like Mr.. Spang to l. 'ish money on his
wife. The Surrogate and spectators
gasped.
! Mr. Taft continued to question Senator
lockwood about this distressing family
situation" and produced a letter which
contained excerpts from . decision ~
Justice Marion. of the 3rooklyn Supreme
Court, dismissing the young woman's Plea
for her freedom and justifying her mother
for taking extreme measures 10 wros
hnr from the control OF the otter woman
This letter stated that Mrs. Ancker was
unfilial and disobedent while subjected
TO the vicious influences Of tho other
woman, whose name appeared TO be Scism
Daughter sent Abroad.
! A. or the daughter had unsuccessfully
sought reversal in the Appellate Divi-
the Court Of Appeals. family council was
! held, at which Senator LockwUod advised
the Spangs TO send the young woTna
abroad. Much against his viii MI Spang
agreed, and a chaperon was engaged to
look after the daughter Early in 1905
\ she went abroad and remained there five
years, returning here for a short while
during which she lived apar. from her
parents
There was partial reconciliation when
the daughter was married In the Cathedral
OF st. John the Divine in 1916 TO man
named Crome. Both parents were present
and gave expensive gifts TO the daughter
Two years ago Mrs. Crome divorced her
husband in Copenhagen and has her de-
cree, which bears the Royal seal. as T.
customary in Denmark She later married
Aage Ancker. Copenhagen merchant.
Mrs. Ancker seemed indifferent 10 the
testimony. She sat near Senator Bracket
toying with blue Jade necklace and oc-
| casionally convcrsnG with her husband
who was at her side She Is a prepos-
sessing woman Of thirty-fiVe. fair complex
ion and her shapely slender figure was ex-
pensively gowned in black silk.
Some Of the strange whims os Mrs
Spang. who died last year at the age OF
seventy-four. were brought out by Senator
/ Bracket in his questioning Of Mr.. Lock
wood. once she resented acce pting a re.
] bate from the Waldorf amounting TO $40
saying she would not become an object of
charity, and il required much persuasion
on tho part Of her attorney 10 convince her
that IL was a customary privilege allowed
! TO persons who stayed there reguls rlv
Another time Mrs. Spang remarked that
n parade" was being made OF her hus-
bands estate. which amounts to only
about 100000 and wasn't of consequence
nor worth talking about"
Senator Lockwood said he introduced
Mr.. Wickersham 10 the testatrix and that
the one-time United states Attorney Gen
eral. who later drew up tho will now being
contested. remarked that Mrs. Spang
seemed to be vacillating old woman.
The trial will be resumed today.
AC0lIITTEn 0E CHARGE