Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-06-23
A DEPosED CATHOLIC PRIEST CLAIMING
HIS WIFE IN A COURT OF JUSTICE.
From the Chicago Tribune, June III


From the Chicago Tribune, June H.
The case of The People er rrioiione Nj
cholas Stamber against Anthony SCHNEIDER,
which came before the Court OF Common
Pleas of Cook county, Hon. John NJ Wilson
presiding, on Saturday, presents curious
picture Of married life.
It appears that about year ago, Nicholas
Stamber, then priest of the Catholic church,
was united in marriage with Anna Mary
Schneider, German girl, the daughter of the
defendant, and a good Catholic. The mar
riage ceremony was performed by Father Pc
ter Kramer, in private room, without the
use Of the wedding ring, and without witness
ses. In all other respects, the marriage GER
emepy was performed according to the rites
OF the Catholis church. the parties agreeing
and asserting thereto, promising to be man
and wife to each other and the priest giving
them the nuptual benediction and pronounc-
ing them man and wife.
After the ceremony, Father Nicholas took
the girl home and kept her as an upper SER
want or housekeeper, treating her kindly and
paying her wages regularly. The girl says
herself that although he always spoke of her
as his wife, they occupied separate apart
ments.
Some three months since she left his house
and went to Niles, Michigan, where she enter
ed a family in the capacity of u servant. Her
own account is, that both her marriage to and
desertion from her husband was in accordance
with the advice of her parents and friends
To use her own language, "she was talked in
to it,"
Up to the time of his wife's leaving him,
Father Nicholas had continued his public
ministrations in the Church but since then
,I,r, HI L.. h., e.
priesthood, as has also Father Peter Kram-
er.
This suit was brought in the chancery side
Of the Court of Common Pleas, by the hus-
band to recover possession of his wife, whom
he alleged was illegally detained from him by
Anthony Schneider. The writ issued, COM
manding Schneider to procure the body of
Anna Mary before the Court 1t was served
on Schneider on the 9th of June, by II. S.
Buckley deputy sheriff. On going into the
country to serve the writ, he found Anna Ma
ry Mt the house of one Judson, about four
miles from her fathers residence, and took
her there with him.
On Saturday the defendant appeared be-
fore Hon John NJ. Wilson, in the Court of
Common Pleas, and in obedience to the writ
produced the body of his daughter The hus-
band was also present. For the purpose of
ascertaining the true state Of the case, and of
finding out what her wishes were in regard to
living with her husband, the Court ordered
the room to be cleared Of all persons but the
officers Of the court, an interpreter and re-
porters for the press, and proceeded TO ques-
tion the girl
We are not of course at liberty to disclose
all that was then elected; but it appeared in
addition to the above facts, that she did not
moi 1s,rt l. l.
cause her husband was priest that she
had left her husband of her own accord and
that she wished now to 60 with her parents
and stay with them, and not go with her hus-
band that the reason she wished to leave
her husband was that she had been educated
in the belief that she could never 60 to hea-
ven it she lived in marriage with priest but
that no threats whatever had been made to
her by her parents by the priest. or by the
Bishop. She gave her name as Anna Mary
Schneider, and not as Anna Mary Stamber.
Judge Wilson informed the lady that the
marriage was a perfectly valid and legal one,
by the laws of this State although it might
be matter of discipline in their own church,
ana that she could not marry any other man
while her husband was living; but that she
was not compelled to live with him and ask
ed whom she would go with, her husband or
her father? She answered promptly, with her
father. The doors were then reopened, and
her husband and parents, the attorneys on
both sides, and the other members of the bar
re-entered.
! The husband was informed that the body
of his wife had been produced, and that she
was Here in court, the marriage, by the laws
of Illinois, was perfectly legal and valid, but
that he was not to use any force in compel
ling her to 60 with him.
| The husband now walked across tho room
to where the lady stood, and intimated to her
his desire that she should 60 home with him.
But she resolutey refused; nor could all his
persuasions induce her to waver from her de-
termination. She left the court with her pa
rents, and the last we saw Of the oisconsolate
spouse, he was following in the wake of his
wife, pouring forth his entreaties, to which
she turned deaf ear.