The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-21
THE WANDERING JEWESS.
ETA LIBscuITz's COMPLAINT DISMISSED by
A POLICE JUSTICE.

ETA LIBscHITz's COMPLAINT DISMISSED ny
POLICE JUSTICE.
Tho romantic story OF Eta Libschitz, published
IN the HERALD at the time OF her appearance in court
was yesterday made tho subject OF Investigation by
Judge Uttcrpourg. Complainant and defendant APP.
pcarcd before the bar-.ho former worn, faded
woman, whom the wanderngs OF years had LETT
visible traces; tho latter comely intelligent looking
man. with light hair and beard and general flavor OF
Osip in tho "Danicnens.n He represented by his
counsel Mr.. Oscar Bogert, while the compliments
case In the hands Of Mr.. Isaac L. Sink. Az Mrs.
Libschitz was utterly ignorant OF the English lam
guagc considerable difficulty experienced IN
the examination, and interpreter familiar with
the patois Of her native place mad TO DO sent for
Substantially she rected the account OF her marriage
and desertion befor. published. and under strict
questioning insisted that she had been united to The
defendant according the Jewish law and IN strict
conformity with the laws as prescribed IN Russian
Poland. She said that at the time OF her nuptals
was only seventeen years OF age, and owing 10 tho
strange vlcssitudas she had passed through In later
years mucn OF her early recollection OF names and
faces had faded away. Accordingly she was un-
able To furnish the name OF the rabbi who onlci-
alcd at the ceremony, but said that among the
Witnesses WAS Ephraim. tho shoemaker OF HeseD,
md another parsonage, whom sho referred to somc-
what indefinitely as Inc son-in law oil Ruth. She said
that her parents had desired to divorce her from her
husband but sho had persisted In following his for
tunes until he finally abandoned her, and then on
seeking divorce Of her VIII he had refused
H. and said that he would consent to such arrangc
ment only the payment of 200 roublcs. Whilo
Postmaster OF the Province oil lvanolka he had ac-
knowedgcd her TO DO hts wife, and agreed TO pay u
rouUc per day Tor hor board there but had later
refused to observe his engagement and had entirely
discarded her.
At this point Counsellor Bogert began
inaton which developed some curious information
touching the practices OF the Polish Jews. Tue
pninant stated that prior 10 her marriage with tho
doon dant she had Ucen united wedlock TO another
man and divorced iron him, but all this had been
done al her parents bohcst and conducted that sho
not only oblivi0us as to the circumstances ana
time Of the ceremony, but was even unaware OF tho
name of 1rst husband. According to her account
she had been "a child az the Iime, and the
rage rites mad been performed ony 10 DC nulIincd
alter. Sucn unions, shc seemed to intimate,
we're common In her native place, and tho religious
divorcc when was there recognized by tho law
valid was IN general operation.
rho story OF tho defence was not detailed TO tho
Court, but IL was intimaed that he denied actual
marriage with Eta He claims that ut mcrrymak
Ing Ia the village OF Heiscn, ho ana the defendant
brought together and were deemed proper
couple To wed. He WAS only twelve years old at tho
time, but tho village gossips, III some way peculiar 10
tho place. arranged that tue bridal should take place
soon the young man attained his seventeenth
year Hc says that prior TO his reaching that age
left tho place and became "a Christian. the CON-
piuinant however, sworo that an authentic marriage
had been celebrated anu that she had lived with tho
defendant as his wife Tor several weeks.
Judge UtterDourg Oh hearing tho testimony, said
that no was not at liberty to act In tho case. Tho
charge brought against sachs was for aban donmen
and II he entertained and the woman =
cain upon him, he was virtually lcgalizng bigamy
and causing man TO support two wivos, as the de-
feDdant Is now Iiving In wedlock with nnotnor woman
III tho marriage with Eta legal, Sachs guilty
OF bigamy, and complaint Tor that offence should be
made against him aud The last marriage nulidcd.
In fine, tho Judge referred the complainant to a
civil court and dismissed the complaint