Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-29
BIG4NY.
new man.

BIG4lfY.
A Whilom st. Pauiite Arrested for Bigamy
at Strong City, Kas.-The Evidence
Against Him Complete.
Early in 1871 there came to st. Paul
from Baltimore, a German who gave his
name as Tteodore Orbern. He stood
| about six feet in height, wore glasses,
dressed well, was pleasant spoken, and
appeared the educated gentleman. In 9
very short time he secured a position as
teacher in the Assumption church Ger
man Catholic) school, which was
speedily followed by his appointm
as sexton of the church. By his &C.
complishments as teacher and zeal in
church matters he soon won the confidence
of the priest and church officers, while his
pleasant social qualities made him a gen.
eral favorite and secured the entry to the
homes and festivities of the best German
society of the city.
Such, indeed, was his success that in
1872 he led to the altar Miss Walpurga
Hermann, the accomplished daughter of
Sdoo1ACA 44OLA4oA WOAA-LO-0O
mer living on the Fort road, a short dis
lance beyond Stahlman's brewery.
In the latter part of 1874 he severed his
connection with the Assumption church,
both the school and the sextonship, and
the next spring he acted for a short time
as the city agent of the wholesale liquor
house of Schmidt & Richter, which posi-
ton he left for the general agency, head
quarters st. Paul, of a Kentucky whisky
house, position he held only for a short
time. He then engaged with the VolkSzeitung
Prin ting company, as travelling agent, in
which service he made a business trip to
Milwaukee, from which city, he mystic
riously disappeared, a default to a small
amount made up of some collections he
had made, and deserving his wife, and two
children, fruits of the marriage. During
the latter part of his stay here, Orben, as
he was known, had INDUCED freely in drink,
but so far as yet developed, his only de
falcation was that referred to with the
Volkszeitung.
The next authoritative information as to
his whereabouts was last year when he
turned up at Strong City, Kas., and hung
out his shingle as physician, (which he
sustained by the production of diploma) !,
under the name of Theodore Blenkner.
Here, as in st. Paul, he soon made himself
popular with the citizens, and Feb.
last, he again went through
the marriage ceremony, the lady
this time being Miss Margaretta Rittiger,
daughter of man named Nicholas Rit-
tiger, occupying a prominent position in
German society in the place.
The fact of this latter marriage found
its way to st. Paul through correspond
ence of Catholic priest of Empor1a City,
the county seat of the county in which
Strong City is located, with the priests of
Assumption church, which CORE
spondence finally resulted in Great
ing SO strong conviction
that Orben and Blenkner were one and the
same personals to lead to Blenkner's arrest
last Friday GOOD Friday upon the charge
of bigamy, upon which charge he was held
to the grand jury, being committed to the
county jail at Emporia City in default of
bail. Following these proceedings, Mr..
David Rittiger, brother of the Strong
for proof of Blenkner's guilt,
his arrival Mr.. Rittiger has seen Mrs.
O1OCA t4A Uf VI pHOGO-
graphs, handwriting, ETC., in her possession
is thoroughly satisfied Orben and
Blenkner are one and the same.
But if this is not sufficient Prof Kerker.
present manager of the VoEkSzeitmng, is
able to put all doubts at rest, he having
| recognized Orben when he first came to
st. Paul from Chaska in 1878
as Theodore Blenkner, who was
! a classmate of his in college in Switzer.
| land, where both finished their education
| The name Orben he had taken is thatIof an
uncle. Finding him married, and all going
along smoothly and knowing nothing
| against the man beyond MS change of name
Prof. Kerker thought it best to keep his
knowledge to himself and did so.
There also begins to be suspicion that
the deserted st. Paul wife was
not Blenkner's first matrimonial
venture. Among the correspondence found
upon him at the time of his arrest was q
letter from brother still residing in the
principally of Baden, where Blenkner was
| born, in which he announced the death OF
their father, and that he had died without
extending his forgiveness for his having
deserted one woman to marry another
This letter WAS dated Feb. 2, two
| days before he was married
in Strong City. The only inference from
this is that there was prior marriage to
that in st. Paul, and there is still some
where another wife to mourn his perfdy.
| Armed with this evidence, and accom-
panied by Mrs. Orben to complete the
Identification, Mr.. Rittiger will leave foI
Emporia City in a day or two, and in due
time the news will undoubtedly be received
of Blenkner's sentence to the penitentiary
where he will have plenty of time to rumi-
nate upon his evil doing.
| THE LITE GAIT. HATCHER.
His Remains Laid to Rest at Winona With