Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-19
PURSUING AN ELopING WIFE.

In the quiet little village of Rappach, Ger
many, the name of Raabe is a familiar one
Hermann Raabe, up to short time ago,
was the proprietor of an inn that was known
for miles around for the excellence of its
yiands and the resources ofits cellar. Mine
host was popular among the honest country
folk, and everything seemed to prosper with
him.
Among the inhabitants of the village were
| two young sisters celebrated for their beauty
and their pleasing manners. Raabe was
completely captivated by the blue eyes and
golden hair of Anna, the younger sister.
Hermann was we'll to do and only twenty
seven years of nge, and when he solicited
the hand of the village belle he got it and
Anna became Mrs. Raabe.
Raabe was devoted husband and every
thing was bright and happy in the house
hold A short time ago, however, Hermann
grew dissatisfied with the way things went
at the inn and determined to sell out. A
purchaser was soon found, and the 1000
marks that Hermann received for his prop
erty were given into the keeping of his wife,
Anna. A comfortable little home on the
outskirts of the village was found, and
thither the young husband took his wife.
About month ago he was called away
from home for few days on some trivial
business, and saying good-by to his wife he
left the town with light heart.
| Annals sister had been married to young
man named Gustav Grabb. Grabb had been
a frequent visitor at the Raabe home, and
| unknown to the husband had conceived
violent attachment for his pretty sister-in-
law. Taking advantage of the opportunity
offered by Raabe's absence he declared his
love and besought the wife to leave her hus-
band and come to America with him. He
painted glowing pictures of the happiness
they would find in the free land across the
sea, and, being smooth of tongue and pleas
ing in manner, the woman at last yielded
to his supplications and agreed to abandon
home, husband and friends to follow him.
Grabb, although protesting to be deeply
got not the snug little sum of 1000 marks
that the confding husband had given to his
wife for safe keeping. Not satisfied with
obtaining the money he succeeded in strip.
ping the little home of it's furnishings, most
of which he sold, retaining only few ar
tices of clothing and bedding.
The couple left the village and, proceed
ing to Bremen, took passage on the steamer
Fulda for New York.
A few days later Raabe returned TO the
village happy at the successful termination
of his business transactions and glad to get
back to his home On his arrival, when
told of his wife's faithlessness, he refused to
believe what was told him and hurried 10
his home only to find his wife gone and the
little sum of money he had counted upon to
establish his new business gone as we'll. He
was left penniless, and, to make matters
worse, the man who had blighted his life
had also left behind him helpless wife and
three little ones. He at last managed to
scrape together sufficient money to pay his
way to America, whittier he learned the
runaway couple had gone.
The Fulda arrived in New York in due
time and Mrs Raabe and her lover disem-
barked, hired rooms in Eighth avenue, near
Thirty seventh street, and settled down in
what they fancied was perfect safety from
the search of the husband.
On board the steamer Ems, which follow
ed close in the wake of the Fulda, came the
husband. On his arrival he went immedi.
ately to the Commissioners of Emigration
and told his story. He received every as
surance Of their sympathy and promise OF
| their assistance in his search for his wife.
Detective Groden, of Castle Garden, was in
troduced to him and got to work at once.
He told reporter the story of his search
for the eloping pair.
II Immediately began search of the i'm
migrant boarding houses" said he, "but
found no trace of the couple. At last I OBJ
tanned clew that led me to Thirty-seventh
street and Eighth avenue. found that the
pair had lived there, but had left suddenly
q couple of days ago and left no trace. l
discovered one afternoon last week that
Grabb had bought tickets for Kentucky via
the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
road, and that he would leave with the
woman in about an hour. Taking the
husband with me, l hurried over to Hobo
| ken. succeeded in obtaining u warrant
into the State, and just managed to nab
the pair as they came into the depot a
minute before the train left. took care of
the man and left Raabe to look after his
wife. The poor fellow seemed completely
overcome at the sight of the woman. He
threw his arms around her neck, too much
pleased at finding her again to think of her
perfdy. was disappointed, though" con-
tinued the detective, laughing, "for I'd have
liked to see him smash the miserable villain
that caused the trouble"
When arraigned for examination last week
the Judge decided that he could not hold
Grabb. as Raabe had regained his wife and
his money. The detective prevailed upon the
court to send all hands before the Commits
sioners of Emigration in New York. Then
Anna and her lover were tried before Com.
missioner Hurlbut, president of the board
as Judge, and Superintendent Jackson, Mr.
Glen and Captain Heinzman as q jury. De-
tective Groden acted as attorney for the
plaintiff, and the case was settled IN very
few minutes, the jury returning verdict Of
guilty and Grabb being sentenced to sum
mary and severe dismissal from the Garden
The Severity was administered by the
detective to his evident satisfaction.
All things were amicably arranged be
tween husband and wife. and thew left the