Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-09-08
Romance and Tragedy.

a romance that began in Newark, NJ.
some ten or twelve years ago anG eoded in q
tragedy shortly aterwerd i-GaF Bremen,
Germany, was resu!rected, s. 10 peak, in
the Essex Market Police Court, New York,
Thursday morning Plump aud pretty An-
ME Scheefer, who is nineteen years Of ese,
appeared with her face badly bruised IS
complainant against Stephen Aheu, a black
bearded mar Of about forty years, who has
been living in Brooklyn Annie told Justice
Ford that when Gho was nine yc&rs 0f age,
and whiie living ia Newark, her .a;her, Js-
cob, who had amassed fortune Of $4,000
in the saloon business died, leaving 30 vii.
Her mother tock charge Of the estate. She
aud her sister Minnie were the only child
ren. Her sister was about four gears old.
Shortly after her fathers Geath ner mother
became infatuated with Stephen Ahen, who
had wife in Newark at The ti!De, and sell
ing out the business she elopad wita him to
Germany, She took with her $25 600 in cash
and her two children. They travelled about
for some time from place 10 place, and at
last settled in little hamlet not lar from
Bremen. Ahen then began 10 drink
heavily and to live riotousiy. He used
also to neglect Annio's mother for other Ho-
men, and ii che murmured he hes hey. This
continued until nearly all OF the $4,000
which Mrs Schaefsr had had vas squauder-
ed. Late one night Ahen came honle sitter
weeks spree and her mother was in bed.
He went to her and asked her for $500. She
refused to give it to him, and he beat and
kicked her into uncousciousness. he tae1
fed, Annie wss in bed with her mother, and
was the only witness o! the assault. Two
or three days sfterwaid hnnie'a mother
died. 6hen was arrested, and at the trial
her testimony convicted him, aud he was
sentsnced to ten years IN ptiscn
Annie and her sister were put into an in
sttntion aod were supported by the govern
menu until they were Of age, and then Abea
was released from Imprisonment. The gov
ernmen; then bought three tickets 10 this
city for Ahen and the two sissers, anG they
arrived nero abou Christmas The ers got
work as servants and Ahen iocnG emp5y-
ment in Babbit.'3 soap factory ic Brooklyn.
Every three OF four weeks AaeG 80, drunk,
and on these occasions no almost invariably
turned up at the house whera Annie was at
work and gave her beating. Ie wanted
her 10 marty him. and because she persist.
entity refused to DO 50 ae threatened 20 take
her life as be had already that Other mother.
L' st Sunday night Ahen went to Mrs. o..
Langhagen's store where Annie was en-
ployed, and asked to see her. He told her
that he wansad to marry her and he offered
her betrothal ring. Marry me- be said,
"and we will go West and settle down"
Marry you?" seid Annie. 'Yon, ny
mothers murderer? Never! Not if you
owned half tie world !" "You will marry
me,D returned Ahen, advancing toward her.
Annie fled into the kitchen when Ahen
overlook and seized hold OF her. She again.
refused to go with him and be knocked her
down with blow of his fist and began to
kick her. Mrs. Langhagen and several
neighbors ran in TO protect Annie Rnd Aben
turned upoH them. a lively struggle en-.
sued aud only ceased when policeman
from the Fifth street station appeared and
took Ahen into custody.
The wife of Amen, woman who seemed
prematurely aged with giief, was in court.
She said that her husband was fend and
that he used to beat her dreadfully before
he eloped with Mrs. Schsefer She told
the Justice that there was not redeeming
trait in him, and that be had tried to ruin
both of the young girls whose mother he
had killed. Justice Ford held him in $500
bail.-Ne,O York Herald.