The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-12-01
PETERS DISCHARGED.
Mrs. Begeman's Story Dis
credited by Justice
Busch.
HER RECORD has A RAKING OVER
But There Are Still Many Who
Have Bad Things to Say
of Peters.

Mrs. Ella Begeman, the pretty young
married woman, who accused William
Peters, the timekeeper of the Hamburg
Dock, in Hoboken, with indecent assault,
is a blackmailer.
That the woman and her husband are a
pair Of artful schemers. always plotting
TO ensnare prominent men who are sus-
ceptible to Mrs. Begemen's many charms,
was proven beyond doubt at an examin-
alton held in Judge Rusch's Court in Ho-
boken yesterday morning
The previous examination Of Peters on
Monday night was told exclusively in
The JERSEY CRY NEWS of Wednesday.
Mrs. Begeman's story at that time was
given in a very straightforward manner,
and bore every semblance of truth. She
was a clever actress and told her story
interspersed with sobs.
Her statement was corroborated in
several points by fellow who claimed
to have worked or the Hamburg Dock
at the time of the alleged assault.
The evidence was so strong against
Peters at the conclusion of that examine
ton that Judge Rusch aud everyone in
the court room were satisfied that Mrs.
Begeman was q cruelty wronged woman,
and Judge Rusch decided to hold Peters
for the Grand Jury
Mrs. Begeman, seeing the effecti her
plausible story had produced, at once in
stituted suit against Peters for $4,000.
Truly Peters was in a bad plight His
friends would scarcely recognize him
and he was threatened with discharge by
his employers unless he proved the
woman's charges false.
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
Than 81 cbnnnQ T1rdon Rucph
held the papers in the case, at the earnest
solicitation of Peters, who said that he
would prove conspiracy to extort money
from him. He told the Judge what lie
knew about the woman, and Constable
Reese was detailed by the Court to inves-
tiQate her past record. Reese did SO, and
found enough to warrant Judge Rusch in
holding further examination yesterday
morning. The first witness for the de-
fence was Arthur Schreckenstein, clerk
residing at No. 6S Bloomfield street.
Less than two years ago, he said, II
was asked by Mr. Begeman to accompany
him to his house. He said he wanted to
catch q man in a compromising situation
with his wife, and he wanted me as
witness. | went along, and saw enough.
/ saw Mrs. Begeman in position that
admitted of no explanation.
i have since found out that the man was
a wealthy house-mover in Jersey City.
There was a scene between Mr.. and Mrs.
asegemans and the offender was ordered
to leave the house by Mr.. Begeman. After
the contractor left, Mr.. and Mrs. Beige
man had great time drinking and sing
ing. Suit was brought by Begeman
against the house-mover for $1,000 dam
ages, for alternating his wife's affections.
Lawyer Baker, of the Fuller Building in
Jersey City, represented Begeman. The
case was compromised by the defendants
paying Begeman s., 900.
This was Schreckenstein's story, and
during its recital Mrs Begeman twitched
nervously in her chair and underwent all
changes of colors.
Mrs. Begeman was then placed on the
stand. She admitted that the story told
by Schreckenstein was true and that she
WAS intimate with the Jersey City house
mover and that she liked him better
than she did her husband. She denied
any conspiracy, however, to ensnare the
man. Mr.. Begeman said that it was
true that he asked Schreckenstein to ac
company him to the house; that he knew
he would find her with the other man,
that suit had been instituted for 5000,
but was compromised by the payment of
500.
PETERS ACQUITTED
The defence had more witnesses but
the Judge thought that he had enough
evidence to warrant him in discharging
Peters.
He gave Mrs Begeman severe over
hauling and called her blackmailer who
was menace to society, and said that he
would see the District Attorney in refer
ence to her
1t is needless to say that the suit for
10000 against Peters has been discon-
tinued. When l called at Mrs. Beige
mans residence, No. n Washington
street, persistent ringing at the bell
ELECTED no response and l was told by the
landlord that Mrs. Begeman contem
plated moving.
BUT THERE'S MORE TO FOLLOW.
So Peters was acquitted, but | got
another side of the story when / visited
the ball of the K. U. V. Einigkeit at Odd
Fellows Hall last night. The members
of this association are nearly all night
men on the Hamburg dock. While get
ting the names of the officers of the ball
| mentioned the fact that l was from THE
JERSEY CITY News. On speaking the
name of the paper / was instantly be-
sieged by about dozen who wanted to
tell me something about Peters.
One of the men, who positively de-
clined to give his name, said:-"This
man, Peters, tried to commit an assault
on my wife one night about six months
ago. The next night laid for him and
chased him from the house with poker"
All of them spoke in this strain. They
say that Peters visited the houses OF all
OF the night men while they were at work
and attempted to assault their wives. In
some cases he succeeded. One pretty
young woman was pointed out to me by
one OF the members as being his wife.
She said that Peters had attempted to
assault her on three different occasions.
The names of the persons who make
these serious charges are known to me
and can be furnished if necessary.
AIr. Peters Writes Letter.
HAMBURG DOCK. HoBoKEN, N. j.,
November 80, 1899.
To the Editor of the Sunday Morning Nelw:-
SIR:-A few days ago your paper had an
article about me, secured, 1 presume,
fr1p the lawyer of Mrs. Begeman, of