The Jersey City news., 1889-11-22
AVITNESS FOR THEAL
The Hoboken Man Who
Figures in the Cronin
Murder Case.
BUDENBENDER's QUEER WEDDING
While in Flight from His Actress
Wife He Had Chance to See
the Color Of a Horses
Legs in Chicago.


The fact of Louis Budenbeuder (Jr.), Of
Hoboken, being an important witness in
the celebrated Cronin trial at Chicago has
set the gossiping tongues of that CITY
wagging and resurrected the scandal con-
nected with his sudden disappearance
from Hoboken little over year ago.
Mr.. Budenbender fed to Chicago at
that time and installed himself $50 he
states in his testimony at the house Of
the late DR.. Cronin.
One year ago there was no more popu-
lar young man in Hoboken than Lou
Budenbender. He is son of Mr.. Buden-
bender, of the real estate firm Of Buden
bender g. Moller. at No. Washington
street.
Heis tall, handsome, and has decided
military appearance. He was a member
of one of the boat clubs and was Lieuten-
ant in Company d, Second Regiment. He
was member of the Fat Mems Club in
this city, and was q factor In the leading
German organizations of Hoboken; and
tnen, to cap the climax, he had lots of
money and was much sought after by
marriageable young women.
LOVE FOR AN ACTRESS.
He was impervious to the charms of the
lHIldl6 Sea- uUWGFcI, uubll Ou6 ulHHJs
while he was out with the boys, he met
the woman who afterward caused hlm SO
much trouble and sent him on. his down
ward career. The woman was known as
Frances Hilliard and was habitue of
Cronheims Variety Theatre. She was
blonde of good figure and wore eyeglasses
which set her other charms off TO perfec-s
tion. Budenbender seemed to lose all
control of himself in his passion for this
frail creature and spent money laviShlY
upon her.
He neglected his Business and former
associates and devoted his entire time to
her. The rooms of the Cronheim's
the theatre, was favorite trysting place
for the pair, and Lou" opened cham
payne by the barrel and drank his share
of it himself. Then came the climax.
A WEDDING AT A CLUB MEETING.
One night about three weeks after he
had met Frances he brought her to Jersey
City. They stopped at several resorts and
soon were in an exhllirated conditions
Suddenly Lou" proposed that they 60
and get married. Frances" of course,
was willing and they repaired to the club
rooms of the Fat Mems Club, OF which
"Lnr was member, and omeeting JUS
tice Weed asked him to marry them.
The judge tried to advise Lou" against
the rash step, but he persisted and the
ceremony was performed, Budenbender
afterwards claimed that he was drunk at
the time and did not know what he was
doing.
The marriage was kept quiet for awhile
at Budenbender's solicitation and not
even his most intimate friends were let
| into the secret. Everything went along
smoothly until Frances claimed that ne
neglected her and refused to provide for
her support.
NO SUPPORT FROM HIM.
Che coiA fhaf rUh hn ocHa6 him for
money for her immediate wants he told
her to go to her other lovers, and that she
could have got along better by remaining
single On the other hand Budenbender
claimed that she was unfaithful TO him
ana received the company of others.
Up to this time the affair had not re-
ceived any publicity, and when the
| marriage became known it created tre-
| mendous sensation. Owing to the promi-
nent social position of Budenbender,
| however, the main story, which has just
been told, was suppressed.
| Francis threatened him with arrest and
exposure unless he provided for her and
| publicly recognized her as his wife, and
| he fled to Chicago, leaving several friends
| who had loaned him money in hole.
| Several debts contracted by him on his
| high flying expedition were also left un-
paid They were afterward settled by his
| father, who was almost distracted by his
| favorite sons disgrace.
| 1t appears that when Budenbender fed
| to Chicago he installed himself in the fiat
! in which DIR. Cronin lived.
| About month ago Budenbender sur
prised his friends by appearing in Ho-
! boken From what can be learned his
| friends had secured settlement with his
deserted wife, and she decided not to
prosecute him. She is at present domi-
| ciled in suite of rooms in West Fifteenth
street. New York, where she is known as
| May Wilson.
A WITNESS FOR THE ALIBI.
| Last Sunday night Budenbender had
another surprise in store for his friends.
! He appeared on Washington street with
| a pripsack in his hand and exhibiting q
! subpoena, said that he was bound for
| Chicago to testify for the defense in the
| Cronin case At the trial yesterday he
| testified that he was standing in door
! way opposite the Conklin residence on the
| evening of May 4 when he saw horse
1 and buggy drive up. He testified that
! the animal was not white, but dark
| gray, with black legs.
| This testimony is designed to prove
| that the animal used was not the cele-
| brated white horse used by Dan"
| Coughlin, " hich was hired from Livery
man Dinan.
| When Mr.. Budenbender concluded his
| testimony he was Immediately sub
ppnaed by the prosecution.
The prosecution had inquired into Mr..
| Budenbender's past history, and decided
! tosubpnna him Immediately in order to
| prevent him from leaving the State.
1t will be seen then that Mr.. Buden-
! bender will probably not be back to HO-
boken again as soon as he anticipated
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