The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-05-24
THE STEGHR SHOOTING.
Simple Minded Pauline
Talks About al" and
Her Trouble.
NEVER PROMISED MARRIAGE.
Mrs. Steger is in New York State
for Medical Treatment.


in THE JERSEY CITY NEWS
When called at the Office Of the ex-
Director last evening, he and his daughter
were there alone. Mr.. Steger had wor-
ried and careworn expression, and was
much excited and nervous. His daugh-
tcr's eyes were red and swollen, and In
dicated that she had been weeping.
When asked if the story published by
The News was correct, Mr.. Steger said It
was substantially, and that the one or
two errors were of no importance. He
was requested to point them out. but re-
fused, remarking: will not be inter
viewed. This matter has got to be venti-
lated by the Court, now it has gone too
far to be stopped. If by paying these
Freiknecht people five cents would settle
the case / would not do it. No. not if it
should cost me 5000. y
The ex-director later informed me that
his wife had been taken to the house OF
some friends in the State OF New York
for medical treatment, for her condition
was very bad. He added to this that the
two families had been neighbors for at
least twelve years, and said Pauiina had
been employed by his wife as servant
twice.
More like one whom we adopted, = in
terjected Miss Steger, who had been an
attentive listener. why, ever since she
was a child she has never bought dress,
but has been given mine and others by
my mother"
Eyes, that is SO, said Mr.. Steger. ssand
for months at a time this family had not
a mouthful to eat except what passed
over my fence to them when-When--
d-n it; well, it don't matter when, =
rather incoherently concluded Mr.. Ste
ger.
WENT TO NEW YORK.
Director, how old is your sonf
lille is little past twenty -four years Of
age"
Where is he nowsn
He is in New York He is wholesale
butcher and lives In New York because it
is more convenient for him, for he goes
to business about two o'clock in the
morning"
Glow long has he lived there2''
sOh. he went there before the trouble, 2
quickly replied Miss Steger HE went
there to live at least six months ago.
Did your son ever offer to marry Paul
inc, Mr.. Steger."
Il will not be interviewed. I told you
that before You know me and know I
cannot be pumped by any one was the
excited answer, A moment later asked
him if it was not true that be had told the
net y - Ltlst ft ttpuItl AlNt bAGHI 8AA3
to settle the case and he admitted he had,
but declared emphasicaII that now he
would not give them one cent.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs Freiknecht
and her daughter and the four weeks
old grand daughter called on Counsellor
Max Salinger, and soon after they all
went before Justice Of the Peace Aid
ridge and complaint for malicious and
felonious assault was taken by him,
whatever that means, and soon after
ward Ex-Director Steger, accompanied
by his wife, called on the justice, and
Mrs. Steger gave herself up. Justice
Aldridge fixed the bail of the accused
woman at $500 TO await the action of the
Grand Jury. Her husband became her
surety.
After learning these facts I called at
the house of the Freiknechts where Mrs.
Freiknecht was found surrounded by her
family, consisting of her husband, two
sons, who are young men, Paulina and
the baby.
Mrs. Freiknecht repeated the story she
told me yesterday. at more length. She
said that before Mrs. Steger came to her
house that lady met Mrs. White,
neighbor, who lived on the OPP
posite side of thestreet, and told
her that she intended to kill Mrs.
Freiknecht. Then Mrs. Stegercame to
the basement with an old pair Of
shoes which she said she wanted
Mr.. Freiknecht to repair. Mrs. Steger
was dressed in a black silk gown, but
had no hat on. She appeared greatly ex-
cited, and when she spoke to Mr.. Frei-
knecht it was in a tremulous whisper.
Mrs. Steger did not speak to Mrs. Frei-
knecht at all. The latter was seated in
one of the two windows in the basement.
When Mrs. Steger started for the door
she walked backward, and when she
reached it she suddenly drew a revolver,
and pointing it at Mrs. Steger pulled the
trigger. The pistol missed fire.
WANTED TO SHOOT BOTH
ssI screamed She'll shoot mer y said
Mrs. Freiknecht, "and then ran into the
back room. As did so the pistol was
discharged and my husband jumped
up
the pistol from her," interpolated Mr..
Freiknecht. .'but she aimed it at me and
backed out of the basement into the
yard, where she shot it again. intending
to shoot my wife through the window.
The bullet struck the casings"
Mrs. Steger," resumed Mrs. Freik-
necht, then went home, got her hat and
went to the station house, where she
said, I've shot q woman and want
to give myself up.' Mrs Steger's
daughter, as soon as the pistol
was fired, ran to her fathers Office and
took him to the station house. I met him
WQ6l Il W61U bu6Fe W udk6 u c0ulp p1alut
and asked him what it meant that his
wife should come in my house to shoot
me, and he only said, 'Pah, pah, pah.'
and went ON. He put his wife on q car
and, / think, took her to New York.
s'Do you intend TO prosecute her?n
II shall do what my lawyer says
right.'
Paulina's brother produced Bible al
this time and said:-"You see Paulina
was only sixteen years old on May OF
this year.
The record showed that she was born
May 4, 1874, which made her under the
age of consent when her ruin was ac-
complished.
.Will you force Alfred Steger to marry
youfp asked the girl.
s'He must marry me or give me money
to support my child, 2 said she.
Din you ever demand any money OF
Mr. Steger's father?'
Eyes: for Mrs. Steger and Mr. Steger
both told me they had 500 in the safe
for me, and Als father showed me long
paper that he wanted me to sign before
he would give me the money. AL never
said he would marry me, but told him
if trouble followed our intimacy would
make him pay for it. would not settle
thee the case now for 500, . said She.
The girl does not seem TO realize her
disgrace, she is so simple-minded and
child-like.
A proposition is under consideration
for the Pennsylvania Railroad % 80