The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-04
RUNS In THE BLOOD.
Why Joe Kentzler's Wife De-
serted Him.
DEsERTlon a FAMILY TRAIT.
His GRANDMOTHER, Mother, Cousins, Un-
Giles and Aunts All Had Like
Adventures.

Mile Tompkins. the woman whose dis
appearance was reported to the police last
Wednesday by the husband, Joe Kentzier.
did not disappear "mysteriously," as was
at first reported. but simply followed q Gus
tom of her family for four generations
back, of running away with another man.
Who this object of the affections of Mrs.
Kentxier, aims Mrs. Seth Carpenter,
alias Mrs. John McGlass, alias Mrs.
John Sawyer. is is unknown, but detectives
who are on her trail suspect that it is one
G. II. Lander. late arrival from Helena,
her former home. According to the story
related to o PosT-IxTELLIGExcER reporter
last night by Jack Tompkins. father Of the
girl and driver of the Rainier Hotel bus
desertion has been common practice with
the family. and the extent to which it has
been carried on is marvellous. His story is
as follows:
Thirty-fve years ago the grandmother OF
the woman whom the police searched for
several days, Mrs. Charles Strickland,
shocked all of Erie county, New York, by
clipping with man named Bishop. They
went to Rochester aud after three children
had been born she died q miserable
death amid poverty and crime in
that city. Charles Strickland married
again and moved to North Manitou island
on Lake Michigan, taking with him his
daughter. now Mrs, Jack Tompkins. alias
Mrs. Bill Lowe, of Helena, Mont. There
Jack Tompkins met her, and in 1860 they
were married. A little later Wheeler Strick-
land, her brother, married a young
lady. and after short welded life deserted
her for a woman more suited to his de-
PRAYED tastes. 1t broke the unfortunate
young wife's heart, and she pinned away
and died OF grief. A little later Farren
Cummings, Mrs. Thompkins' uncle. cruelty
deserted his spouse in North Mani
tou county for another damsel,
an ideal according 70 his Judgment An
aunt of hers, also a Cummings, tried
welded life, and her infamous conduct
caused her husband. one Scott, to leave
her. She tried it again, and Wallace. Sec
ond choice, followed in the footsteps of
Scott. In 1867 old Charles Strickland,
father of the disgraceful flock was drowned
with party of two men and one woman
going from North Maniton island to Glenn
harbor. Jack Tompkins, tired OF the mo-
toriety that his connections had obtained
in Michigan, took his wife and two child
rem and came out to Cumberland,
Wis.,, and went into the cattle
business. In 1876 he left his family
there and went into the Black Hills
There his vile displayed that trait of
character which had brought disgrace upon
every one who had borne her family name.
When her husband left, she took $500 in
money and a nice double team and went
off on q trip. 1t took her just six weeks to
spend the money and what she
got for the team, and her foolish
husband had to send her $50 to pay her
fare home. In 1882 the family moved to
Medora, OAK, and thence to Helena.
Mont There Tompkins' daughter met
Joseph Kentzler six years ago and married
him. Mrs. Tompkins, who had,
since her exploit in Cumberland, Wis,
been the cause of much trouble in the
family, became infatuafed with one Bill
Rowe. a character in Helena, and four
years ago she kept up the family record by
skipping out with him. Previous to that
her daughter, the one now here in
Seattle. not to be outdone by her
dear mother. saw her real affinity in Seth
Carpenter. The affection was carried right
into her own home, despite the protests of
husband and fath,r. There came a crisis
and the shameless woman left her
home. Her mother was placed IN
the house of old mother Gordan,
a famous road resort outside of
Helena. by Carpenter. Jack Tompkins,
who was then driving q stage out of
Helena, followed his wife to the house.
and was shot in the head by Mrs. Gordan
for his trouble. Mrs. Tompkins lived
with Rowe under his name, but
Mrs. kentzler was not true to Seth
Rowe. Deserving him she took up with
one McGiass. character in Helena, and
and in turn left him for John Sawyer, with
whom she lived all last year in Butte.
Joseph Kentzler, her husband, firing of
family strife, left the country and came to
Seattle. He was followed by his father-in-
law, who was also weary of the trouble
The mother and daughter remained. and
continued to lead the scandalous lives that
they had chosen until short time ago,
when the former accused the latter OF be-
ing too friendly with Bill Rowe. her man,
and gave her a sound thrashing. That was
too much, and leaving all her evil asso.
ciates, she came to Seattle. She reached
her q week ago last Saturday and few
days later located her father. In spite of
all the disgrace that she had heaped upon
MN, ne iOI6dsc hci auO WIOtc uSI tO i've
with him. She located the residence
of her husband, Joseph Kentz2er, ON
Day street and called upon him.
She took an ak to him and tried to kidnap
their two children. He had never given
her no. and made every offer imaginable to
her to return to him and decent, but she
would not Tuesday night she disappeared
and he reported the case TO the police. An
investigation by Detective j. l.. Barck re-
yeaied that she had gone away with one
C. II. Lander. of whom nothing is known.
1t was thought that she had left the city,
but such is not the case.
John Tompkins is well nigh broken
hearted man. He told his story readily
except when he came to the hard lines,
such as the perfidy OF his wife, whom he
swears he fairly adored and then he faltered.
He said: II intend. when l can save
money enough, to return To Helena and
prosecute Mrs. Gordsn for shooting me.
and my wife for the crime which is consti-
tuted by the breaking of her marriage VOWS.
| will then get a divorce from her
and never shall l again address a kin of
mine. / feel awful sorry for Joe Kentzler.
my son-in-law. True. Matte his wife. Is
my daughter, but, say, young man. she is
in the wrong and Joe is right / used
70 think different. but I was blind
then. see il all now, and how they used
to make dupe of me. Just then the 40
train pulled into the depot where the re-
porter found Jack Tompkins Jack
got right down TO business, backed
his team upto the platform as the reporter