St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-30
SAINT PAUL.
SUED FOR SANDER.
The Celebrated Hazeibarth-kel ellie
Case ON Trial

The Celebrated Hazeibarth-k eller
Case on Trial.
The cause of Mary HaZelbarth against
Charles E. Keller, to recover $4,000 for
alleged defamation of character, is being
tried before Judge Wili1in. A jury was
impaneled yesterday forenoon. In the
afternoon Mary Hazelbarth testified in
her own behalf. She is thIrty-seyen
years old, above medium height and
size, with firmly set lips and eyes that
snap in a determined manner. She
charges Keller with intent to injure her
good name, fame and reputation by say
ing to her in lhe presence of others,
"You are id street walker" and
alleges the consequent innuendo; aud
on another occasion that he said:
with his overallS on,' meaning
to charge her with numbering her huS-
band. For each of these allegations,
ont said to be made Oh the street, and
tine other in Keller's office, she asks for
$1,000 damages. Keller denies the def
amation, and brings counter charges to
the effect that the woman has annoyed
him and his family with threats and
abusive language. He asserts that she
has carried a revolver with which she
threatened to kill him, and has con-
cealed bottle of pruSSic acid about her
person with which she has threatened
him. TO thtSe counter charges she made
reply in writing some weeks ago, de-
nying them, and referring to case
she had against Louis S. Keller. a
brother of the defendant. That suit
seems to have been the basis OF a sue
cession of events which led up to the
present controversy. Judge Brill filed
an order in that case, which recited, in
substance, the following facts: Louis
marry Mary Y. Hazelbarth, and by
means of promises fraudulently made
seduced, debauched and afterwards
carnally knew Mary Hazelbarth, and by
that means left her in deplorable state
of health. 70 be restored in health she
expended $500. He also received from
her $10D. which he promised to pay
back. Judgment for these two sums
rendered by that order dated Nov. 81,
1887.
Mary Hazelbarth claimed that she
went to the Office of Charles E. Keller,
where his brother was employed, to IN
duce him to pay the judgment. She
testified yesterday that it was on one of
these occasions that she was sworn at,
ordered away and part OF the defania-
tory words spoken. The other occasion
was on Seventh street. Upon cross
examination she denied the charge that
she had sworn at Charles =. Keller, but
admitted that she was excited and made
persistent demands for her money. She
admitted also that she had gone to the
office and home of the defendant to see
Louis S. Keller after she knew that he
had left the employ of his brother.
Judge Wilkin refused to allow her to
be croSS-eXamined as to threats to shoot
and throw acid at the defendant.
When Charles E. Keller took
the stand objection was made
to the scope of his testimony. Counsel
for the plaintiff then moved to amend
his complaint by striking out the count
relative to the words alleged to be Spok-
en- in Keller's Office, charging the killing
of the husband. The court took time
to consider this proposition. =,
While on the stand Mary Hazelbarth
admitted that she had been married,
and was the mother of five children.
She said she had followed several yoca-
tons for livelihood of the time
doing nothing.
She would persist in talking, even
when her attorney would insist that she
should confine herself to answering
questions. Judge Wilkin at one time
called to her several times before she
ceased, and he then administered a
strong rebuke for persistence in yolun-
teering statements. The trial Will be
resumed this morning.