The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-09
A CRUEL WOMAN.
Little Children in Hoboken
Starved and Beaten
by Their Step
mother.

A most heart rending tale of cruelty to
children has just come to light in Hobo
ken. Yesterday Judson Bayles, a bluff
captain Of a tug boat. went before Re
carder McDonongh and asked for war
rant for the arrest of Mrs. Lena Van
Hoff, of No 70 Jefferson street, the same
house in which the captain lives. The
captain said that Mrs. Van Hoff III treated
her step children in such a manner that
it had become the ia TX of the neighbor-
hood.
The Judge sent out Court Oficer STAN
ton TO arrest the woman and investigate
the case. Last night Mrs. Van Hof was
locked up in a cell and the result of the
court officers investigation proven that
everything which the captain alleged was
true.
The house in which Mrs. Van Hof
lives Is large tenement and oc-
cuDied by several families. Among
these people Mr.. Stanton secured
witnesses against the woman.
Mrs. Van Hoff has seven children. three
OF whom are stepchildren. They are
Rose, thirteen years old; Maggie, eleven
years old, and Henry, nine years old.
They have been compelled TO roam about
the streets day and night shoeless and al
most naked. g Their stepmother has
driven them out to- beg from the neigh
bors. One of the coolest days last month
little Maggie was sent down to the
Erie Railrood traok To pick coal. The
little tot dragged herself into a neigh
boris house almost famished. The chill
dren's little bodies have been marked
black and blue by beadngs from their
step-mother.
Yesterday morning Rose, the eldest of
the poor children, was locked in an out
.1.ll -
until halt-past seven O'Clock. Her means
attracted the attention of the Captain,
and he broke in the door. Lying in the
corner, with scarce4y any clothing about
her form, was the thirteen-Year old girl.
The Captain picked the girl up in his
arms and carried her into his house.
After Rose had been completely revived
he went before the Recorder and made
the complaint.
While the poor step-children were suf-
fering Mrs Van Hof's children were
corresoondingiy well treated. They had
all they wanted TO eat and drink; they
dressed well and were In the best of
health. They were taught TO look down
on the other three children. and were
cautioned not to associate with them.
The following neighbors were in court
to testify against Mrs. Van Hoff:-Mrs.
Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Tiedemann, Charles
Tiedsmann. Miss Ames. Mr.. and Mrs
Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Jurgess and Mrs.
Smith.
Mrs. Van Hoff was arraigned this
morning. She is low sized. vindictive
looking woman with face bloated from
drink Her husband, of respectable ap-
pearanee, was also in court with his en-
ployer as bondsman. Hs told the judge
that he intended TO place the children in
an institution. Under these circum-
stances the court accepted bail and Mrs.
Van Hof was released.
This is not the first time that Mrs. Van
Hoff has been charged with the same
crime. About four months ago sne lived
on Madison street, and the neighbors
caused her arrest there. AT that time
she was in delicate condition, and on
her promise to treat her step children
better in future she was paroled. 1t ap-
pears that she moved then, and did not
reform to any extent