Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-07
A PLUCKY WOMAN.
MRS. MLEN ScHRM PRxVENrS TIE ABDUo-
TON OF HER OHILD.
A Sensational Affair in the Eighth Ward Wsduss-
day Nighi-Ths Trial Before
Squire Davis.

Wednesday morning the REGISTER
published the fact that Mrs. Ellen
Schrei, who lives at the corner Of
Thirty-sixth and Eoff streets, had sworn
out warrant before Squire Davis,
charging her husband, Jos. Schrei, and
Mary Johnson, with unlawful cohabi-
tation. Wednesday night affairs took a
sensational turn, when the defendant,
Jos. Schrei, attempted to abduct his
four-year-old son Joe, and thereby
hangs a tale of domestic infelicity,
which has set agog the tongues of the
gossips.
Mr.. and Mrs Schrei have been mar
ried for eleven or twelve years, and the
wife alleges that during that period she
has frequently been compelled to put
up with abuse from her better half.
Within the past year matters have been
worse than usual. The neighbors say
that Schrei was addicted TO drink and
fits of anger, and that he abused his
wife in shameful manner. Three
children have been the result of the
the union, one of which is dead. The
Oldest living child is aged four years
and the younger is but two months old.
Mrs. Schrei states, and her story is
borne out by the testimony OF neigh
bors, that during the past eight months
she and her husband have seldom eX-
changed words, and that he
has contributed nothing toward
her support or that Of her
children, even notifying grocers not to
give her credit. She was therefore com
PEELED to wash for living. Women
who live in the same house state that
she worked at the tub during the week
previous to the birth Of her child, and
also when it was two weeks old, on
some occasions holding the child in her
arms.
According to Mrs. Schrei's story, she
first suspected her husband of unfaith
fulneSS about two months ago. He fire.
Quently told her that he was going TO
apply for divorce, and said he had
another lady who would do more for
him, and intended to start him up in
business. At the hearing before Squire
Davis, last night, she swore that she
followed her husband on half dozen
different occasions, to the residence of
Mrs. Mary Johnson, at 2l20 Eotf street.
Last Wednesday week she consulted a
fortune teller, who informed her that
she had trouble with her husband, and
that he was not true to her. The clair
voyant also told her the direction in
which TO search for her unfaithful
spouse. On that evening she again fol-
lowed him from her home, and watched
him enter the Johnson house. Waiting
until it was dark, she entered the gate,
and peering through broken slat in
the shutter, saw Miss johnson and her
husband in an improper position. She
then went before Justice Davis, with
the result above stated.
In conversation with REGISTER re-
porter yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Schrei
stated that her husband, who was en-
ployed as a blacksmith at the La Belle
mill, had drawn his pay last Saturday,
and given up his position, which
fact, however, she had since
learned. At home, he gathered
his clothes together, saying he
wanted TO have them dyed and cleaned.
He left the house in the evening and
did not return. She sat up most Of the
night waiting for him, but only became
uneasy when he did not show up on
Sunday evening, because, she said, he
was in the habit OF staying out late and
frequently all night.
Wednesday night, at about half-past
eleven, Mrs. Schrei was sitting in the
rear of the two scantily furnished
rooms which comprise her home, while
the children were in the front room
asleep. She heard the noise made by
the turning of the latch on the stair
door, but thought it was rat. Turn
ing about she saw her husband in the
room. He pushed her rudely aside, and
picking up the lamp, started for the
children's bed, saying not word. She
endeavOred 10 prevent him from enter
ing the room, screaming for help AMI
holding to his coat. Her cries awoke
the neighbors, and freeing himself
from her mold, he managed TO
made his escape. Fully fifty people
were on the spot in a few minutes, and
Officers Devlin, Minkemyer and Trusch-
Ter were sent for, arriving in short
time. A diligent search was made OF
the neighborhood, but to no avail. No
trace OF Schrei could be found. Con-
stable Louis Becker saw him run
through the rear cate and up the alley,
but could not catch him. The affair
created intense excitement for time,
and there was considerable Indignation
manifested toward Schrei. His o0-
ject in leaving on Saturday must
have been TO abandon his wife, as he
notified his landlord that he did not
want the house after that time.
HEARING BEFORE SQUIRE DAVIS.
The hearing OF the case against
Schrei. charging him with adultery and
fornication. came up before Justice
Davis last night, at seven o'clock, hav-
ing been postponed from Wednesday
evening. Mrs. Schrei was represented
by Capt. Il. b. Dovenei, and the de-
PENDANTS were Represented by 5. o.
Boyce and Col. w. w. Arnett. Mrs.
Schrei, when placed uponthe stand, in
an excited manner told herstory, which
was substantially as above. In leaving
Che stand TO resume her seal she passed
Schrei, who snatched the folr-year-old
boy, Joe, and kissed him. Mrs. Schrei
grabbed the child, excIaimiBy: Don't
you dare kiss him." She was consider
ably excited throughout the hearing,
and was with difficulty restrained from
interfering with the witnessed Miss
Schrei, q sister OF the defendant,
gave her testimony, which vas IN
important, andwhen she had fiiished,