The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-31
A WOMAN'S DOWNFALL.
The Terrible Story of Mary
E. Behrens' Ruin by
Liquor.
A CRIME OF YEARS AGO
She Was the Wife Of a Wealthy
Roboken Resident, and Once
Pushed Him Out Of Q
Window.

In Recorder McDonough's court In He
boken this morning there was arrziRned
well dressed elderly woman. She was
charged with being drunk and disorderly
at the ferry last night This woman wns
the divorced wife Of one Of the wealthiest
citizens Of Hoboken, and she at one time
moved in the most exclusive circles Of
that city. Through her love for liquor
she lost family, respect and everything
else that was worth living for. and finally
she became common woman
When arrested she appeared to take de-
light In giving the name which she has -
dishonored-that Of Mary E. Bshrsna
This morning she was sent to the County
Jail for fifteen days.
SAD STORY.
Less than ten years ago the Behrsns
family was one OF the wealthisst and most
respected families In Hoboken- Hr.
Benrens was q wine merchant with =
large establishment on Broadway. New
York city, and was reputed to be worth
nc least $4,000. He had most interest
ing family Of four sons and two daughters-
The daughters were beautiful and ac-
complishsd, aud leaders In society. The
Ah1DliJ uNc0 Ia IHutsume hifit III y UxOWn
stone house on River street, near Hudson
Square Park. and it was happy home
until strange stories began TO be c1rcu~
lated about Mrs. Behrens. It was stated
that she had an Unsuitable desire for liquor,
and that while under its infiusnce her
temper was ungovernabie-
About the time that these stories began
to be circulated, a dark-haired Cuban. =
student at Stevens Institute, took up his
quarters at the behrens house. and IL az
once became apparent that he was much
favored by the lady. During the absence
OF her husband at his business IN New
York, the dark-haired student was In the
habit of taking Mrs Benrens carriage
riding. and it was noticed that when, To-
wards morning, they returned, MIA
Behrens face was usually flushed, and on
one occasion she was unable to 20 mp
stairs. All this time, IT Is said the
daughters of Mrs. Behrens were con-
scious of what was going on, and ons Of
them. the eldest, could be seen Rt the
window by the neighbors crying -
though her heart would break The other
daughter, however. did NOT appear to md
any fault.
A TERRIBLE AWAKENING.
Finally the eldest daughter could net
bear TO be silent witness 70 her mothers
conduct and she told her father. There
was a terrible quarrel The younger
daughter was the only enc who aided
of the family sided with the father. and
ordered their mother TO send the young
Cuban from the house. but she positively
refused TO do so, and the student re-
manned, although he was warned By the
sons that bodily harm would befall him.
After this episode Mrs Behrens' actions
were not SO notorious for awhile. bus sud-
denly they were renewed. Mrs. Behrens
began TO drink harder thah ever, and her
temper was terrible 10 witness. M
Behrens felt his disgrace keenly. He went
to his business In New York with .
bowed head. and the neighbors say thao
In three months he appeared to grow ten
years older Finally in the summer OF
1855 he became Ill and was confined 70 his
| bed II was while he was on his sick bed
that his wife acted most notoriousiy.
One night about eleven O'Clock Mrs.
Behrens and the student came home to-
gether. Mrs. Behrens was very drunk
She at once went to her husbands siok
bed and began to quarrel with him. The
neighbors say that the Quarreling was
continued until three O'Clock in the morn
ing, when all was still.
FLUNG FROM THE WINDOW.
About seven O'Clock Policeman Stack,
whose post was on River street, while
passing the row of handsome residences.
/ heard moans proceeding from the base
| ment of Mr.. Behreas' house. He went in
there and saw Mr.. Behrens bleeding and
bruised lying on the areaWay.
1 He was attired only in his
night clothes. An ambulance WAS
summoned and the wounded man Was
removed to St. Mary's Hospital After
recovering consciousness he said that his
| wife had thrown him from the second
story window. A policeman was seat to
| the house and Mrs. Behrens was found
sleeping of the effects OF her debauch.
| She did not realize her position until
brought to the station house. when she
| went into Mysteries, and it took the COM
bined efforts of i've policemen to hold
/ her.
| When she was placed in a cell she st
tempted TO end her life by butting her
head against the walls and she was care
fully watched after that While she was
in the cell her youngest daughter came TO
| the station house In a coach. She went
to the cell of her mother and said she
would stand by her in her misfortune
1 After Mr.. Behrens recovered he began .
suit tor absolute divorce. which he had
no trouble in securing. He then s0lo OUT
his handsome River street residence and
with his son and oldest daughter left Ho-
boken. Nobody knows where they are ct
present.
Mrs Behrens and her favorite daughter
clung together, but both rapidly sank
/ lower. Mrs. Behrens has been seen drunk
by the police on several occasions.