The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-04
AFTER MOTHERS Dive
Judge Hudspeth Issues a
Bench Warrant for the
Notorious Keepers
of the Den.

Judge Hudspeth yesterday took the
preliminary steps toward breaking up
the vile den known as Mothers" at
Plank road. He issued bench warrants
for the arrest of Helena Stoffel. who for
thirty-hve years has conducted the den of
iniqutty, and her nephew, Christian, who
has assisted her for five years. The ar
rests were the outcome of the case of
criminal assault tried in the Cou OF
Sessions before Judge Hndspeth yester-
day.9
CAUSE FOR THE ORDER.
Josephine Fox. a brunette, nineteen
years old, who lives with her mother on
Beach street, was The complainant, and
twenty-one years old of Sherman avenue.
The testimony, when it Was all before
the jury, showed that on Easter Sunday,
a year ago. Logan aud Miss Fox went TO
q religious meeting. and for the first
time SAW each other. They f1irted and
ogled during the service, and
afrer it was over Logan APP
walked away. Miss Fox was fascinated
with handsome young Logan, aud after
the first meeting she consented TO meet
him frequently. Logan never called at
her house but would meet the girl on
Summit avenue.
ASKED E TO LARRY HIM.
They frequently went to Pohlmann's
and Meyers beer gardens together and to
other places of q similar character. Logan
told the girl he loved her and asked her
TO marry him, and she said she would.
On February IL last, according to the
testimony Of the girl, she and Logan went
walking. 1t was about eight O'Clock in
49, or4~f~., wrhat, how nunhn Ia1noa
Stoffei's den. Logan forcibly dragged
her from the sidewalk into the hous and
to o private room Josephine said she
did NOT scream for help, but that she
cried. When the alleged assault was
| committed she cried. bnJ made but little
other resistance. She did not tell her
mother of the assault until February %.
LoGAN's STORY.
Logsn's story was somewhat different.
He said that the girl went to he dive
with him willingly, and that after they
secured a sleeping room they drank
| sherry wine three times They occupied
the apartment three hours.
Christian Stotfel, the nephew of
Mother" Stoffel, c~orroborated Logan.
He coolly told the Court that any persons
desiring y room in the dive could lave it
II they paid the price. Questions of an
embarrassing nature were never
asked visitors. All sorts of intoxicants
| were sold In the house and visitors need
not go drv. He said 'sMother'' had run
this den for t~hirty-fve years, and this
declaration he made in such a Boosting
manner that those in the court room be-
came disguised with him.
II r. ARRESTED.
After otner evidence the case was given
to the jury, who believed that Josephine
| went TO the house with Logan
voluntarily and they brought In a YER
dict of guilty. on the charge made.
Judge Hudspeth at once ordered the girl
to be pleaced under arrest. and she was
locked up in jail in default of $3.50 bail.
Bench warrants were issued for the
arrests of Helena and Christian Stoffel.
and last night they were taken into GUS
tody and lodged In the County Jail.
A soa of the Infamous woman, who is
known as 'mother'' was convicted of
mansiaughter a few years ago.
and later the woman's daughter
died a victim of malpractice. Since then
there has been a serious stabbing affray
In the den, and scores of minor assaults.
Late In the afternoon Josephine fur
nished bail and she was permitted to go
home.
The Grand Jury will, no doubt, find in
dictments against the two Stoffels.