The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-10
MRS.SANDAU'SLOYER
A Private Detective Testi-
fies He Was More Than
a kind Friend
FOLLOWED THE COUPLE TO 4 HOTEL
There They Registered as Man and
Wife-What the Ice Water
Man Saw.
FOLLOWED THE COUPLE TO 4 HOTEL

James G. Merritt, William ShoDdell, Mrs.
Shondell and Lena Thompson have obtained
for each very considerable notoriety. San
dau accused Merritt of stealing the affec-
tions of his wife, and she and Merritt declare
this to be false, and assert that Sandau and
Shondell are blackmailers. Mrs. Shonden
denounced Lena Thompson an actress for
winning the affections of her husband, and
caused the arrest of each.
Sandau began suit for divorce in the
Court of Chancery, and also sued Merritt to
recover $25, 1000 damages for the alienation
of his wife's affections. Judge Hudspeth
punished Shondell and Lena for unlawfully
living together, and warned them to so ssand
sin no moren The trial of the suit of San
dau was begun yesterday in the Clreu's
Court before Judge Lippincott and jury
Mrs Sandau entered court with her
mother early in the day and lAnpatlently
waited for the case to be moved. She is
blonde, and about twenty-eight or thirty
years old. Her hair is auburn, her eyes
blue, her figure slender and her face pretty.
She was clad in blue cloth gown, and wore
heavy fur cape and jaunty black hat.
A few seats behind her were seated the
black-eyed and black-haired Lena Thomp-
son, who constantly conversed with ShondelI
and gazed admiringly at his stslwart figure,
Lena is thirty years old and is petite, viva
cious and decidedly pretty. A short distance
from her husband sat Mrs. Shondell. She is
very prepossessing aed was tastefully attired
in black gown and sealskin sacque.
SANDAL INSANE.
Frederick H. Sandau, the plaintiff, was
not in court, and when the case was moved,
Senator DAILY requested Judge Lippincott to
direct Counsellor Samuel A. Besson to in
form the defense where Sandau was. The
Senator said Mr. Besson had refused to
give him the information Judge Lippin-
cott declined to make the order, and then
Senator DAILY fled an affidavit to the effect
that Sandau was confined in a lunatlc
ASYLUM. Judge Lippincott said that If
the plaintiff was insane it might have
some influence in rulings which the Court
might subsequently make. Mrs. Sandau in
formed NEWS reporter that her husband
was at present in the asylum on Wards
Island After the jury was sworn the Court
adjourned the case until today when it was
resumed.
ToDAY's HEARING.
When Counsellor Besson opened the case
for the plaintiff, he said:-"F'rederick H.
Sandau is about thirty years old and he
brings this suit for the seduction of his wife,
He and Lille Endora Cole, who were mar
ried Mr. Freedeborn, were married June
so, 1891 and began housekeeping at once in
Hoboken where they seemed as happy as
a pair of turtle doves in an orchid.
in full bloom on sunny May day, until
James C. Merritt the deponent, appeared in
January, 1893 Merritt is the editor and
proprietor of four newspapers, published at
acquaintance of Mrs Sandau, while on a
visit at Hoboken, he met her frequently. and
the acquaintance ripened into intimacy.
Sandau, who was an invalid, became
suspicious, and began to watch his wife, and
the result of the surveillance was to satisfy
him that on July and September 15, 1898,
his wife proved unfaithful. On September
Is S;andau found his wife and Merritt at the
Putnam House, Fourth avenue and Twenty
sixth street, New York, and, therefore, he
brings this suit"
Rev. Mr.. Maddis of No 1119 Park ave-
nue., Hoboken, testified that he married
Sandau to his wife on June 80, 1898. After
some other unimportant evidence Counsellor
Besson said he would read some dispositions
of witnesses taken in New York City. Coun-
sellor DAILY objected, declaring that the de-
positions were not taken according to the
law of New York. Judge Lppincott di-
rected Mr.. Besson to read the certificate at
tached to them, and then he decided to
permit the depositions to he read.
The first one Mr.. Besson read was that of
Harry Telford of Neptune avenue, Coney
Island, N. Y. He knew Sandau since Sep
tember. 1S93 know his wife by sight.
first saw her in New York with Mr.. Saudau,
know James G. Merritt by sight. first
saw him at Weehawken ferry. saw Mer-
ritt 90 in Saudau's house last September.
He entered the basement door When he
came out young man was with him.
next saw him in Hoboken on First street.
Cross-examined: II never saw Mrs. San
dau and Merritt together. / went to the
fa,.rxr to Mnrritf and tn fol
low him up ]. was employed as cab driver
at Coney Island. Sandau wanted me to fol-
low Merritt because he believed his wife and
Merritt we intimate for year or SO.
THE PRIVATE DETECTIVE.
Private Detective William Il. Hunts depo-
sition was as follows:-"I live at No. 124
Christie street. New York City I have
September g. | first saw Mrs. Sandau on
September Is. On that date I saw Mrs.
Sandau come out of her house
with Mr.. Shondell He left her
and she went over Christopher street, and
on Sixth avenue met Merritt and she hand
ed him letter They went to beer saloon,
and when they left there they went to the
Putnam House and registered as Mr..
Seymour and wife.
II telegraphed to Sandau and he came
over. Sandau had some trouble with the
clerk He went upstairs, and after while
he came down and told me what he had
learned about his wife. I did not go
III stairs and do not know what took place.
It was between five and six o'clock when
Sandau arrived at the hotel. Mr.. Sandau
and Mr. Merritt entered about four o'clock.
Mr.. Sandau had trouble with the clerk,
because Sandau wanted to be ad-
mitted to room No. 269. While
/ was present the clerk would not let Sam
dau go up to the room. I never saw Merritt
in the company of Mrs. Sandau on any
other occasion On September II, saw
Merritt 90 in Mrs Sandau's house,
Cross examlnation-sS Shoudell told me
who was furnishing the money for this case.
He said he was furnishing the money for the
expenses because Sandau had no money.
while Sandau and Shoudell were upstairs
at the Putnam House went away.
Shandell told me he expected Merritt would
come FROM Highland Falls in the forenoon of
the day be went with me to the Weehawken
ferry to see him. I did not know Sandau
until began this work for him. He was in
troduced to me by merchant tailor
on the Bowery, named Burns. | was
paid Sc a day and expenses. Sandau
said he wanted me to follow gentleman
who was intimate with his wife. I was paid
each day in advance and allowed 81 day
for expenses. The name ] saw on the regis
ter that was written by Merritt was Jones
SEYMOUR I made a mistake in spelling it
and want to correct it now. saw him
write it by looking through q glass door. /
when they came over to th hote The name
was James G. Seymour. a detective
by profession. | am employed by William
Mangin a detective. He employs another
man and does not run a bureau. | have
been q detective one and one-haf years.