The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-04
STEPHENS MYSTERY
Police Now Think Othersen
Did Not Commit the AS
sault With the
Wrench.
DID HUSBAND AND WIFE~FIGHT 4
Their Wounds Look as Though
They We're Make With Knives
The Woman's Denial.
DID HUSBAND AND WIFE~FIGHT Z

mere is a mystery surrounding thl
case OF the Steffens family who were as.
sauited in their bed early Wednesda1
morning at their home No. 81 Park ave-
nue.. Hoboken. It is the opinion OF u
simon, who dressed the wounds Of
Steffens and his wife, that the wo,
We're not inflicted by the monkeyx
Whicn was found in the bed
assault. DR.. Simon said that
looked as if they might has
nieted with a knife. He sal
monkeywrench in the hands .
Who is supposed to have co,
deed. would have certainly n
fusion and that in his opins
and wife would have been n.
altogether killed had Othe
them with the monkeywrencl
Steffens has but four slight
head. His right eye is closed
ing, but he has been able to att
business ever since He hasss1
severe pain in his head ana tn
are healing rapidly.
His wife has two cuts over her
one on the back Of her head.
suffered no pain since the wound
inflicted and was very lively this
ing when News reported car
the house. The baby received two
slight cuts on its head, but the baby
Is in good health and very far fromi
near to deaths door, as reported
morning paper
Mrs Steffens said that when she aw
from the first blow she was struck tw
afterwards When asked If the bio,
seemed to be struck by blunt instrums
she said that she is positive the blov
was struck by a monkey wrench Hsa
husband says the same thing Mrs. 6tef.
Tens told the reporter that after she was
MT the last time she waited to hear il
anyone was moving around, but did no,
near move. She says that although the
room was perfectly dark she could make
out the form Of some ones arm striksna
toward her. Later on she said that he,
nuspand ana herself both awoke at ths
same time and each thought the othel
was striking them in their sleep. Wher
Nhey both found out their mistake ami
feit the blood tricklipg down their faces
tiy tney mace an outcry. but it was a long
time before Othersen, who was Sleeping
awoke
Mr.. Steffens says he got up ana lighted
slne ,.lle lamp a1a went tow ~ fro1
room Whefe Otherson was slS1o23IE IN
met OtheTscn IN the kitchen which is bs.
tween the parlor and the Steffens bed
ROOM Mrs. Steffens says that Othersef
SAD Where Is my knife but thinks
ileNe he thought some one was in rl1s
house and he was going to defend him.
self.
Mr.. Steffens told the reporter thar 1hers
were no tracks on the roof outside oi
his bedroom window, which was the only
means Of any one getting into the room
Detective Nelson, who went to tbs
house directly after the assault. SAYS
there was very little snow on the roof
and that there were tracks in the snow
that had not melted. He also saws tbers
was not particle of blood on the unonkey
wrench which he found in the bed. AZ
Othersen swears that he knew nothins
OF the assault until he awoke, and as thsrs
was no blood on the monkey wrench
and DR.. Simon thinks the blows were In
hicted with some sharp instrument fhs
police are inclined to believe Othersen IN.
nocent OF the crime
If Othersen had wanted to rob Steffens
ne could have easily taken a box on tn.
bureau IN which was about $50 and
walked downstairs into the saloon aat
unlocking the door have disappeared II
the room where Othersen slept there wers
twenty or thirty boxes of cigars. He coult
have also taken these. Mrs Sueffens sait
that Othersen knew where they kept theil
money, yet none was missing.
1t is the general opinion at police head
quarters that Steffens and hts wife had
fight and perhaps used knives. WheI
Othersen found how badly he was In
jured he went to police headquarters anf
had his wounds dressed and then accuse{
Othersen of asSaultfng him and his wife
and baby, so as to keep suspicion from
himself and wife. The baby's slight IN
juries are accounted for from the fac
that Mrs. Steffens has said the baby Of
ten tunbles down the steep stairs lead
ing to the saloon. Steffens and his wifi.
stoutly denied TO a News" reporter tfi.
morning that he and his wife had
fight over Othersen, which a local pape
intiulalted yesterday They both de
nounced Othersen and said there was NJ
Jealousy whatever on the part Of Stenens
of Young Othersen.