Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-01

New York, April SO-A divorce suit, In
which the defendant was formerly one of
the famous models in Berlin and whose
escapades kept her name before the public
in the German capital for several years,
has been instituted in the Supreme Court
of New York. The plaintiff is Franz Stet-
Ter. His wife is now in Montreal.
AS young girl Emma Leitz gave prom
ise of developing into a handsome woman,
and when that promise was fulfilled at the
age of eighteen she was in demand from
the artists of Berlin as a model. Among
the artists for whom she posed was Pro-
fesor Graef, of the National Academy.
About ten years ago Professor Graef exc
cuted his masterpiece, "Maerchin," or.
Fairy Tales" which is alomst as well
known in this country as it is in Germany.
In this picture Emma Leitz was the GEN.
trail figure.
Fairy Tales" had been exhibited but a
short time when the model caused Profess
sor Graefs arrest, charging him with i'm
proper conduct. The arrest caused a great
sensation, and pending the trial, the ex-
hibtion of the painting was prohibited.
The artist was acquitted and the model
accepted a position as cashier in the fash
ionable Cafe Schilling in Berlin.
REFUGE IN NEW YORK.
Here she met young Austrian count.
who lavshed large sums of money upon
her and finally settled upon her fine es-
tate in Mecklenburg. Subsequently the
young counts relatives had him declared
incapable to manage his affairs and Emma
was obliged to return to Berlin. The young
woman came to New York in 1898 and went
to live with her sister, in East Sixteenth
street.
Soon afterward she became acquainted
with Franz Stetler, and on May /. 1894, he
married her. But the young husband kept
the knowledge of his marriage from his
father and although the three were pas
sengers for Europe on the same steamer
in the Fall of 1894. the elder Stetler was
not aware of the fact that the dashing
blonde, who was often seen in the company
of his son was his own daughter-in-law.
In Berlin they lived in separate houses.
Mrs. Stetler returned 10 New York in
September 1895. and her husband and his
father came over about a month later.
Then he learned that his wife had trans
ferred her affections. Several letters pass
ed between them in which both spoke Of
a divorce, but neither, at first, would con-
sent to become the defendant
BEGGING FOR FREEDOM.
Finally. on December 49, 1895. Mrs. Ste;-
Ter sent her husband letter, of which the
following is a translation:
rdnp mo nj Ia4+ L,,, q.
be the last one which I shall address to
you in this manner. | ask you herewith.
Are you willing TO be divorced from me?
You see, you would grant me the greatest
wish of my life, for 1 must tell you love
man truly and honestly. and nothing but
death can separate me from him. 1t would
he quite useless for you to argue with me.
can only tell you one thng-never never
in my life shall | be yours Before God
belong to the man I love- and have told
you already that / love him and will be
true unto death.
Well now have nothing more to say.
only appeal TO your heart and to your honor
to help me, and see to 1t that we are di-
vorced as quickly as possible. Please an
swer me as soon as you can and help me-
Only you can do it. l will thank you for
It as long as live.
EMMA.
Later Mr.. Stetler received the following
surrender from his wife: "I herewith agree
to be divorced from you at once"
The correspondent in the case is c. IT.
Ramberger. He came to New York from
Montreal. For time he practised medi-
cine. Then he became a lumber dealer and
engaged in other occupations But he did
not seem to be able 20 make a success at
anything, and about ten days ago he left
for Montreal, taking Mrs. Stetler with him.
He declared before he left New York that
as soon as the divorce was granted he
would make Mrs. Stetler his wife. and
that they would reside in Montreal in the
future.
In a letter received from Ramberger
about a week ago. he gave their address
as No. &c Rue Guordon. Montreal. Stetler
is living with his father in East Eightieth
street.