The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-17
I,UHrGERT CASE PARALLELED?
Woman Disappeared and Returned Al
ter Eight Years.
(New York World.)

Chicago, Sept. 11.-Attorneys Vincent
and Phalen, who are defending Luet-
CERT, have received the following state
ment of a romantic episode, which par
allels the case now before the jury:
Chicago, sept. IL.
Attorneys Vincent and Phalen:
Conference.-The letter is written be-
cause l believe you should become cog
| infant of a part of our family history
that SO closely parallels Luetgerts case
| that it seems improbable, but listen to
the narrative and decide for yourselves.
Our family is we'll known in Detroit,
Mich, and in this city. Mother is a
woman of strong will, but weak physical
| ly, father is easy-going in manner and
habit. There are SIX children, all grown,
and / am the eldest.
While living in Detroit, mother be-
came a semi-invalid and later developed
% state of chronic melancholy, avoiding
| aeuuaintances, seeking seclusion and
| finally became afflicted with the idea that
she was not wanted While under this
deusion she disappeared, taking a shawl
and only few dollars in money. We all
worried, looked for her, consulted friends,
advertised, travelled to distant cities, and
up for dead.
In talking with his German acquaint-
anees father made indiscreet remarks.
Gessiping neighbors talked and lied. The
newspapers took the matter up and in a
sensational manner alluded to the fact
that mother possessed considera bic prop
erty in her own name: that the sons
seemed Indifferent: that her disappear
of
ono of the sons was engaged in manufac-
turing albumen and other articles; that
he dabbled in soap-making; that he had
big boilers in his factory; that he had
| lots Of chemicals around, and lastly, that
he refused to talk to reporters and or
| dered them out of his office.
Matters grew serious, and had ii not
| been for the confidence and respect for
| the family entertained by the police de-
| partment some member of the family
would surely have been arrested and put
| in jeopardy. We all moved to Chicago a
| few years afterwards. Father married
again A child was born to his second
| wife.
Things moved along quietly. Mothers
estate had been probated and she lived
only in our Borrowing memory. a re-
| lative consulted numerous chairvoyants
| and was assured by each that Mrs
| Hartsig was dead, describing the man
ner of her ending and locating the place
| Upon investigating that feature the re
iative discovered strange woman hac
| been killed by railroad train and was
duly buried as an unknown The descrip
ton of the poor woman tailed with
mothers appearance. That settled the
matter with most of lis and we incurred
| dear mother as dead.
| About eight years had elapsed when il
December, 1894, there occurred a strange
scene in an office in the Security Build
| ing Madison street and Fifth avenue,
| this city. An energetic, alert and we'll
dressed woman directed the elevator con
ductor to show her to the office of Emo
ry Hartsig. She entered his office and
cheerily greeted the young man i'll
charge.
The recognition was mutual. \ dead
mother was alive and embracing her son.
Happy eyes were swimming in tears.
Happiness and surprise rendered the son
almost speechless The other members
of the family Were sent for and to their
amazement she explained that she had
been living in Evanston five or more
years and that her attention had been at
tracted to business advertisement of
her sons in a local paper and that she
Immediately sought him out
The mother said she believed her wan
dering away was caused by mental hal
! lucinatio and that once separated she
was incapble of recollecting her former
home or connections. Kind strangers had
taken her in and cared for her and event
ually she became professional nurse III
the employ Of Evanston physicians.
The fioodgates of her memory were
| opened when she read the names of hpI
children in print. and she lost no time il
| finding them. Father. of course, had to
give up his second wife and the famils
are all now reunited. Mr.. Martel, jus
tice of the peace in Evanston, knows
mother and is now acting as her business
agent. He will substantiate these facts
The foregoing statement outlines in q
few words facts of absolute truth, and i,
known to hundreds of people. Our family
is averse to notoriety. Father and moth
er especially dislike newspaper comment
I have hesitated to speak until / begar
to fear the possibility of man beins
convicted who may be innocent, ant
everyone acquainted with our strang'
experience will admit that n woman car
wander off under peculiar circumstances
leaving her family in a very awkward
| dilemma.
Mother became melancholy and her de
lusiOns induced secret flight and for year,
she was lost to herself and to her family
If she had never returned or revealed
herself the public might have been JUST
fed in having suspicious, but not to thu
extent of trying father on Il charge OF
murder, and this fact induces me to Civ.
you our address and permission to write
to us if you desire further details or cor
roboration.
EMORY HARTSIG,
No. 800 Jackson boulevard.