The times., 1897-05-26
TALKED OF DOING MURDER
Lawyer Yaeger, Of Richmond,
Placed Under Bond.
M0THER-IN-LAW THREATENED
Blames His Wife's Mother for FAM
iiy Troubles and Said He Would
tor Failed to SootE His Troubled
Spirit-The Law Invoked.

Lewis ]. Yaeger, the young Richmond
lawyer, whose efforts in the latter part
of prii last to forcihiy take his child from
his wife and inother-in-law, Mrs. Louisa
II. A ustin, brought his name into the news
papers at that time, was yesterday placed
under 5000 bonds in the police court to keep
the peace toward his wife's mother
The case grew out of the former one,
as, after being deprived of the two-year- old
child, Mr.. Yaeger threatened the life OF
Mrs Austin, which caused her TO bring
charges against him in the police court
The bond was at first made $500, but
upon the representation of the defendant s
la wyer that his client could not secure so
large an amount, it was reduced to $500.
This was secured, and the prisoner dis
charged from custody.
The evidence given by Rev L. HeZ SVEN,
pastor of the Second Baptist Church, was
the most damaging against the defendant.
He testified that in the latter part of April,
some time after Yaeger's attempted alb
duction of the child, the latter sought him
out and confided 20 him the story OF his
marital troubles. The cause OF them all, he
said, was sthemother-in-law W no had caused
child lie then said it would be sin in
the sight of God to kill her, and in the
hearing of the witness threatened Mrs
Austin's life a number OF times.
II tried to dissuade him from carrying
out his threats said Mr.. Sven, ''and at
Yaeger's request we prayed together over
the matter, AT his request, also, went up
TO Mrs. Austin's house to see her and his
wlfe, with the intention OF trying TO effect
a reconciliation between Mrs Yaeger S and
her husband
s'But, after having a conference with
Mrs. Yaeger and Mrs. Austin, l made no
attemptto % carry out my mission, for was
du.nfounded at what / was told by the
ladies named in reference to the married
life Of the Yaegers during the period OF
their residence in Richmond, which Was
of about two years duration.
Upon returning to my home | found
Yaeger waiting for me, and reported tn
hlm the result OF my visit TO his wife and
mother-inIaw. He then repeated his
threats 10 kill Mrs. Austin, and again
tried to diSSuade hini, and after long
time he left the house.
"A day Or two afterward went TO see
Yaeger in response to his request at his
home on Ninth street southeast. l found
him in bed, and on the chair beside the
couch was a knife, with which, ne said,
he-intcnded to Kill Mrs Austin. As on he
previous occasions, I tried to dissuade
him from carrying out his threat, and told
him that if he did the law would give
him great trouble
Mrs Cylinda Fcrd testified tTat Yaeger
had told her that his feelings were in
.ense toward Mrs Austin: l9t fC ~.
her on the street he would kill her.
humber of witnesses testified TO the
attempt OF Jaeger To abduct his chill,
which has already been fully given in
The Times.
Mr.. Yaeger next took the witness stand,
and told his side of the story. He said that
he was a lawyer by profession, and had
been married about three years. He had
come to this city from Richmond on the
9th day of last month, on an invitation
from HIS wife He did not go to see her,
but she called on him. He had never ma de
any threats against either his wife OF
mother-in-law He had called on the Rev
Mr. SVEN, and had endeavored to enlist
his services In an effort 10 unite the
family.
The minister called on the two ladies
and returned with a very unfavorable
report. Yaeger then said: ''If I were
To end that woman miserable existence /
would commit no sin in the sight of God,
only the law would cause me trouble. l
did not say I would kill her, and never
had any intention Of doing such thing.
Yaeger's testimony closed the case. His
honor, in reviewing the evidence. held chat
threats had been made and that there were
reasonable grounds given for apprehension
E therefore fixed the bond.