The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-21
LEFT A BLIND WIFE
PATHETIC STORY FROM ST. LOUIS
ABOUT RICHARD j. MEM
ING.
He FORMERLY LIVED HERE.
ST. PAUL GENTLEMAN RECEIVES A
LETTER FROM JUDGE A. G.
BRANDNER,
ASKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE.
Clipping From Newspaper on the
Case Which the Judge Writes Is
''the Refinement of Cruelty"

Yesterday there was received in St
Paul in the shape of letter and clip
ping from q St. Louis paper, news Of
the alleged abandonment by her hus-
band of Mrs. Richard ]. Meining who
with him, resided in this city for two
years while he was employed in the
Sterling Wine house The letter was
received by a st. Paul gentleman from
"A. g. Brandner, himself resident OF
st. Paul several years ago, in which
the writer begs that assistance be sent
the unfortunate woman who has been
left penniless at the Hotel Junior in st.
Louis. Mrs. Meining, who is blind Is
not known personally to the writer OF
the letter nor is the recipient. but Mr..
Brandner explains that she had men
toned the st. Paul mans name and he
therefore wrote him as above.
Meining and his wife left st. Paul for
Chicago two years ago and later
Meining worked in the bar at the
Eastman hotel at Hot Springs Dur
ing the convention he worked in Chi
cago, and when that was over he re-
turned with his wife to ST Louis, where
they lived until he departed last week
MI. Brandner in his letter says that
the case is most pathetic and that Mrs
NJ ching is left blind penniless and
alone in her distress. He has aided her
as far as possible himself He ex-
plains that he was a resident of ST.
Paul tWenty-eight years ago refers to
the fact that he is a member Of
Masonic lodge, and makes reference to
Mr. BigelOw, of the Fire and Marine
insurance company, who, he says, VIII
remember him. This is to show that
q 1Cf Xx-fNs-f h. l.
that any assistance sent, be sent direct
to Mrs. Meining. In conclusion. he
adds: L wish you would mention this
to all whom you think know Meinins.
The way he deserted a blind wife. pen
niless and among entire strangers in a
strange city is the very refinement OF
cruelty"
Mr.. Brandner, who lives at the Hotel
junior, enclosed the following clipped
from st. Louis paper, which gives the
gist Of the sad story:
Richard j: Meining brought his blind wife
from Duluth to St. Louis Thursday. Sun
day afternoon as they were their way
to a blind woman grinding an organ.
Listen TO her." said Meining you had
better be taking pointers. You will be doing
better learn how now"
Mrs Meining thought her husband was iok
ing. II was a cruel joke and tears streamed
Meining deserted her.
Dick Meining is well known throughout
tne west, having been connected with a num-
he met Maud Hays q years Of age. who was
visiting friends in Duluth. Her home was
then in Los Angeles. He persuaded her to
e!ope with him. They were married Nov 10.
1889, at Seattle, Wash. From Seattle the
couple Travelled from place to place. About
a year later they were in Duluth. They there
decided to go to 81. Paul. While in that city
Qf no
deserted her once before from that place she
says, whereupOn she went to her father who
mad moved to Leadville. Later her husband
persuaded her to receive him back One dav
at Salt Lake city, Mrs. Meining found in her
husbands mail summons for him to answer
in DIVORCE suit. CThe story here recites
some alleged facts about Meining's first matri-
monial venture.) They returned to Duluth
Mrs. Metning was an artist and it was this
recreation which is responsible for the loss
OF her eyesight. She suffered from what she
thought was a temporary trouble with hpr
eye, but the aflicion grew gradually worse
and she alleges that her husbands cruelty
materially aggravated it. At last she be-
came totally blind. She was in this condition
when her husband was summoned to Duluth
from Chicago where he was employed by
a telegram stating that his father was dv-
ing. This was about a month ago He ar
rived home in time to see his father alive
His wife accompanied him and was the guest
OF his sister. Mrs. Johanna Buchanan On
account OF the unpleasant surroundings. Mrs
Me!ning states. she eagerly consented to ac-
company him to ST. Louis and to Hotel Junior.
What he said to me about the blind woman
did not alarm me-" she said 81 thought II
was merely one of his cruel jokes. Afterward
/ had a presentment of evil. Tuesday after
noon he told me he was going TO the post
Office as he was expecting some money from
his mother. Afterward he came back and
told me he had received S25. Later he told
me he was going 10 East st. Louis to get
some promised work. As he went out he put
his purse on the tab G, saying he was afraid
he might be held up. Afterward I found he
had left me a little money and tickets for
my watch and chain, which he had pawned
in Chicago. Then I knew what ne meant
when he spoke TO me about the blind woman.
And now see ne was right | am heln,ess
and alone. l do not know what to do. | am
blind
Mrs. Meining Appealed in the hotel to Judge
A. G Brandrer. who took her 10 the Four
Courts and requested the police to locate
her husband.
Mrs. Meining is a woman of refinement and
considerable beauty in spit7 of the sorrow
written upon her face. Her brown eyes are
sightless. and have the sweetness OF ex
nr9ss!on peculiar TO the blind. whose afic
ficn Is not due to an external injury. She
is deserving Of better fate than that cruelty
predicted for her BY her husband. Of appea ing
on the street for the chance charity Of the
-asscrs by.