The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-22
VILLAINOUS HUSBAND.
William Andrews Hires a
Man to Blacken His
Wife's Character.
SHE is SUING HIM FOR DIVORCE
The Conspiracy Fails and One of
the Conspirators Is Arrested
He Makes a Confession.
SHE is SUING HIM FOR DIVORCE

A despicable conspiracy, planned by a
husband for the purpose of running his
wife that he might justify himself for his
cruelty to her. was laid bare by Detective
Larkins in the First Criminal Court be-
fore Police Justice Potts this morning.
Larkins arraigned Charles Foote, of No.
50 Sewenck avenue, Brooklyn, before JUS
tice Potts on the charge of conspiring to
ruin Mrs. Jennie Andrews, who is living
with her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Sweeney,
at No. $50 York street, this city.
Mrs. Andrews, through her counsel,
Willard Fisk, is suing her husband for
maintenance and support. She filed bill
for alimony in Chancery on November 6
last. The Andrews were married in April,
1885, Mr.. Andrews was a widower with
two boys, one nine years and the other
six years old. He was thirty eight years
old while Miss Sweeney was only twenty
five. Upon their marriage Mr.. and Mrs.
Andrews went to live in a costly mansion
at No. 81 Bently avenue, which, it is said,
they owned Jointly. After they had been
married some months Mr. Andrews began
to neglect his wife and showed no desire
for her company, but spent most of his
time with the other members of his
household. including his mother;
In the summer of 1896 he took vacation
but did not take his wife with him. In
the summer of the present year, when a
daughter had been born to her, Mrs. An
drews was sent off to Liberty, N. Y, for
several weeks. During that time her hus-
band visited her but once. When she re-
turned home he entirely ignored her
Finally, in October last, she learned from
one of her step-children that the family
was going to move to Brooklyn. Her
husband told her nothing about it. The
furniture was taken away in van and
she went too. The destination proved to
be Richmond Hill, L. l., and not Brook
lyn. After being week in Richmond
Hill Mrs Andrews was called upon one
day in her husbands presence by a con-
stable and was told that the lease of the
house was in the name of Mr.. Andrews
mother, who desired that her daughter-in-
law vacate. All the furnishings of the
house belonged to Mr.. Andrews. The
neglected wife went to her own folks in
Jersey City and has since been living
with them. She Immediately began suit
as already told for support. Mrs. An
drews asks the court to award her the
custody of her child, which now with
her. She claims that her husband owns,
unincumbered the Bently avenue house,
which is worth S1S,O0O and that he is in
receipt of large income from his busi-
ness, gentlemens furnishing, at No. SO
Nassau street. New York.
ceived a letter, signed Drummer" asking
her to meet the writer ON Grove street
last night. If she would keep the ap-
pointment she was to hang something out
of the window of her room to signify that
fact. Mrs. Andrews Immediately saw her
husbands hand in the proceeding and
communicated her suspicious to her coun-
sell Mr.. Fisk. He advised her to keep the
appointment and he would arrange to trap
the conspirators. In accordance with his
instructions Mrs. Andrews hung small
bit Of cloth out of her window last night
and then at the appointed hour sauntered
dressed man, in light overcoat and>wear-
ing a derby hat, was standing at the cor
ner of Montgomery street.
In the meantime Mr.. Fisk had COM
municated with Chief of Police Murphy,
who detailed Detective Larkins to follow
Mrs. Andrews and see what came of her
encounter with the writer of the anony-
nous letter. Larkins took a friend VIM.
Smith, along as a witness AS Mrs An
drews went down Grove street the man In
the light overcoat followed her. She went
to Newark avenue and thence to Bay
street, to Henderson street, to Newark
avenue, to Grove street and then to
Wayne street. The fellow followed her
all the way and finally stopped her at
Grove and Wayne streets. She said
Are you the gentleman who wrote the
letter to me?' He replied that he was
and explained that some friends Of his
had advised him to write to her as they
thought she would be able to introduce
him to some good people and insure him
a lively time while in Jersey City
He had been conversing with her but
a few minutes when Larkins, who had
followed all the way and had been a wit
pess to all that had occurred, stepped be-
tween the man and Mrs. Andrews and
putting his arm through that of the
former informed him that he was unaor
arrest. Foote, as the stranger introduced
himself, went without resisting to Police
Headquarters where he was locked up on
the charge of conspiracy. He declared
that he had been employed by Mr. An
drews to follow his wife and get evidence
of wrong doing to be used against her at
the divorce proceedings. He had followed
her for week without finding anything
wrong in her conduct and had so reported
to his employer. Andrews than told him
TO trap fer and in pursuance to his in
Foote carried out the plan
which led to mis- arrest. He was held by
Justice Potts for trial.