The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-22
FIVE WIVES LOCATED
AND BLACKSMITH APPEL MAY
HAVE OTHERS



According to the allegations of petition
flled yesterday in the superior court
Charles Herman Appel, the Also street
blacksmith and wagon maker. has enough
living and undivorced wives to do credit te
Turkish harem. Appel seems to have
had an utter disregard for the marriage
laws of any state in which he has lived and
to all appearances has travelled over tho
country making temporary playthings of
the women with whom he was thrown in
contact. always under the guise of a lawful.
obedient and respected husband. however.
So far as can be learned, Appel first
sought the bliss Of marital life in Cincinnati,
Ohio. In 1869, woman whose name cannot
now be learned being the victim. The cou-
pie lived in the east and be-
came the parents of one or more chill
dren. said to be still living. A trip by the
husband to his native home in Germany was
the occasion of separation between the cou-
pie, and the ship on which he sailed being
wrecked the wife supposed he had been
drowned and for years considered herself
q widow. She is said to be still living in
Ohio.
After his visit to Germany. Appel duly
returned to the United States and located
1880 he was welded to woman named
Gates. They made their home in st. Louis,
and as result of the illegal union several
children were born and are said to be still
alive. The second wife in time was uncere-
moniously left to her own resources and is
now living in st. Louis where. her deposit
ton will be secured for use in the suit just
fled.
kI.-
pastures in the far west, locating at Nevada
City, California, where by his energetic and
apparently upright department he soon Sc
cured to himself standing which enabled
him to win the good opinion and respect of
Emma Schemer. This good opinion and re-
spect in time developed into love, and on
September 15, 1880, the couple were married.
Their honeymoon, of about two years dura-
ton, was spent at Bloomfield, Nevada coun-
ty during which time a boy was born to
them and is said to now be living in this
city. In 1882, as the story goes. the novelty
of the third experience having been ex-
bausted, Appel borrowed all the money he
could from his friends IN the neighborhood
and decamped. He was not so fortunate in
escaping public notice this time, however
as the newspapers got hold of the affair and
liberal airing in the Police Gazette, with ap-
propriate illustrations.
The man of Mormonistic proclivities next
turned up at San Luis Obispo but the pub
licity of his last escapade had made him
cautious, and at the new scene of opera
lions he was known as c. H. Froby the
proper initials only being retained. Harriet
Cooper fell victim to the wiles of the gay de-
N q a for IN nd fbov orr;o
took place on July 10, 1884. Their home was
one of happiness for time, the wife living
in blissful ignorance of the true character
of her 1iege lord and never learning that
his real name was not the one he had given
her. One day he quietly departed and she
was left to do as others had done before her.
She still lives in San Luis Obispo and, In
correspondence with the attorneys who
have the case in charge. significantly asserts
that she wants no more of Froby
Appel is said to have gone to Arizona after
leaving the home where he posed under the
assumed name and whether he appropriated
wife or two during his three years career
there has not yet been learned. He next
turned up in this vicinity, at Santa Ana,
and, strange as it may seem, chose his
brother, Jacob Appels, widow as his fifth
dupe. Mrs. Isyphen Appel is a well-pre-
served woman of As years and by her mar
riage with this miscreant's brother had two
sons, one of whom, VIM. Appel is now en-
ployed with Lang, Breley & Co., on West
Second street. The other son is a member
of the Seventh regiment, California volun-
teer infantry, and is now on his way to the
Philippines.
Mrs. Appel obtained an inkling of Chas.
Appers true character through certain cor
respondence which accidentally came into
her possession and, assisted by her sons,
made thorough investigation, which re-
suited in the filing of the present suit. Many
OF the facts told above are set forth in the
petition, which prays for the annulment Of
any marriage contract which may appear to
exist between the plaintiff and defendant,
and further asks that the personal property
OF the defendant be set aside for the use of
the plaintiff, Mrs. Appel Number Five.
This man who has had such checkered
career. Charles Herman Appel is German
by birth and has always had good reputa-
ton as an energetic Woodworking man. He
seems to have had no bad habits save the
one OF lacking stability in his affairs of the
neart. Attorney H. H. Appel, who repre-
sents the plaintiff in the suit just filed. bears
no relationship to any of the parties con-
cerned.