The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-04
THEY TRADED WIVES.
One Lost His Wife Then Stole His
Former Spouse.

New York, April 4.-As a result of
Louis Bruyn and Charles Colet, who
five years ago married sisters, having
traded wives with each other, Justice
of the Peace Van Horenberg of Pater-
son, N. J., has issued warrants for the
arrest of Bruyn on a charge of assault
made by Colet and for the arrest of
Mrs. Bruyn for the alleged embeZZle-
ment of trust funds.
According to the story told by Colet
the trouble was caused by Bruyn want
ing his own wife back after the death
of COlet's wife, with whom Bruyn had
been living.
Bruyn and Colet worked together in
Mount Vernon, N. Y, and while Bruyn
courted Jean Wiltze, Colet courted her
younger sister, Marie, and a double we'd
ding followed. Neither couple was
happy, and, according to what Colet
says, each man decided he had married
the wrong sister. A transfer of wives
was agreed on, to which the unhappy
women gladly consented.
Colet and Mrs. Bruyn went to Pater-
son. N. J., to live, and in time their hap
piness was increased by the birth of
son. Bruyn and Mrs. Colet moved to
Jersey City Heights, and lived together
happily until three months ago, when
Mrs. ColetS death left Bruyn widower
by proxy. Friendly relations always
had been maintained between the house
holds, and when Bruyn, soon after Mrs
Colet's death, became ill, he went to
Being much in the company of his own
wife, now known as Mrs. Colet," his
affection for her returned and he sought
to have her leave Colet.
Mrs. Colet," however, begged Colet
to send Bruyn away, but Colet only
laughed at her fears. Bruyn then in
formed his wife that the exchange of
wives had been a crime, and made the
threat that unless she left Colet he
would have them both sent to prison.
Colet says that when he returned
home Friday evening he found himself
locked out. Forcing an entrance, he
was confronted by Bruyn, who, he says,
felled him with a heavy stick. CoIet
staggered to the roadway, where a
neighbor helped him to the office of DR..
Boyer, who dressed his wounds.
Returning home again, Colet found
Bruyn, Mrs. Colet," the baby and a
handbook missing. All Colet's savings,
Colet, were represented by the bank
book. He FASTENED to Justice Van
Horenberg, who drew up a protest,
stating that there was no Mrs. Jean
in trust for Colet. When Colet pre-
sented this protest at the bank, how
ever, he learned that all the money had
been drawn out.
With Justice Van Horenberg and
warrants for the arrest of both Bruyn
and the woman, Colet made a vain
search of Jersey City today, feeling
highly indignant over the elopement
although Justice Van Horenberg sought
to cor sole him by remarking that "every
man surely has the privilege of clipping
with his own wife,
Colet has received letter from Mrs
Bruyn in which she protests that she
left him against her own wishes She
promises to have their child always re-
member him and begs forgiveness. The
letter is postmarked New York, but
Mrs. Bruyn states it will be useless to
search for her, as Bruyn is going to
take her far away. Colet has, more
over. been left practically penniless and
would be unable to prosecute a pro-
tracted search.