The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-20
ASSAULTED By HIS SON
POLICE CAPTAIN PHILIP POTT-
GIESER rs LAID UP FOR MUCH
NEEDED REPAIRS
CRISIS IN A FAMILY JANGLE
1t Seems to Have Been Reached Al
though the Stories of the
Participants Differ
in Details.

The nome circle Oh POI1ce captain EIll-
ip Pottgieser Is manifestly "house d.
vided against ITSELF and in the light
of recent events bids fair to fulfil the
Bible prediction regarding the existence
of such conditions.
AS the results of family row which
occurred at the Pottgieser residence early
Wednesday evening, Capt. Pottgieser is
confined to the house with severely
damaged jaw, a badly bruised and dislo-
Gated eye, and other injuries which cause
him to limp noticeably when trying to
walk. While his wife hes in bed at the
home of their son William, who was also
one of the principal participants In the
trouble, but escaped without injury.
Capt. Pottgieser and his wife have not
lived together in entire harmony, it APP
pears, and from the statements of the
interested parties regarding the affair of
Wednesday evening, 1t is plain that the
household is divided into two FACTIONS,
the son William taking sides with his
mother, and the daughter, Christina, with
her father.
Captain Pottgieser was seen at his
home yesterday afternoon by a Globe re-
porter and, although owing to the injur-
ed condition Of his jaw he found much
difficulty in talking, made a statement
substantially as follows regarding the
fight of the night before:
Some time after l came home last even
ing-I should think it was about 7:30-I
| had occasion to go to the cellar, and as
l passed through the kitchen l saw my
| son William there talking to his mother.
1 had previously told William to keep
| away from my house, and when 1 saw
| him there 1 said: What are you doing
| here? You know have told you not to
! come into my house again?' l did not
wait for reply but went to the cellar,
| and when returned found William still
| talking with my wife. became angry
| and ordered him to go. Only a few more
words passed before he struck me with
something and 1 became unconscious.
may have struck at him first, but 1 do
not think So What happened after he
! struck me do not distinctly remember.
| but l do not recall taking Ratchet from
| the cupboard near where l was lying. Ny
! daughter, who had come into the kitchen
when the trouble began, says 1 lay on
the floor unconscious for at least five
minutes, while she bathed my head, and
| that she and her mother took the Ratchet
| from me. My son struck me second
| time after I recovered consciousness, and
! took up the Ratchet.
| / am told that my son says he attack
| ed me because l was abusing his mother,
but that is absolutely false. 1 had no
or kick her after my trouble with VIII
liam, as I am told she says I did.
My estrangement with my son William
dates back a number Of years. He has
caused me a great deal of trouble and
anxiety by his dissolute ways, and every
spark of paternal affection 1 ever had
for him has been completely trampled out
by his actions. 1 have forbidden him to
come to the house, but his mother still
loves him in spite of his unnatural be-
havior, and he comes here to see her.
He has at different times taken nearly
everything of value in the house to
paWnShop. He has paWned my opera
glasses, my wife's fur coat, her watch
and even her wedding ring, which she
eri1r n fIoron for
that purpose.
Miss Christina Pottgieser, who was at
home with her father, corroborated his
statement that he had not struck or kick
ed Mrs. Pottgieser. She said that if her
mother had sustained any injury 1t must
have been in trying to separate the two
men.
Mrs Pottgieser was found in bed at
the home of her son William, 413 Louis
street, Her version of the trouble be-
tween her husband and son was similar
to that Of her husband in many of the
essential details. She stated, however,
that it was caused by the fact that her
husband had used insulting and obscene
language toward her, and William resent
ed such treatment of her. She declared
that William had used nothing but his
fists to strike his father To explain her
presence at her sons house, Mrs Pott-
gieser stated that after William had left
his fathers house Wednesday evening"
Captain Pottgieser renewed his abusive
and insulting language toward her and
kicked her, and that he declared he
would kill her If she did not get out. "I
went first to the home of my brother
Emil Peyer, and upon his advice came
here" she added, land l will never go
home again until the matter is fixed up
permanently in some way"
Mrs. Pottgieser says that her husband
has repeatedly treated her with cruelty,
and that at least once before their
troubles were made public.
From another source it has been learn
ed that some years ago Capt Pottgieser
was called before c. D. O'Brien, then
mayor, and that there was testimony at
that time to the effect that he had struck
his wife on the head with his police Off
GERS club so hard as to break the club
The story of William Pottgieser as to
the affair of Wednesday night agrees in
all essential points with that of his moth
er, and differs from that of his father
only as to the cause of his action, which,
he says, was that his father used abu-
sive language toward his mother. He de-
clares positively that ne struck his IA
Their only with his fists, but says he did
strike him hard
Capt. Pottgieser has been attended by
DIR. Bole, who does not think the jaw is
prove that it is, it will knit readily. The
captain inclines toward the belief that
his 1awbone is broken, and says he thinks
his son used fiatiron in striking him.
His injuries are such as could hardly
have been inflicted by mans fist. The
left eye is almost entirely closed. and the
flesh all about 1t is badly bruised and
discolored, and the left cheek is very
much swollen.
Mrs. Pottgieser's brother, Emil Peyer,
filed complaint yesterday with Police
Commissioner L. L. May, and the COM
mission will investigate the charges
against the captain, Mr. Peyer also took
steps to secure a warrant for Capt. Pott-
gieser's arrest, but in the absence of both
the county attorney and his assistant
from the city, was unable to do so.
Capt. PottgleSer states that he intends
to file a complaint alleging assault and
battery against his son.
Capt. Pottgieser has been member OF
the police force since 1882 and after serv-
ing as sergeant and lieutenant at the
central station, was advanced by former
Mayor Doran to a captaincy and placed
in charge of the Margaret street station.
He and Mrs. Pottgieser have been mar
ried thirty-one years, and nave had sew
enteen children, but only William and
Christina are now living.
William Pottgieser is about thirty
years of age and married, and is en-
ployed by the Golden Rule as driver Of
delivery wagon.