The St. Louis Republic., 1901-06-16
Remained in Jail Eight Months
Rather Than Obey a
Judicial Order.
Then A JUDGE RELENTED.
Her Health Seems Completely
Wrecked Contest Over Es-
tate Left by Her Wealthy
Husband.
REPUBLIC SPH-TaL

REPUBLIC SPDTaLA
Chicago. June 15-For the first time in the
history OF the Cook County JAN the gates
OF the grim building opened their doors yes
terday morning in obedience to a wcman's s
will power-a woman who has oeen impris-
ored there for eight months. and whose
strength of purpose and mind has trf-
Umphed over the order Of the Cook County
Probate Court. and set at nausht the ruling
of Judges.
Yet when Mrs f Loenna Elmstedt left
the jail 1t was not with a light step. She
was carried out in the arms Of the Jailers.
But. though racke6 With pain. she smiled
as she said good-by TO the Jail companions
who. through her Imprisonment. have been
her warm friends For Mrs EiInstedt.
though broken down IN health, has forgot
ten her sufferings In her hour Of victory.
The woman was imprisoned October 8
last because she refused to obey the order
of the Probate Court directing her to turn
over to the State Bank of Chicago. as ad-
ministrator. certain portions OF her late hus-
bands estate.
The litigation. which will probably end
with the release OF the woman, was COM
menced In the Probate Court six years ago.
after the death OF John Elmstedt, d wealthy
mortgage broker. Mrs Elmstedt filed a will
IN which she was generously remembered
and made executrix without bonds.
Then the other heirs. consisting Of
nephews. nieces and cousins. banded them
selves together and attacked Mrs. Elm
stedts care Of the estate on the ground that
she had failed TO account for notes and
mortgages amounting TO $1,000. These she
held. claiming to have received them from
her husband in return for having paid Its
debts.
hA nnr
Emstedt had no money when she married.
Mrs. Elmstedt then related in court the
story OF diamond which had been left her
Dy her father. and which she had sold for
great sum- Judge kohlsaat ruled that Mrs
Elmstedt had not proven ownership An an
4eaI was taken to the Circuit Court and
dismissed. because the bond on which IL Was
taken was successfully contested,
ne case was dragged through the courts
1saln and again. until Judge Batten ousted
1ha SIM sErmstedt as executrix and appointed
me state Bank OF Chicago administrator
An order was entered July l3. 1893. directing
Nrs. Emstedt TO turn over TO the admins
.Th,s ra.os r. .he disputed notes and mortgages.
ahis she refused TO do. and the order COM
mitting her for contempt of court followed
Mrs: Elmstedt is helpless invalid. The
physicians. who said that if left in jaii DUR
ing the summer months she would die.
LEI me sink TO the floor and die" she
Rsaoed, as Deputy Sheriffs Smith and Nc
donald carried her into the court The men
were unable to hold her in an upright posi-
tion. 50 they procured a chair, and in this
way Mrs Elmstedt faced the Court AS
soon as Judge Cutting saw the pale and
emaciated face of the woman he held up his
hands and said: NP "'o
let this woman be released at once"
MIS-. Elmstedt tainted when she hoard
tne words pronouncing her liberty She was
seieased without recognizance until further
order Of the Court AeA
Mrs Elmstedt is 20 years old, but the long
IMPRISONMENT has changed her from a beau.
sIui ana healthy woman to an invalid She
mas lost the use Of one of her hands her
, sate Is wan ran, and gray. and she walks with
would have stayed in prison unit,
CeI sne SAID. sooner than obey the order
OF e Court. The whole affair is a conspI
taey and blackmailing scheme When I
Hirrieu my husband he was insoIyent and
2atq his debts When he died was made
fxscutrfx with absolute control Then his
souateral heirs began prosecuting me- For
TX years they kept up their prosecutions
Sand became I'll. While sick they called
:ne into court, and got contempt proceed
4 Mn Elmstedt owns a beautiful home in
-Beveriy Hills: Since her imprisonment the
Lesidence and grounds have been guarded
9isht and day BY watchmen, and the win
COWS and doors have been barred and
q prison. "a