The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-26
FOUND II!
A News" Reporter Dis
covers the Strangely
Missing Mrs. Peter
sen.
POLICE HAD NO CLUE
The Story of Her Return to
Her Home Given Here
Exclusively.
POLICE HAD NO CLUE

The mystery of the strange disappear
ance of Mrs. William Petersen of Little
Ferry has been solved by a News re-
porter. The police of four cities-New
York, Brooklyn, Hoboken and Jersey
City-have been searching for her ever
since Sunday afternoon, when her hus-
band told of her strange disappearance.
In all that time they have been unable to
find the slightest clue to her whereabouts.
Mr.. Petersen has been on the verge of
insanity, distracted, fearful that he would
never see his wife again. He was con-
vinced that she filled watery grave at
the bottom of the Hudson River and the
police had given up all hope of ever gtt-
ting trace of her. Friends of the family
feared for Mr.. Petersen's reason. Mes
sages of sympathy and encouragement
were being daily sent to him and the ter
ribie situation was consuming the nervous
tissues of his friends.
Telephone communication with Little
Ferry is to be had only through the gem
eral store of John kaufman. Daily in
quiries there ELECTED the unvarying reply
that Mrs. Petersen had not been heard
of since last Saturday, when she disap-
peared from a Cortlandt street ferryboat.
Her husband left her on the boat to have
his shoes polished. When the polish was
on, after the boat had been docked, he
couldn't find her. He searched many
hours around Jersey City and New York
and returned home disconsolate and des-
perate On Sunday afternoon he notified
the police. They are still searching.
The mystery caused widespread inter
est Because of its strange features a
News reporter went to Little Ferry
yesterday to interview Mr.. Petersen and
see if he could find some clue to the miss
ing wife.
The reporter called at the Petersen
house. armed with the description of
Mrs. Petersen given the police by her
husband 1t was:-
Weight, ITS pounds; light complex
ion; light hair; she was dressed when
last seen in black waist, blue skirt,
and black hat.
A comely young woman opened the
door. She weighed ITS pounds, had light
hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.
But she wore house wrapper. The Shef-
lock Holmes interest was aroused in the
reporter and he at once set to work to
reconcile the wrapper. He was convinced
that what Mr.. Petersen and the police
had failed to do he had accomplished-he
had found the missing wife! Mrs. Peter
sen stood at her own door,!
When dramatically told by the re-
porter that she had been discovered Mrs.
Petersen at once admitted that fact.
Just as unhesitatingly she admitted that
she had been lost She said
'T.ast Saturday my husband and I
called on some friends in New York. We
We're returning home on the seven
o'clock boat from Cortlandt street. My
husband left me on the upper deck and
he went downstairs to have his shoes
polished. When the boat was fastened
to the pier he had not yet returned to
me and I went ashore. did not see him,
and thinking he had remained on the
boat I went aboard again and was taken
back to New York. Then I again search
ed the boat but could not find him. Then
I went to a friend at No. Greenwich
street, New York City. AS / had no
money and no ticket home, I got the fare
from Mrs Wilson, my friend, upon whom
I called, and came home last Sunday
night When I arrived here I found my
husband had returned to look for me
and he was greatly worried about my
absence. But it's all right, now. You
have found me happy and contented.'
Mrs. Casper Simon, an aunt by mar
riage of Mrs. Petersen, was seen at her.
home, at No. 2121a Seventh street, this
morning. She said she had heard of Mrs.
Petersen's return home but had not
thought it necessary to notify the au-
thorities.
In every police station hereabouts
there is description of Mrs Petersen.
Policemen have been closely scrutinizing
all the women they met or heard of be-
ing injured or found dead.
To save them from further trouble,
"The News today makes the exclusive
announcement that Mrs. Petersen is now
safe at her home in Little Ferry.