The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-06
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Minneapolis Girl WEEDS German Baron
Only to Regret the Act.

Minneapolis, Dec. 6.-Judge Gray. of
Minneapolis. has granted a decree of
divorce to Baroness Nina Won Stein
Wehr, and gave the custody of the Stein
Wehrs' little girl to the mother.
Thus ends a rather remarkable ro-
nance. Baroness Won Steinwehr was
Minneapolis girl whose maiden name
was Clarke. She was educated az St
Mary's hall. Faribault. and on her re-
turn to Minneapolis after graduation
she met Baron Won Steinwehr, at that
time a dashing young German of mill
tary aspect. whose arrival in the eoun-
try some time before had been the Oc-
casiOn Of some rather lavish enter
tainment. The baron was courted in
New York and Boston, and it was at
one time believed that he would marry
a Boston young woman, the daughter
of famous statesman. Won Steinwehr.
however, in 1892, purchased a large
tract of land in North Dakota and be-
gan ranehing on a large scale. He was
a frequent visitor in Minneapolis,
where his talent as q story teller and
bon vivant won him scores of friends
He had the entree to the best society
and being an attractive man physically
IS well as mentally. he was courted by
the best houses.
1t was in 1893 that the baron met
Miss Clarke. and, according to all ac-
counts, they were mutually infatuated
from the first. At ALI events the faS-
ctnations of the gentle foreigner proved
potent to win the hand of one of the
most charming girls of the fashionable
set and they were married. Almost
Immediately after the ceremony the
Non Steinwehrs left for Dakota and
took up their residence on the big
farm.
Apparently the delights of a Dakota
prairie home were not sufficient for
Baroness Won SteinWehr's contentment,
for the couple paid very frequent visits
80 the West hotel. where they were well
known Finally the Won Steinwehrs re-
aided at the hotel "a
going north to attend to his seeding and
again to look after the harvesting of his
crops. but travelling back and forth to
visit his wife continually.
Baroness Won Steinwehr's complaint
cites that the baron has contracted an
Unsuitable appetite for strong drink, and
that when under the influence of liquor
he is rude and unlxind to her. In fact she
declares that the formerly chivalrous
baron has abused her shamefully. and
that life with him has become insupport-
able.
Baron Won Steinwehr was represented
at the hearing yesterday, but the decree
was granted in spite of representations
of his counsel The child remains in the
custody of the mother
For a considerable time Baron Won
Steinwehr has been residing in Mime
apolis He has been interested in grain
speculation to a considerable extent, and
recently lost a large sum of money
through the failure of a firm of brokers
with which he had become associated.
Whether the facts are as recited or not,
Baron Won Steinwehr was 3given credit
some ten years ago for the application of
a novel plan in harvesting the immense
crops of his Dakota farm. Labor was
very scarce and it was impossible to get
help enough to harvest the crop. no mat
ter what prices were paid. Won Stein
wehr sent to Germany and imported a few
score of peasant girls to work on his
ranch. There was some sort of complica-
ton that prevented the final execution Of
the plan, but newspapers in New York
Chicago and other cities made much Of
the scheme and Won SSteinwehr got a
great deal of unlocked for fame.