The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27
LADIES In A WARM DISPUTE.
1T GETS INTO COURTASS CHWERDT-
FEGGER vs.. MILLER.
The Present Ladies' Verein Of Mr.. Schnee-
gas's Mission Suing the Oh1cers OF
the Former Verein for the Cash in the
Treasury-COurt Reserves Decision.

The German population Of Stapleton,
Staten Island, await with feverish interest
the decision of Supreme Court Justice
Garretson in the case OF Schwerdtfegger
VS.. Miller This is a suit involving the own
ership Of $3.50 and the peace OF Stapleton.
This amount of money has already di-
vided the Ladies' Society of the German
Presbyterian Mission and made bitter
enemies Of many women who had been
dear friends That the row has hurt the
mission every one admits, including the
present pastor, the Rev Charles II.
Schneegas Mr. Schneegas is deep in the
dispute over the S160.
Three years ago the members OF the
Presbyterian Church of Stapleton decided
they would have German mission as an
annex to their church. The Rev. Gustave
Nichse was selected as the pastor OF the
mission, and when he began work one OF
the first things he did was to organize the
women folks of the mission into a society
to aid it. The society was called the
Ladies' Verein. Mrs. Louise Miller was
elected president, Mrs. Kate Malsch secre-
tary and Mrs. Bertha Lebright treasurer,
The Ladies' Verein worked hard to raise
money for the support of the mission and
they we're fairly successful. They held
sewing bees, raffles and pretzel baking
contests. The proceeds were all turned
over to Mrs. Lebright, the treasurer, sub
iect to the call of the pastor. This was all
under the Rev Mr.. Nichse. Then came
a time year and half ago when he re-
ceived a call from New Jersey church,
which he accepted. Mr.. Schneegas was
appointed his successor.
The three women who had been first
elected officers of the society retained
their places and the longer they held on
the more powerful they became in the
mission Finally came the night when
DR.. Wood, the pastor OF the Presbyterian
church, lectured in the school hall on scot,
land. 1t so happened that the Ladies'
Varein of the German annex Of the church
had selecte ed the same night for meeting.
They gathered in room ad Joining that IN
which DR.. Wood was lecturing Unmindful
OF the lecture the Ladies' Verein became
involved in hot dispute. One report
has it that it was over the proper way 70
make pumperncke cakes, They talked
so loud that they interrupted the lecture
in the adjoining room. MIR. Schneegas
was an Interested listener at the lect ure
and when he saw that members OF his Hook
were disturbing it he sent messenger TO
them with a request to keep quiet. How
the messenger delivered the message VIII
always remain a matter of dispute. AT
any rate PAS or Schneegass request was
the opening wedge OF the disruption OF the
Ladies' Verein
The meeting adjourned in confusion and
President Miller and her followers, includ-
ing the other two officers, have never at
tended meeting in the school hall since.
They did, however, organize themselves
into the Ladies' Society OF Stapleton and
under that name they met regularly at Mrs.
Mi,ler's house Some twenty women who
didn't believe in breaking away from the
mission continued to call themselves mem
beers of the Ladies Neren. They reorgan-
| lied and elected Mrs. Margaret Schwerdt-
fegger president, Mrs. Maud Caemper
secretary and Mrs. Dora Christensen trea-
surer
The new officers sent n request at once to
the other set that they wanted all the prop
erty Of the Ladies' Verein that was in their
Possession. What they wanted most was
a bank book showing balance Of $50 to
the credit of the Ladies' Verein. The Sc
ceders paid no attention tine demand.
| Then there was much talk and old friends
soop became estranged. The row bid fair
| to disrupt the mission entirely, and it was
| finally decided to take the matter To court.
II came up before just CO Garretson ON
Friday. and he spent half day hearing