The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-10
GERMAN WIDOWS HIS
MOST PROFITABLE
VICTIMS
Mrs. Hulda Nagle, Of This
City Succumbs to the Win
some Vaccinations Of Otto
Kern, Who Is Now in a
Chicago Jail.


Hulda Maggie, 267 Thomas street, into
marriage and then sWindled her out of
her life'S savings, amounting to over
$1,000, has been apprehended in Chi
cago, where he is now serving a SEN
tence at the bridewell, under the name
of Frank Sauer for swindling Mrs.
Amy S. EdersOn.
Kerns strong graft is marrying
German widows with money. Early
last spring he operated in st. Paul,
and Mrs. Nagle fell into his trap.
During the fore part of April, 1902,
Kern advertised in all the local papers.
He said that he wanted an honest
German wife, a widow preferred. The
advertisement stated implicitly that
no trifierS need answer.
Mrs. Nagle, then a widow for three
years, answered the advertisement. A
meeting was arranged shortly It's out
come was the same old tale, love at
first sight, a speedy marriage, and
then But let Mrs. Maggie, or rather
Mrs. Kern, tell the story of her short
but eventfuI career with the hand
some German widow charmer.
He was a handsome fellow" said
Mrs. Maggie, when seen at her boarding
place, 267 Thomas street last evening.
Il just couldn't resist him. When he
asked me to become his wife, [ at first
hesitated, but he was such an honest
appearing fellow that l at last consent
ed.
Kern Made Promises.
ut was more for the benefit of my
three little children than for my own
that married Kern, for he promised to
take us abroad and educate the little
ones at some famous German school.
The thought that my girls and boy
would receive this education is what
drove me to matrimOny for, in the
first place, [ only answered the adver-
tiSement as joke
when [ met Kern [ owned two lots
at University avenue and Arundel
street. On one lot was a two-story
brick building and on the other a
frame dwelling. 1 conducted a store
in the brick structure and had bust
ness which netted me almost $1,000 an
nually. This property and my little
business was worth at least $4,000.
Kern and 1 We're married at sly
home on the evening of April 20. A
Lutheran minister officiated, and sew
eral of my relatives were present at
the ceremony. Kern had told us all
that he was a son of a rich German
merchant, who lived in Berlin, and had
told me, as a great secret, that we
would go to Germany as soon as we
were married. Never a word did he
utter about disposing of my property.
hat clII NoIllC OOiIC IIIIlS dIISI lnS
wedding.
81 think, when we did begin to talk
of selling the property and grocery
store, it was 1 who proposed the DEAL
but Kern had skillfully led up to the
subject. We found a buyer for the
property, and on June Is sold it for
$500. This was fully $500 less than
it was worth, but as we We're going to
Germany to live, and Kern said he
would then have money in abundance,
we decided to let the property go at a
sacrifice.
He Never Came Back.
Shortly after breakfast, on the
morning following the sale, L gave
Kern $500 to buy our tickets to the old
country. Before he left he ransacked
my trunk taking with him the balance
of the $4,000. 1 have never seen him
since he left to get those tickets. At
first 1 could hardly believe he had vic
timiZed me, but l am now fully con-
WINGED that l was Swindled by that
fellow.
"a few days ago I saw an account in
one of the papers of a man named
Sauer having been arrested in Chicago
for attempting to swindle a woman in
the same way l was victimiZed. Some
thing told me he was the same fellow
that stole my money, so I at once took
the article to the police. They wrote
to Chicago, and now 1 feel sure that
we have captured the villain.
will L prosecute him? Well,
should say l will. If it takes what
little money 1 have left, will see that
Kern or Sauer is justly punished for
his acts"
The loss of Mrs. Nagle's money and
home has rendered her almost penni-
less. She was obliged to seek work by
the day. and is now employed as a fur
rier at Gordon & F'erguson's factory.
IF 1 had not met that fellow l would
have been able to educate my chill
dren," sobbed Mrs. Nagle last even
ing. Nov they must earn their own
living just as soon as they are able
to work."
Kern, alias Sauer, is now serving a
siX-month sentence at the Chicago
bridewell for trying to swindle Mrs.
Amy S. Derson, of Chicago, in man
ner similar to that which ne employed
in getting Mrs. Nagle's cash. He is
also wanted in Buffalo. where it is said
he secured over $4,000 from a widow
named Carrie J. Anderson, whom he
married last September.
The description of Sauer furnished
by the Chicago police fits Kern in
every particular. Detective O'NeiI, of
Chicago, will forward "a picture of
Sauer to the local police today, and if
Mrs. Maggie Identifies it as the man who
Victimized her, Sauer or Kern will be
eXtradited and made to stand trial.