Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-13
Mrs. William NJ. 6ongartz is At
tackled by Jealous nus
band.
FROM WHOM SHE SEPARATED
Calls Her to Door of Restaurant Where
She is Employed and HurIs
Liquid in Her Face.

day morning threw carbOhc acid into
he face of his wife, of whom he is
insanely jealous, in the hope of so
iisfguring her attractive face that she
would not draw the attention OF the
admiring eyes Of other men,
The assault took place at the rear
door of the kitchen Of the tVeckel res.
Jaurant at 1910 Second Avenue 1t was
1880, and Mrs Bongartz was about
ler duties as cook preparing break
fast. The couple had been separated
LOT months, although they had been
married for little over a year. He fol-
lowed her to Rock Island from Ottawa.
II will be remembered that two
months ago Mrs. Bongartz brought
1abeas corpus proceedings in a Peoria
court 10 secure the custody OF her two
children by a former marriage that
lad been placed by Bongartz with q
,amily in that city after the couple
had become estranged. The court
ruled that the children should remain
With the family until further orders,
Ii neither Bongartz nor his wife was
so situated at that time as to properly
eare for them, their home having been
broken up.
Passes Two Forged Checks.
Bongartz had been here for a week
The Rock Island police knew that he
was in one OF the three cities and were
IN the lookout for him. as there is a
warrant against him for the passing
Of forged checks on two saloonkeepers
about a year ago. The spurious pa
per was cashed by Hildebrandt, who
formerly was proprietor OF a saloon
AT First avenue and Twentieth street
| and by Fred Gross, who keeps a place
on Twentieth, between First and Sec
ond avenues. BOngartz was arrested
Immediately after the commission OF
| these Offenses, but escaped from the
officer while on the way to the city
prison.
During the past week Bongartz had
,alled twice at the restaurant to see
his wife TO plead with her to forget
he past and return TO him. She told
aim that she could no longer endure
aim. She had given him a fair trial.
out he had proven himself unworthy.
She was able to earn her own living,
and wanted him to- go away from her
and remain away. Bongartz is infat-
uated with his wife She IS a pretty
young woman OF % years. He visited
her for the last time yesterday morn
ng. She would either change her de-
termination not TO live with him or
ne would destroy her beauty. He
brought a bottle OF carbolic acid This
he carried In his overcoat pocket, hold
ing his hand over tho neck. in order
that he could huTl the contents in her
face without stopping to remove the
cork He made no threats indulging
only in endearing terms in his efforts
to dissuade her from her course.
Fortunately Closes Her Eyes.
They talked for few minutes. Bon
gartz had learned that his wife had
been arranging to institute divorce pro
ceedings. He asked me II / intend.
ed divorcing him" Mrs. Bongartz said
Il told him that l did. told him that
it was simply misery for both OF us
as long as We lived together. despite
| his prOtestations Of affection for me
When l gave him my answer in refer.
ence to the divorce and stepped back
TO close the door TO return to my work
he pulled forth the bottle and remark.
ed Then take that | noticed while
in was talking with him that he was
nCrvOusly lingering something in his
coat pocket, but | had no idea that he
| had such terrible designs. Az luck
would have it, / closed my eyes as he
threw the acid. For the moment ! sup
posed il was water. and that he threw
il at ne TO brighten me. But present
| ly it began TO burn. the liquid having
gotten on my lips and cheeks. None
OF it got in my eyes, however. | held
my head over and the most OF it rolled
| OF on the floor. / applied milk and
| lard when l realized that acid had
been used. and a doctor was called"
| DIR. f. A Snively dressed Mrs. Bon
gartz's face and she was taken TO the
home of her father at 23OS Fourth ave
nue.. She will likely bear scars OF the
burns through the rest OF her days.
Captured at BettendOrf.
Bongartz. after the assault, ran for
the river, and crossed over there. on
Ger James Brinn followed, and was
joined on the other side by the Daven-
port police. The chase continued 10
! Bettendorf, where Bongartz was cap
| tured shortly before noon. He was
| brought TO this side and locked up in
the county jail. He will have charge
OF forgery TO answer to. and one Of
mayhem in addition. The latter
charge. it IS expected. will be filed by
| his wife, when she is able 10 come to
court
The preliminary hearing Of BOngaTtZ
was continued until Wednesday.