The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
THE LADY And THE BREWERIES
OPTION AND ALIENATION FIGI RE
IN 4 FINANCIAL DEAL.
Defendant Brewer Says in Alienation Suit
That Plaintiff Brewer Threw His WIFE
Into the Scale When a Consolidation
OF the BunalO Brcwcrles Was Pending.

Carl D. Widcman, the principal stock
holder and one of the officers of the Ger.
man American Brewing Company Of Buff,
falo, is the defendant in a suit instituted
in the Supreme Court here by John P
Persch another brewer to recover 500 COO
for the alienation of Mrs. Persoh's affec-
tions. In his defense Wideman has put
forward allegations concerning Persch's
treatment Of his wife, some Of which were
ordered stricken out as scandalous and
irrelevant by the Appellate Division.
Wideman's answer, as it stands amended
after entering general denial to the com
plant. recites that from July 1, 1904, to
Dec. 1, 1904, Persoh was in Buffalo, accom-
panied by his wife, Gretchen 'Thurlow
Persch, on a mission to accomplish the
consolidation of the Buffalo breweries.
The answer continues:
And for further and separate defense
to this action, the defendant alleges that,
tiff, Persch, did introduce the said Gretchen
T. Persch to this defendant. defendant
being a large stockholder and one of the
officers OF the German American Brewing
Company, upon whose stock this plaintiff
was at that time endeavoring to secure an
option.
THAT the plaintiff persistently and
deliberately caused the said Gretchen T.
Persch to be thrown in company with this
defendant, and repeatedly requested de-
PENDANT to escort said Gretchen 7. Persch
to different places of entertainment and
amusement, with a view of having the
said Gretchen T Persch acquire such an
influence over this defendant, by reason
of her sexual attractiveness, that defendant
might thereby be induced to make more
favorable terms with the said John P.
Persch than he otherwise would
In striking out the other allegations Of
Wideman's defense the court ruled that,
had he pleaded them properly, as in mitiga-
ton of damages and not as separate de-
Tense, they would be admissible. lie is
likely. that Lawyer Charles Newton wno
is acting for Wideman, may have the COM
plant SO amended before trial that the
alterations will be reinstated. In any
case, as the court pointed out, they are
capable of proof on the trial, and II proved
would constitute complete. defense IN
as to the rest.
Briefly Wideman takes the position
that Persch tried to help along his bust
ness deals by means OF Mrs Persch's at
tractiveness and finding that the plan
did not work with Wideman as the Buffalo
man alleges it did with other brewery men
with whom Persch had transactions,
brought the alienation suit out of revenge.
Persch denies absolutely that there is any
basis of truth in such statement
John p. Persch's business and matri-
monial affairs have attracted public atten-
ton before. He is credited with having
made a large fortune through his brewery
consolidation operations, and according to
his first wife, had ar income some years ago
Of $3.50, 900 a year.
Persch has also taken an active interest
in street railroading, and was said to be
interested with Charles T. Yerkcs in the
underground railroads of London and Paris.
A few years ago he brought a suit to recover
a large sum from Henry C.kelsey for alleged
breach Of contract arising out of the CON
solidation of the gas companies OF Newark
That suit was dismissed by the Jersey courts,
He owns large tract OF land in Canada,
which he has turned into hunting estate.
Beck in 1878 Persch married Flora LOOMS,
who bore him four children, the eldest
now about rs years old. They were mar
ried in New Haven and got along pretty
we'll together until about 1900. when the wife
noticed that the husband was attracted by
Miss Gretchen Thurlow OF Columbus, Ohio.
Mrs. Persch sued for divorce and got 1t
in 1908 from Justice Greenbaum, with 500
a month alimony.. Six months later, on
Jan. Is, 1904, Persch married Miss Thurlow
in Jersey City,.
. suit against William H. Boughton Of