The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-04-06
WOMAN WAS ACQUITTED.
Serious Charge Was Dismissed by
Judge Goss.

Serious Charge Was Dismissed by
Judge Goss.
The sensational Heggens case,
wherein Mrs. Heggens was charged
with assault with intent to kill, the
complaining witness being her hus-
band, was brought to sudden close
at llinot. when Judge L. b. Goss. af-
ter taking testimony in the case. dis
missed the action against the Berth
old woman and taxed the costs of the
case against the defendant. Previous
to Diminishing the criminal action,
Judge Goss granted MS. Heggens an
absolute divorce.
Mrs. Hegscns We; cleared from the
criminal charge, upon which she was
arrested last Wednesday. by her lit
tie seven-year-old daughter, Isabella.
The testimoD" of this young witness
proved very interesting and disclosed
the entire facts in the case. James
o. Heggens. who is prosperous
farmer residing near Berthold. al
legged that his; wife attempted to kill
him by stabbing him with Il butcher
knife while he slept. This attempt
was made. it was alleged, early last
Wednesday morning.
The testimony of little Isabelle Hes-
gems. however, placed an entirely diff
fercnt aspect upon the case. Accord
ing to her testimony. Hcggens arose
early Wednesday morning, and. going
into the Kitchen, secured large
h,1t POI, INN 70
room, where Mrs. Heggens and her
three-year-old daughter were sleeping.
Heggens standing at the foot of the
bed and drawing the knife across his
throat shouted: 81 can die like a
man. even if | cant live like one"
Mrs. Hegsens, fearing that her hus-
band had lost his mind and was about
to commit suicide, ran from the room
in her night clothes going to the
woodshed where she procured large
stick of wood. On her return to the
bedroom. she discovered Heggens
standing over their three-year-old
daughter with the butcher knife tight
~ cla:p2d in his right hand. Bcliev-
ing that he intended to kill the lit
tie ona and do away with the entire
family, she struck her husband sew
eral blows over the head with the
club. Tho trouble between The hus-
band and wife aroused little Isabelle,
who Vas sleeping IN IN adjoining
room, and she ran to her mothers
rescue. She demanded that her faith.
CT give her the butcher knife which
he did, Later with the assistance of
some OF The ncighbors Mr.. Heggens
was persuaded to leave the house.
That same day he came to Minot and
secured a warrant for his wife's ar.
rest on the charge oil assault with in.
tent to kill
The trouble, which took place at
the Heggens home last Wednesday
was simply the elimination of a Sc
rles of domestic disturbances which
have visited the Heggens household
on several occasions during the past
year. About year ago Heggens sued
his wife for divorce on the grounds
OF cruel and inhuman treatment. Later
the wife put in a cross bill which con-
tanned several sensational charges. in.
Guiding that of adultery Realizing
that his wife might be able to win
out in the case, Heggens conceived the
idea of arousing his wifes sympathy
by attempting suicide, in the hope
that she would forgive him and drop
the divorce action. His scheme, how.
ever, failed, and his farce" resulted
disastrously to himself.
In granting Mrs. Heggens a divorce
Judge Goss awarded the custody Of
the six children to the mother; the
homestead at Berthold and $500 in
cash