The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-19
.HESSBERGERSIN
DIVORCE SUIT
NOW
Newark Man Wants to Be
Freed From East Orange
Wife--Kidnapped His Son.

Papers in suit for divorce begun by
John Hessberger, a butcher and pro-
vision merchant, of 1855 South Eighth
street, against Anna Hessberger, have
been filed with the clerk of the Court
of Chancery and placed in the hands
of Sheriff Frank II. Sommer for serv-
ice. The principals in the suit have
been before the public for some time
and have figured in the police courts
on several occasions. Application for
the decree is based on statutory
grounds. Mrs. Hessberger has been
living at 23S Sandford street, East
Orange.
The couple have two children, and
4 when Mrs. Hessberger left her husband
| several weeks ago she took the children
with her One is a boy, Walter 6 years
old. On Saturday, August 10, while
passing the Sandford street house, Mr.
! Hessberger saw the little fellow play
Ning in the yard.
Recognizing his father, the little fell
/ low left the yard to greet ilim and the
father took him. placed him in the
wagon and drove off, his wife running
behind screaming. The other child is a
little girl, Annie, 10 years old.
! The marital difficulties Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Hessberger date back several
years, during which time the petitioner
has engaged private detectives to pro-
cure evidence against his wife. Ac-
cordng to affidavits filed with the petit
tion these detectives have been led a
merry chase, and on at least one oc-
cason were recognized by the defend
ant and her companion.
The bill names one correspondent, but
cites numerous instances when Mrs.
Hessberger was alleged to have been
unduly familiar with men. Mrs. Hess
berger was accompanied by Hugo
Boehm to a local playhouse about two
years ago, and then Mr.. Hessberger
and Mrs Boehm were summoned by
detectives from the Gregory agency
in this city who had been engaged
When the show was over the two
couples met in the theatre lobby, Mrs.
Boehm attacking Mrs. Hessberger, while
Mr.. Hessberger engaged the attention
of Mr.. Boehm for time. AS result
of the little seance all parties were
bundled off to the First Precinct Police
Station, where they were all slated and
later admitted to bail.
Shortly before this occurred Mr.
Hessberger built a house for his wife
at the address given 1t was hand
somely furnished throughout, so much
to Mrs. Hessberger's liking that she
removed all the furniture during her
husbands absence and took it to New
York where she furnished other apart
ments with it. Later she had it re-
moved to the Oranges, where she still
resides with her mother.
Later Mr.. Hessberger forgave his
wife, and in an effort to break off these
relations between her and Boehm he
sent her to Europe She was accom-
panied by her mother. While abroad
Mrs Hessberger met William Steden-
field and his father, both of whom re-
side at 210 Camden street. This fact is
mentioned in the petition.
On one occasion, according to the
affidavits, while one of Gregory's men
was shadowing Mrs. Hessberger and
Boehm, the couple were dancing to
the tune my Pal" They were singing
also, and when they got to the verse:
"Td rather have you with your fifteen
week than be some millionaire's
Wife" Mr.. Boehm is said to have sub
stituted the words
"I'd rather have you with your forty
a week than be a bologna mans Wife,
After her return from Europe, Hess
berger had his wife shadowed again,
and she was watched continuously
from early i'm January until June last.
when she was arrested with Stedenfeld
on charges of indecent conduct on
South Ninth street, between Twelfth
and Thirteenth avenues. They were
picked up by Patrolman Fitzsimmons
at the instigation of Detectives Francis
j. Gregory and William A. Baker, who
hatf watched them for several hours.
ThcY were taken to the Fourth Pre-
cinct belice station and held in $500
bail for sle Grand Jury. Mr.. Hess
berger wenl security for their appear
ance, but later they were surrendered
to the court, and soon afterward he
instituted the suit for divorce Mrs.
Hessberger is said to be 80 years old.
The correspondent in the suit is only 27
years old. Arthur B. Seymour, of
Orange, represents Mr.. Hessberger-
Mrs. Hessberger now resides at 2ss
sandford street. East Orange.