The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-28
HIS WIFE
over THREESTATES
}. Q. WENZEL or ICELAND, WHO
WAS IN FARGO HUNTING
FOR CHILDREN TELLS
OF SEARCH.

Fergus Falls, Mimi, Dec. 2s.-That
truth is stranger than fiction was
proven by story related in this city
today by ]. B. wenzel. of Egeland, N.
ID. He came to Fergus Falls in the
hope of finding his wife and three
children, who disappeared from his
home two months ago. He has been
searching for them almost constantly
ever since. having Travelled hundreds
of miles in North Dakota, Minnesota
and Wisconsin. Again and again, he
has run across clues and has hurried
on to points beyond, thinking that his
lost ones were there, but in every case
they have disappeared and he Is again
plunged into deep dispair
John Wenzel was married to Louisa
Dickhoff at VininE Mimi, in March,
1908, and took his bride to Egeland,
N. D., where he had farm and a house
and lot in the village. They were
happy and three children came to
bless their home MFR. Wenzel was a
hard worker, devoted to his wife and
children, and he thought that his Wife
was equally devoted to him. 1t never
occurred to him to suspect her, hence
he did not see things that a more
skeptical man would have noticed. His
neighbors observed a growing intimacy
between Mrs. Wenzel and Frank Knell,
horse trainer and cattle buyer, who
came to Egeland a year ago. 1t Is al
legged that this man has a peculiar
power over women and had been mar
ried to FIVE different women before
coming to Egeland. He had not been
long at Egeland before Mrs. Wenzel
was infatuated with him, and last
October, while her husband was out in
the country working, she took her three
children and stole sway to live with
her paramount.
John Wenzel was dumbfounded and
brokenhearted when he discovered
what had happened. He realized that
nothing was to be gained by trying
to get back mis- wife, but the thought
OF losing his children was too much
to bear. He loves them dearly and
they loved him, so he resolved to spend
his last penny, IL necessary, to find
them. He mad never had any expert
ence as a detective, but he developed
no little skin as a sleuth, and but for
the ingenuity OF his unfaithful spouse
and her paramount, he would have
overtaken iler long before this. She
drove from Egeland TO Olmstead. N.
D., by team, Oct. n, 1903, and took
the train for DEVILS Lake. There she
first bought q ticket for Fergus Falls,
the nome Of her father. and later
cancelled IT., buying another to Lar
imore--a very cunning trick to throw
her pursuer off the track. She stop
ped over night at Larimore, giving
her name as Louisa Dickhoff and her
nome as Henning, Mimi, From Lar
| imore she went TO Mayville, N. D..
where she stayed at the Hotel Kitty
| from Oct % to NOV. s, and where
| she got a letter from Knoll warning
her to look out for her husband. She
got away just in time to escape MIN,
going UP to Lakota and thence to
Munich, where Knoll drove her across
the country to Langdon, from which
place she took the train to Crookston,
Mimi, while Knoll returned to Stark
weather, where he had been staying
for some time. He told the people
there that h was going to the twin
cities, but Mr.. wenzel is satisfied That
he went out to Idaho or Montana, as
| he learned that he shipped his dog
out there. He went to Devils Lake,
whence ne drove by team to Churchs
Ferry, where he boarded a westbound
| train.
| Meanwhile Mrs. wenzel and her
| children, who had been heard crying
for their papa, abandoned Crookston,
proceeded to Little Falls, Mimi, where
they remained it'll shortly before the
holidays Then they went west, doubt
less to join Knell, and Mr.. Wenzel is
inclined to believe that his wife stop
ped off at Fergus Falls, as his pa
rents, who reside at Alexandria, Mimi,
received message from this city
which said that his wife was at Fergus
Falls and wanted a settlement. This
message was transmitted to Mr.
wenzel at Salem. Wis, and he hur-
ried to this city to meet his wife and
get back his beloved children. But
when he arrived here he could NOT
find a trace of either his wife or chill
dren, and believes that the message
sent TO Alexandria was hoax tc
nlislead him and throw him off the
trail. He told his story to the editor
of The Fergus Falls Free Press anc
furnished him a picture Of his wife
and children for publication as an aIC
to the police I'M locating them.
81 ask for nothing but my children,
said Mr.. Wenzel, his voice choking
with emotion. II have no feelings Of
bitterness against my wife, for / rea'
lie that she came under the hypnotic
power of a dangerous man who has
ruined more than one honest woman
before. My wife can go her way;
will not modest her, but must recover
my children, for whom / would gladly
give up my life."
Mr.. Wenzel left here for the twir
cities, where he hopes to find employ
ment while awaiting developments.
Reckless Driver Disciplined,
Devils Lake, N. D., Dec. 2s.-Christ