The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-04

city, a mar who had been seated on a
large stone rose ny before him..
Without uttering a word, the stranger
advanced to meet him, keeping his
features concealed by a handkerchief,
and Hecklau, who had encountered the
same mysterious parsonage on Wednes-
day evening of last week, turned as If
TO run. The stranger was upon him in
an instant, however, and with a heavy
bludgeon rained blow after blow Upon
his head and face. Hecklau stated that
he was so taken by surprise that he
made no effort to defend himself at
first, but when he saw that his as
sailant would not stop short of murder
he grappled with the man, but in his
weakened state was unable to protect
himself.
lie finally fell unconscious, and re-
NAMED so for some time. When he re-
covered consciousness his assailant had
disappeared, but the fear that he would
again return and put an END to his life
spurred him to s~uperhuman efforts, and
he half dragged himself, half staggered
to what he knew would prove a place
of safety.
What Mrs. Hecklau Says.
Mrs. Hecklau, when seen at her home
today, said that she knew of no one
who bore any enmity towards her hus-
band, but that the assault was COM
mitted with murderous intent was
shown by the fact that nothing had
been taken from her husbands posses
sion, although he carried a small sum
of money with him.
HE told me-" she said, "of meeting
a stranger while on his way to the
bowling alleys last Wednesday night,
and commented upon the suspicious ac-
tons Of the man in following him.
When he left the house last night, I
warned him in a joking manner to be-
ware of this stranger. He appeared to
be serious about the matter, and said
earnestly: I hope that fellow will not
put in an appearance tonight He also
mentioned the strange actions of the
man to a number of. his associates in
the bowling alley on Wednesday Of last
week.
"There is only one explanation of this
mysterious assault that occurs to me-
continued Mrs. Hecklau, land that is
that my first husband, Edward McGib-
bon, may know something about it. ]
was ulNOTCeu from MIN tel years dSO III
Jersey City, and married Mr.. Hecklau
a few years later. McGibbon went
| West, and | heard nothing from him
until a few months ago., when he came
to the house and acted in a strange
manner He appeared to be desperate
and said repeatedly that he had moth
ing to live for. l have not seen him In
this vicinity since then, nor have ]
heard from him directly or Indirectly
1t is certain, however. hat the assault,
upon my husband was actuated solely
for revenge. although he did not have ar
enemy in the world, so far as 1 know
Hecklau had lived here with his
family for the past four months, con
ing from Elizabeth, where he was en-
pioyed &C a machfnist in the Singer
sewing machine factory. Thatthe mar
who assaulted him was we'll aware o.
his habits is evidenced by the fact thai
he knew just what route, the night Of
the week and the time he would go Il
the bowling alleys. Detective Sergeant!
Kuhn and Quinn were assigned on thu
case last night, and went to Elizabeth
today for the purpose of investigating
a clue given them. The man under
suspicion. however, was able to proy'
an alibi, and no arrest was made
Every effort is now being made to 10
cate McGibbon, Mrs, Hecklau's formel
husband.