The New York herald., 1922-03-27
MYSTERY IN VIENNA'S |
MARRIAGE WARNINGS
Based on Supposed Eager
ness of Americans for
Austrian Brides.
FANCIFUL TALES TOLD
One Beautiful Fraulein's'
Suicide on Ellis Island
Is Called a Myth.
FINDS sUITOR A NEGRO
Object of Crusade Puzzling to
Officials Here-Crimes EX-
lst in Imagination.

American immigration officials and
local police heads are being puzzled
by the warnings published for the
benefit Of young women in Vienna
by the newspapers of that forlorn
city. The warnings are based upon
the alleged eagerness OF American
men to marry Viennese young women.
The principal difference in the ac
counts consists In the horrible eX-
amples cited.
AS general thing the young women
of Vienna are warned against court
ship by letter and alleged instances of
joy turned to mourning are set forth.
On February 20, Der Morgen, one of
the influential newspapers Of Vienna,
told of the death Of Fraulein Erna
Hochsinger, described as IAN extraor-
dnarily beautiful young woman who
had a well paid position as secretary
to counselor of the city"
The account went on to say that
Frauleln Hochsinger, like hundreds OF
Viennese women, had grown weary OF
post-bellum privations and was ready to
desert her home for the rumored joys.
riches and comforts of America. The
story proceeds thus:
"Fraulein Hochsinger answered an
advertisement in which "a we'll to do
business man in Baltimore sought
Viennese young woman for wife. a
lively exchange of letters in English re-
suited. The American, who described
him sale In ircf ae tan
der. 80 years old and 'dunkeP (this is
the word for 'darlSD, sent the young
woman S. each week, promising her
heaven on earth. and when he received
an affirmative reply to his suit for her
hand he sent $1,000. which at the time
was equivalent of 100000 crowns, to
pay for her passage.
Met I'm Hoboken by n Negro.
"Fraulein Erna Hochsinger took pas.
sage. and in Hoboken was met by
--- a negro. She had not
exactly understood the meaning OF the
word dark In America, but this Is
actually the designation Of the negro
complexion. The Immigration authori-
ties made IL clear 10 her that if she
really wished to marry a. negro this
would mean for her a life of shame and
unexampled misery. inasmuch as Il
Wnltc woman WHO lDdTTleS D. Ht-STo DC
comes excluded from the society OF
Americans. an outcast, and runs the
risk Of being tarred and feathered. Ac-
cordingly the young woman was taken
to Ellis Island whence she was to re-
turn in the steerage at the expense
OF the American immigration authori-
ties.
"She did not do this, however, but
hanged herself the following night In
her sleeping room."
THE New York HERALD made ear
nest efforts 10 corroborate this tragic
story but could not. At Ellis Island 1t
was said that there had been no sucn
case. Assuming that the name OF the
young woman was incorrect. search was
made for n parallel instance. but with
out success. The records of the immi-
grafton bureau in Washington were re-
sorted to with no other result.
! in the same Viennese newspaper on
the same day there appeared. by way of
an opening to the general warning
against mail order coutship, an adver-
tisement alleged TO have been inserted
in another journal OF that city. 1t read !:
"An honest young man in good cir
cumstances wishes to marry an attrac-
tice viennese young woman. Travelling
expenses will be paid. Write, enclosing
photograph. TO Edward White, 125
| Grand street, Holyoke, Mass"
No such Address Found.
This was investigated by THE NEW
/ YORK HERALD. There is no Grand street
| in Holyolse. The nearest approach to
Il Is Grant street There is a Grant street
| in Springdale and in South Hadley
Falls, both being sections of the city OF
4 Holyoke. But the numbers IN the
/ Springdale Grant street stop at is. They
do not run above 90 in South Hadley
| Falls.
Inquiry from house to house. In tho
Turn Verein Hall In Holy ol1e and through
out the German colony produced no in
formation. Finally the Post Office au-
thorities and then the Department OF
Justice agent In Springfield, Mass, We're
shown the Viennese reports.
All authorities confessed themselves
puzzled and declared that either Der
| Morpens warnings were inspired by
| hysteria or by some one seeking to
| serve an unusual purpose by taking the
! instances and advertisements cited. or
that an extraordinarily clever and well
protected coterie oc Americans were
Turing these vienncse young women 10
the United States for immoral pur-
| poses.
The warnings tell European women 10
| INSIST lnaI men VINO want 10 marry
them make the trip across the ocean.
bringing proofs OF their intentions.
Cases where disillusioned brides have
returned In rags n few months after
leaving for America are mentioned. No
other addresses are given, however.
"At the present time" the story says,
"one American woman living In Vienna,
who for some time has observed this
long distance letter courtship and often
enough has intervened In an attempt to
dissolve the unhappy marriages. re-
quests us 10 warn young women OF
Vienna and their relatives In no case
TO commit themselves 10 undertaking
Journey to America with the object OF
matrimony without first having con-
suited trustworthy American residents
! here"
RELIEXING RItSu MnIrn CHI-sU