The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-06-16
Suicide of
Leads
to Priest.
Investigation Into Death Of
Mabel Bessler Brings Out
Name of Rev. Julius
Hettwer.
Letters Found in Rooms

Letters Found in Rooms
Investigation into the suicide OF
Mabel Bessler, 20, stcnographer, in
the Chandler apartments Wednesday
led the police yesterday to Rev. Ju.
lius ]. Hettwer, superintendent OF
St. James orphanage, whose letters,
signed julie were found among
the girls effects.
"Shc suffered from mental dis
trcss,g said the priest. declaring that
the girls father would bear out his
statement that she was mentally un-
balanced.
II suppose those julie letters are
mine," he'addcd.
Says Girl Was Cousin.
He explained that the Bessler girl
was his cousin and was his house,
keeper when they lived at cottage
at $50 South Forty-first street.
II was . poor man at the time." nc
said. Miss Bessler contributed $4Oo
toward furniture for the cottage and
when | was transferred to ST. James
crphanage l had no further need tor
. housekeepcr and we parted. p.
"She was very disappointed and
had to 60 to work as stenographer.
II she really said / ruined her life,
she must have meant my accepting
the transfer to the orphanagc."
Father Sides With Priest.
Father Hettwer stated that the girl
threatened to kill herself many times.
Charles Bessler, father of the girl
held 4 conference with Father Hett-
wer yesterday afternoon.
As far back as three years ago
the girl was respondent. threatening
to kill herself and led her family to
believe she was mentally deranged,
he said.
The family did not know what to
do until the members thought OF
Father Hettwer, he declared, and
sent tic girl to him in the hope he
might be able to straighten her out.
Father Hettwcr accepted the
trust we placed in him." said Mr..
Bessler, "snd did everything in his
power. to correct her condition. ]
am sure there were no illegitimate
relations between them"
Girl Divorced.
Miss Bessler married a Detroit
man, he said, but later was divorced.
There were no children. The bojy
will be taken back to Detroit for
burial, he declared, and he intends
not to ask for an examination OF the
body.
Father Hettwer is the son Of Mrs.
-Besslcf's sister.
" Only a week ago last Sunday, the
father related, Mabel Bessler went
out to their home at l647 Victor
avenue and acted despondently.
Suicide Threat.
They sent her home, he said, but
he declined to reveal the present adj
dress Of his home and family.
He declared he has information
that his daughter told A. Grotte the
night before she killed herself tbs:
she was going to 60 downtown,
hire a rented automobile and let
some other car collide with her.
Grotte went with her, he said. to
prevent her from carrying out her
threat.
According to Mrs. Myrtle Mel
drum, 2505 Farnam street, at whose
home Miss Bessler formerly lived,
Father Hettwer visited the girl
number of times.
III searching the girls apartment
yesterday. Paul Steinwcnder, cor
ner. found a document signed by
Father Hettwer, which would have
left part OF his estate to Mabel Bess-
lcr, faithful servant for the past
years.
Find Signed Release.
Among the girls effects also was
a release which read: Il hereby
agree for the consideration of $500 in
hand paid, to relinquish all claims
and demands Of whatever nature on
the Rev. Julius Hettwer." This, ac-
to Rev. Mr.. Hettwer, refer
red to the furniture she bought for
him.
she led me to believe that she
was married for a short time when
she was quite young" said Mrs. Mel
drum. "She had some case. over some
man, but + don't know who it was.
She had a number Of friends, one of
them Arthur Grotte If Omaha