St. Paul Daily Globe

BOTH WANT THE CHILD.

A Sad Story of Domestic Infelicity Told by Mrs. Catherine Hirdler.

Mrs. Catherine Hirdler, late of Northfield, but at present a resident of Minneapolis, appealed to the police authorities yesterday for protection from her husband, James Hirdler, and in explanation of her request, related a sad story of domestic infelicity.

She married Hirdler, she says, in St. Louis twelve years ago, at which time she was an orphan and the possessor in her own name of property valued at $30,000. Soon after their marriage Hirdler began to treat her in a cruel and brutal manner and persecuted her systematically until two years later, when she was influenced by fear to transfer her entire property to him. As soon as he secured possession of the money he began to squander it, and for several years led a reckless life, but she finally induced him to invest what remained of their little fortune in a farm near Northfield, where they took up their residence. For a time they lived happily, but he returned to his old habits and two years ago the farm followed the balance of her dowry and they were left penniless. She then procured a divorce and left him. They had five children, the eldest of which was then nine years of age and the youngest less than two. She left the children with friends at Milwaukee and Hirdler returned and abducted the eldest daughter, Edith, whom he took with him to Buffalo. After a search of over a year Mrs. Hirdler regained possession of the child and brought her to Minneapolis, where she placed her in a Methodist family to be cared for. Yesterday she learned from the friends at Northfield that Hirdler had returned looking for Edith, and at once appealed to the police for protection.

Measures will be taken to prevent Hirdler from abducting the child again until the courts shall have decided his claim.