Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1908 — BAGGED A WIFE DESERTER; THEN TURNED HIM LOOSE [ARTICLE]

BAGGED A WIFE DESERTER; THEN TURNED HIM LOOSE

Nicholas Ott Was Chased By His Wife to Alabama and Back Again and Released When Arrested.

Sheriff O’Connor, who Is spending some time at Kniman, preparing his beautiful home there for occupancy of himself and family after his term of, office expires, captured a wife deserter Sunday for whom a fugitive warrant was issued some two weeks ago. The name of the man arrested .was Nicholas Ott, a brother of Mark Ott, for whom he has been working near Kniman. The attention of the local authorities was first brought to the case about two weeks ago, when Mrs. Ott and hei sister, Mrs. Setter, of Chicago, came j to Rensselaer and swore*out a warrant for Ott’s arrest, charging him with wife desertion. Mrs. Ott related a pitiful story and her sister substantiated it. She said that she was the mother of three boys, the oldest only ten, and that Nicholas Ott, her husband, had resided with her and their children until about four months ago at South Bend. He was a mechanic and had had regular employment at South Bend at $3 a day, but the company for which he was working had found it necessary to let themen work only part time and his wages had been reduced to $2 a day, but he was only required to work part ol the time. He refused to do this, and claimed according to his socialistic tenets he was entitled to more and if he couldn’t get it he wouldn’t work. So he picked up and left his wife and children unprovided for and went to Alabama. His wife learned where he was and borrowed money from her sister and took the children down to Alabama, where he met them and they began housekepeing, but as soon as they were settled he pulled out again and came to Jasper county and went to work for his brother near Kniman. He left his wife in a strange land with no means and he did not provide for her by later sending her money. She was unable to do anything for herself and the family was almost starved when neighbors in Alabama learned of their condition. They were then provided for until Mrs. Steer sent for them to come to her home in Chicago. After they arrived there the whereabouts of Ott were learned and his deserted wife

and Mrs. Setter came to Rensselaer and swore out a warrant before Deputy Prosecutor Leopold, and it was placed in the hands of Constable Oliver Robinson to be served. He made a trip to Kniman, but foun4 that Ott had gone to South Bend. Mrs. Setter is the wife of a well-to-do electrical engineer in Chicago, and she was very indignant at the treatment that Ott had accorded her sister. Mrs. Setter left instructions to have Ott arrested and to wire her when he was apprehended and she and her sister returned to Chicago. Last Saturday Sheriff O’Connor learned that Ott had returned to Kniman and he hunted him up and placed him under arrest and sent for Constable Robinson to come there after him. But when the constable got there, Ott Bhowed them a South Bend newspaper clipping showing that he had already been tried there only last week for desertion and had been acquitted for lack of jurisdiction. The sheriff then telephoned to Prosecuting Attorney Leopold, who telegraphed tyrs. Setter, and she replied that they would not prosecute Ott farther and directed his release. It seems that after they left here they had gone to South Bend and caused his arrest and a trial was held, but he had escaped because the court held that the base must be tried in Alabama as that was the last place where they had lived together, and it is thought that it was Ott’s purpose to get his wife down there so that he could desert her there and thus escape punishment after his return to Indiana. Ott put up a remarkable line of argument. He said that he wasj a socialist and believed that his wife should take her turn at making the living. He had supported her and the children for 15 years and now they should support him. His wife related that he had been very severe with the children recently and had compelled the little boys, 8 and 10 years of age to get ujp at 3 o’clock in the morning and papers and would <!hen take the money they had earned. He continues to live with his brother and his wife is living with her sister in Chicago.