A REMARKABLE CASE
An Instance of Which There are
Few F[illegible]--The Cruel
Wrong Done a Young Girl of
Scott County and Her Friend
Under Misapprehension.
There are frequent demonstrations of that oft used aphorism, "Truth is stranger than fiction." It might be reinforced with another to the effect that the truth is oftimes sadder than fiction. Such a case as this is one that has recently come to light in this country. Some five miles northeast of Davenport, on the Jersey Ridge road, lives Henry Wiese. He is a wealthy and respected farmer, and well known throughout a large portion of the county. A member of his family is a young lady daughter, Bertha; a prepossessing girl just fairly entering womanhood. She has always lived at home, and has been highly honored and respected by her companions and acquaintances. For some time past Miss Wiese has been the recipient of attention from a young man of the neighborhood named Gustav Eckermann, Jr. He paid considerable attention to the young lady and was evidently highly regarded by her.
Sometime ago, however, a cloud came over the sunshiny home. The parents of Miss Weise [sic] became the victims of a most unhappy suspicion touching their daughter, but she strenuously denied that she had been indiscreet in any degree. Her innocence was so strongly maintained that her mother, who alone had tasked her with error, was, for the time, overborne and fairly compelled to believe in her truthfulness and innocence, but, at length, what seemed insuperable evidence compelled the father and mother, however much against their wills, to believe that she was deceiving them. As a measure of safety Mr. and Mrs. Wiese brought the girl to Davenport, where they consulted a physician. He confirmed their worst fears. They returned home with hearts too full for utterance. The poor girl declared with every breath between her sobs that she was innocent of any wrong doing. Her parents listened with breaking hearts to a tale which they could not receive or believe.
Young Eckerman, the girl's friend, was summoned and told of the situation. He maintained with a degree of positiveness and pertinacity that was only equaled by the declarations of the young woman herself, that they had been friends and nothing more; that they were in no way culpable. The young people were informed that they must marry. The girl implored in the most heartrending manner that she not be forced to take this step. Young Eckerman protested against being forced into an alliance which he felt was in the nature of a sacrifice on his part which was not due, but finding the parents adamantine in their determination, and observing the girl herself to yield amid her protestations, he was too gallant to desert her; the justice was summoned and the ceremony was performed. The indisoluble vows once spoken the unwilling groom returned to his home, the tearful bride remained at hers.
As time passed on, however, the parents began to think that after all there might have been a mistake in forcing this marriage on the girl. It began to be evident that she was distressed by some malady concerning which they were thereof and that something must be done o procure relief for her. She was, accordingly brought to Davenport again and placed in the charge of one of the foremost physicians of the place, Dr. W.F. Peck. His diagnosis of the case was a startling one. It freed the hearts of the sorrowing girl from a heavy burden.
The girl was taken in careful charge and a few days ago passed through an operation of a delicate and dangerous character, but from which she is happily recovering. A tumor of sixty pounds weight was removed from her stomach by the surgeon's knife, she revived, and there is good prospect that she will soon be well
The father of the girl is less demonstrative, but the mother is almost crazed with grief and her self-reprovings are ceaseless. Her daughter is freed from the blame that she imposed upon her, but the memory of her own unbelief in the poor girl's innocence is driving her almost to distraction. The course that the young man will take in the turn of affairs is not known. There is little doubt that he can be freed from the bonds which were forced upon him unjustly.
Morning Democrat
Davenport, Scott County, Iowa
15 Mar 1890

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Maiden name, links to parents, and newspaper article provided by jess14003 (23 Feb 2014)
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