Alfred Andrew Hesner ⁹⁰⁶²

   Another name for Alfred was Al.

The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington
September 30, 1931
p. 6

OWES FOR DIVORCE; MAN GETS MARRIED

A man should at least pay the expenses of his divorce before he contracts a new marriage, Judge Lindsley told told Alfred Hesner today, when Hesner appeared before the court seeking the custody of his 4 year old son.

Hesner told the court he has re-married and has a home for the boy.

"Did you tell your new wife, before you married her, that you still owe for your divorce?", the court inquired.

"I think she knew that.", Hesner answered.

"It's a good idea for a man to discharge his prior obligation before taking on new ones," the court said. " "You don't down a home, you have no steady employment and you haven't paid the costs of the divorce, as the court ordered, yet you have re-married."

Judge Lindsley ordered juvenile officers to investigate and if they see fit to allow the boy to make his home with the father.

*****
Spokane Daily Chronicle
Spokane, Washington
Saturday, March 19, 1932
p. 1

Hesner Couple Want Freedom

Legal action to secure the release of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hesner from jail was started today by Attorney John Aiken, who has been retained to defend him.

Mr. Aiken said that Hesner would put up the bond for his release today, but that Mrs. Hesner probably would not be released until Monday.

Son Is Critical

Meanwhile, Arthur Hesner, the five year old boy, remains in critical condition at Rockwood Clinic Hospital. Dr. W.W. Robinson believes that his chances for recovery are slight.

Bonds for Hesner and his wife have been fixed at $1,000 each. Mr. Aiken was attempting today to negotiate a reduction to $500 each, but at noon had not been successful. A surety company bail bond will be posted for Hesner, Aiken said.

"Mr. Hesner secured employment as a truck driver last week," Mr. Aiken said. "This is the first steady employment he has had all winter and he is anxious to return to the job. He told me he did not treat the child with cruelty, and I believe his version of the affair that the child secured the injuries in a fall."

More Witnesses

Volunteer witnesses who said they are ready to testify against Mr. and Mrs. Hesner, have given their names to the prosecuting attorney's office, Deputy Frank Funkhouser said today.

Arthur, with bruise marks over much of his body and with a serious skull fracture which has left him unconscious, is putting up a plucky battle against death at Dr. William Robinson's Rockwood Clinic. He is not given an even chance of recovery.

At the boy's bedside keeping a 24 hour vigil are his paternal grandmother, Mrs. R.S. Rogers of Chewelah, his aunt, Miss Thelma Rogers, and his uncle, Walter Hesner. One of the three is there at all times.

Yesterday, Mrs. Rogers said, the boy opened his eyes and and spoke a word or two and apparently recognized Mrs. Rogers and her daughter, Thelma.

"I can hardly realize that this little fellow, so thin and so sick, is the boy for whom I cared until last September," Mrs. Rogers, the grandmother, said as she watched at the bedside.

Cared for Boy

"Arthur was born February 2, 1927. I had him for two years and four months when we lived at E2327 Riverside. When I moved to Chewelah, his father took him."

"When I saw the boy last, in September, he was plump, healthy, active and full of life. Now he seems undernourished and poor."

"He was always playful. He played and played hard, then would come in, tired out, and go to sleep."

"I just worship the boy. I couldn't love him anymore than I do if he were my own. And he was so full of life. Why in all the time I kept him, I only had to have the doctor for him once."

"I can not say what I think in this case, but I am absolutely convinced the boy could not have been bruised or injured so badly in a fall."

"Yesterday he apparently recognized us. He talked a few words. He opens his eyes some. Under the doctor's instructions, we are giving him some orange juice and quite a quantity of water."

Eyesight All Right

"He opens his mouth when the spoons of water or orange juice are given to him, so we know he can see all right. He lifts his arms to his face but does not move his legs."

"My daughter, my son, or myself are here all the time with Arthur."

Mr. Funkhouser said today he wants the names of all persons who can give him information about the case. He said right now he "has enough to prove the case."

"Yesterday," said Mr. Funkhouser, "three or four people who will make good witnesses for the state came in or telephoned, and volunteered to give testimony when the case comes to trial. The prosecution will not be pressed until the outcome of the boy's injuries is known."

"This morning at least two more important state witnesses gave us their names and an outline of what they know of this case."

"Our office is going into the matter most thoroughly. No stone will be left unturned in seeing that justice is rendered."

Mother Arrives

Mrs. J.P. Wittenberg, mother of Arthur, arrived here late yesterday from Yakima and visited the hospital. She said she had supposed Arthur was with Mrs. Rogers. Had she known otherwise, she said, she would have made efforts to regain his custody.

When the present Mrs. Wittenberg was divorced from Hesner, Judge Fred Witt ordered the child given to a neutral party instead of either party. After a year in a private home, Mrs. Rogers took the child. The juvenile department permitted the baby to go to Mrs. Hesner when Mrs. Rogers moved to Chewelah.

The grandmother, Mrs. Rogers, who lives in Chewelah, is staying at the home of Mrs. Frank W. Coil, E2510 Altamont boulevard. It was through Mrs. Coil that the child was taken to the hospital.

As an infant, Arthur Hesner was cared for at the home of Mrs. William Harter, E2924 Mission, a sister of Mrs. Coil, and the baby called Mrs. Coil "aunty."

Lying on Couch

"When I learned Junior was sick, I went immediately to the apartment of the Hesners and found the little boy lying unconscious on a couch," said Mrs. Coil. They said the baby had been unsconscious for a couple of days.

"I insisted he be taken to a hospital at once. Mrs. Hesner didn't want to go with me at first, because she said she wasn't dressed properly. The father also hesitated about going, because he was dressed in overalls. I said, "My God, if this was one of my babies, I'd go if I had nothing but rags on."

*****
The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington
Feb. 3, 1980
p. D3

HESNER, Alfred A., Sr. - Passed away February 1, 1980 in Spokane, WA. His home, Spokane.

Survived by his son, Alfred A. Hesner, Jr., Spokane, WA.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Hennessey Funeral Home, N2203 Division St.

  Events

• He was described as being of medium build and height with brown hair and brown eyes.

• He worked as a mechanic.

• He appeared on the census in 1900 in Loon Lake, Stevens County, Washington. He lived in the household of his parents.

• He had a residence in Chewelah, Stevens County, Washington.

Alfred married Thelma L. Peterson, daughter of Nils Peterson and Elenor Kelly, 27 February 1922 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington.⁹¹³⁸ The marriage ended in divorce. (Thelma L. Peterson was born in Minnesota.)

Alfred next married Elsie B. Rickard, daughter of B. Rickard and Minnie [--?--], 6 March 1927 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington.⁹¹³⁹ (Elsie B. Rickard was born about 1905.)

Alfred next married Irene [--?--].