In a letter dated October 22, 1907 which is signed Maartje Lautenbach and son, Maartje writes (translated) "But I have growing sadness because my husband has left me."
In a letter dated December 19, 1909 Maartje writes (translated) "Well, my husband left because he had hit a boy. People are saying that he is in California, I do not think that he will ever come back."