The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-19
A FORTUNE IN SIGHT.
Mrs. Potruch's Struggle With Power
and Prospective Release.

Mre. PotrUCh's Struggle With Poverty
and Prospective Release.
New YORK, Sept 13.-Mrs. Rebecoa Po-
truch, thin, shrunken woman, whose
deeply lined face evidences many hard
whose hair is tinged with gray. lives
at 147 Clinton street in rooms that are
small .dimlv lighted and sparsely furnished
Her husband, Marcus Potruch, is well on
toward 60 years of age, and his battle with
life has boon hard one. He is watch
maker by trade, but bis earnings are
so small that his wife and children would
starve were they dependent upon him
Sometimes he earns 50 cents and sometimes
81 day, but more often he earns less than
81 80 a week. But good luck has come to
the old couple at last, Mrs Potruch, accord
ing to her belief, having fallen heir to many
millions of dollars. Six months ago a we'll
known physician named Joseph Petruch
died in San Francisco. He left a fortune
variously estimated between SIS, 000 900 and
SIS 00O, 600. He left no children, and the
two women whom he had married died
many years ago. There was no relative to
claim his money, most of which was inves-
ted in government bonds aud railway stock
in this and European countries.
DIR. Joseph totrucb had peculiar his
tory. He was born in the town of NIlnoch,
Russia, sixty-two years ago. His father
was big mill owner and had the contract
for making the bread for that portoa of
the Russian army stationed near his home
When Joseph Potruch was 10 years Of age
his father and mother were killed in an ex-
plosion. The property left was bbled up
by strangers, and in six months young
Potruch was left to shift for himself.
He had one sister, named Re-
becca. who was about years old
at the time of the accident which
made her an orphan. The girl was taken
by relatives. and they reared her. Joseph
started out to take care of himself. and
| eventually he drlfted to London. Occa-
sionally he wrote to his uncle and aunt
| with whom his sister was living, and these
| letters said that he had found work and
had saved enough money TO educate him =
| self for the profession of medicine. When
he was % years old they received the last
letter from him. He wrote that he had be-
come physician, and that be was about to
start for th5 gold fields Of California, where
he was sure to make money. That was
! forty years age.
His 81 ter Kebecca grew up and married a
man in her native town named Louis Schal-
run. They had one child, boy, who was
christened Louis. When the boy was 3
| years old the father died. Two years after
| her husbands death Mrs. Schalrun married
bkhlu ILLS lllHt "a VI sl1lu COUSIN
| Marcus Potruch. By him she had three
children, all of whom are now living and
reside with her in the Clinton rect teue-
ment The son by the first husband is &c
| years OF age and works as salesman in a
hardware store in Vesey street. He gets a
good salary aud has been the main support
of the family for several years.
Two years ago friend who knew Mrs.
Potruch IN Russia and was familiar with
her history and algn thar Of her brnfhar
and who came to this country shortly before
she did, called upon and told her that her
brother had died in San Francisco and lad
left the fortune of S14.OO0,OOO. This friend
had been in San Francisco for the past
year and was there when Dr. Potruch died
Following his Instructions, Mrs. PJt-ucl
consulted lawyer, and be advised her to
send her son Alexander to San Francisco TO
investigate the death OF DR.. Potrueh aud
consult lawyers there, who will put in a
claim for the fortune. Young Potruch gill
leave for the west ia a few days