Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-28
SUICIDE OR MURDER?
The Strange Case of Mrs. Cutkisky
Now Being Investigated.
HER HUSBAND UNDER ARREST.
Suspicion Aroused by Conversation Over
heard by an officer
NOW LOOKING FOR A COLORED WOMAN

Max Cutkisky was arrested last evening
on a charge of numbering his young wife,
whose body now fills suicides grave. Last
Saturday morning Cutkisky returned from
church and entered his little store at 1884
Penn avenue. A few moments later he
startled the neighborhood by announcing
that his wife had hanged herself The
woman was found hanging by moose rum
ming under her chin and over the top of her
head. She was dead when cut down. The
Coroner held an inquest, and, from the evil
dence then produced, returned verdict of
suicide by hanging.
The dead woman's maiden name was
Bessie Leberman, her parents living at Sc
Franklin street. A few months ago she
met Cutkisky, and it appeared to be a case
of mutual love at first sight. The wedding
day was set for an early date, but was de-
layed when it became noised about that
Cutkisky was already married and to q
colored woman. 1t was also said that two
children were the result of the union.
And the Wedding Bells Rang.
Cutkisky's friends went to his relief and
declared that the rumor was false; that it
was prompted by malice on the part of
some of the mans friends. The matter was
finally smoothed over, and the ceremony
was performed in the presence of large
number of witnesses.
After the wedding Cutkisky took his
bride to his home at No. 1884 Penn avenue.
Their happiness was short-lived, for in a
few days, it is alleged, Cutkisky began to
abuse his wife. On several occasions neigh
bors found her sitting in the out kitchen
weeping bitterly. When questioned as to
the cause of her sorrow, she simply replied
that her husband had ill-treated her.
Last Wednesday evening a colored woman
carrying a baby went to the store. She
asked for Cutkisky. When told by his wife
that he was not in, she walked back into the
store to await his coming. When Cutkisky
arrived he greeted her in very friendly
manner, and requested his wife to retire to
the back yard
Threatened His wife's Life.
Cutkisky and the woman walked out of
the store, both apparently greatly excited.
Officer D. Williams, who was standing
nearby, overheard part of their converse
tion, which mainly consisted of threats
against Mrs. Cutkisky's life. At this time
Cutkisky is alleged to have said, referring
to his wife, ''Oh I'll hang her before many
hours" At the same time Cutkisky invited
the woman to come to his house the next
night Thursday.
After the death of Mrs Cutkisky her hus-
bands actions aroused some suspicion. He
objected to physicians examining the body,
or even to allow it to be prepared for burial
When the attendants had removed the
clothes they found, besides several bruises,
what looked like stabs in the left side, near
the hip. Cutkisky was greatly excited
when the body was undressed and had to be
forcibly removed from the room.
The parents of the dead girl were not
thoroughly satisfied with the verdict of the
Coroner's jury. and engaged Attorney j. X.
Wallace, of Fourth avenue, to take charge
of the case. After a thorough investiga-
tion Mr. Wallace secured what he consid-
cred to be sufficient evidence, and yesterday
a charge of murder was made in Alderman
McMasters' Office against Cutkisky.
Objected to Anything Like Extravagance.
Three of the dead woman's brothers were
seen yesterday, and they are all firm in
their belief that their sister had been mur-
dered. They united in saying that one day
last week Cutkisky had threatened to kill
his wife because she had spent 10 cents
without his knowledge.
Attorney Wallace, in speaking of the
case last evening, said: 81 believe this is a
case of coId-blooded murder. The circum-
stances surrounding it are most suspicious
Among other things Cutkisky claims that
he left home at o'clock Saturday morning
to attend church, and that when he returned
he found his wife hanging from beam in
back room. DIR. Christy, who was called in,
gave it as his opinion that the woman died
before o'clock, otherwise the body would
not have been stiff and rigid.
Cutkisky was arrested at the home of his
parents at No 10 Colwell street and taken
to Alderman McMssters' Office, where he
waived hearing and was committed for
court A warrant has also been issued for
the co1ored Woman