Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-04-03

PHILADELPHIA, March 80-John Rech,
the Estelville IN. J.) farmer who was ar
rested in Bustleton, Pa, on suspicion of
having murdered his wife Elizabeth at
their home near Mays Landing N. j., was
brought to police headquarters in this city
and is held there pending investigation.
1t has been learned that Mrs. Rech was
none other than Bessie Weaver, whose
troubles with her father and his house
keeper, afterward her stepmother, gained
wide publicity dozen years ago. She
was the daughter of DIR. Martin Weaver, a
wealthy but eccentric resident of German
town, a suburb Of this city. He died,
leaving an estate of over $50 900 entirely
TO his second wife. Soon after his death
Bessie married William Heft of German
town. She had previously instituted pro
ceedings TO break her fathers WILL but
subsequently compromised on an arrange
ment by which the income from the es-
tate was divided between Bessie and her
stepmother during the remainder of their
lives. In 1887 Heft procured divorce,
and she soon afterwRrd married Henry W.
Bachman of this city. Bachman also OBJ
tanned divorce.
Attorney @. W. Williams of the Phila-
delphia bar was trustee for the estate. He
has thrown some interesting side lights on
the tragedy. About two weeks ago, he
said, Mrs. Reoh came to his office. To his
surprise, she carried on her arm a boy baby
which she said was her own and that it
was months old. Mr.. Williams did not
question her statement at the time, but it
set him thinking. He had seen Mrs. Rech
on an average Of once month for the past
year, and he failed to see how the baby
could be hers. Upon the occasion of her
last visit she told Mr.. Williams that she
had made up her mind to leave her hus-
band because he treated her badly, and he
noticed that two Of her front teeth were
missing.
Conspiracy to Get the Money.
1t seems that the couple were not law
fully married, although a ceremony was
gone through before justice of the peace
in Jersey City in May, 1895. He is said
to have confessed that he has a wife and
daughter in Catasaqua, Pa, but whether
she ever obtained divorce papers is not
known. 1t is claimed that he and Eliza
beth Weaver oonspired to let him become
the beneficiary under the will of her IA
ther in case of her death. Under the terms
Of the DOCTORS will Elizabeth had between
$50, 600 and $50, 600 left her in trust.
Should she die without ISSUE the money
was to go to charity.
AS the first step in the conspiracy, the
woman made a will leaving her inherit
ance to Reoh in trust for their child.
They had yet TO obtain a child. When
they appeared in Estelville, she began tc
make it appear they had a child In this
city. About six weeks ago they are said
to have come here and advertised for an
infant about 10 months old. One was OBJ
tained, which Is said to be the illegiti-
mate offspring of prominent society
woman and New York business man.
With the child they returned to Estel-
Vile. The resolve to murder the woman,
it is said, entered Rechs mind suddenly
but the manner in which 1t was done II
not known. 1t occurred last Saturday
week. 1t seems, however, that he stran-
gled her while she slept and then carried
her to the grave he had hastily prepared
With an ak he chopped the branches Of 9
tree to hide the spot. He came here
Thursday night and Friday went to Fox
chase and on Saturday to Somerton, whert
he stopped at a hotel He had previously
left the child in Philadelphia In "baby
farm" On Saturday night he read of the
discovery Of the body and began trem
bling so that the hotel proprietor spoke tC
him. He admitted he was John Reoh
He was then turned over to the police.