The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-31
Murd crcr John Rech in Hands Of phila-
delphiu Police The Prisoner Tells the
Officers His Domestic Troubles.

Philadelphia, March 3O.-John Rech,
the murderer of his wife, Bessie. at
f,Stelville, n. j., who was captured on
the outskirts of the city early yeSter-
day morning, was arraigned before
Magistrate Jermon at the city hall to-
day and formally held to await the ar
rival of requisition papers. Prosecu-
tor Perry and Sheriff Johnson. of At
lantic county. N. j., We're present at
the hearing and upon the, suggestion of
the former the prisoner was not ques-
toned.
The confession which Rech made to
the Philadelphia authorities was turned
over to Prosecutor Perry. and it will
form an important part in the common
wealth's case.
After the hearing Rech expressed
a desire to talk and Captain of Detec-
tives Miller had the prisoner brought
to his room. There in the presence of
a number of persons Rech told of his
experience in this country and of his
meeting Bessie Weaver and marrying
her.
II came to this country from Ger
many about ten years ago" he said.
land went to Catasauqua, Pa. where |
managed to secure work. / saved my
money, learned to speak English and
then went to Allentown. where l
opened n bakery. | did not do very
we'll in that business and bought
saloon In Gloucester, n. j. 1t was at
the latter place that ! met Bessie
Weaver. She came to my house and
engaged room. She drank and
smoked but even with her bad habits
/ was fascinated with her and soon
she began to help me in my hotel busi-
ness. | asked her why she did not set
tie down and lead Il good life. She said
she would if she had some one to care
for her / then decided to marry the
girl and we went to Jersey City where
the ceremony was performed by JUS
tice of the peace"
Rech then told .he history of the
girls marriage with young Heft, her
divorce and her conduct at the GlOuces-
ter race track, where she led a disso-
Lutte life. Finally the couple moved to
Estelville. Rech continued:
zone day my wife said that the home
was not complete without a child and
said we ought to adopt one. That Is
how the baby came into the case i
adopted the infant boy in this city"
At this point Rech paused and said
he had nothing else to say. He would.
he said. answer any reasonable queS-
tions. He was asked about his wife's
income and answered that there was
possessed. The amount of her income
was just SO a week. AS to the making
of a will by his wife, Rech said he
knew nothing about it. He then in "a
rambling way said that some one must
have known his wife had money In the
house. just previous to the day of her
death. but he made no effort to accuse
any one of having murdered her. He
declared that a man named Jones was
frequent caller at the house and that
any person might have known his wife
had money.
The bravado which Rech displayed
nt the time of his arrest has vanished.
Today he said he did not mind going
back to New Jersey for fair trial but
expressed a fear that the citizens of
Atlantic county would not wait for jus
tice to take its course. Rech asked If
there was any likelihood of him being
lynched and he was assured that he
would be safe when lodged i'm the Mays
Landing Jail. This will probably have
the effect of making the New Jersey
officials taking extra precautions to
guard the prisoner.