The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-30
JOHN RECH Is CAPTURED
Surrounded at u Country Hotel by u
Posse of Farmers.
OVERCOAT FURNISHES CLUE
The Man Accused Of Having Strangled
Ills Wife in New Jersey Is
in . Philadelphia Pc.
lice Station.

Philadelphia. March 29.-John Rech,
the supposed murderer of his wife at
the hamlet of Estelville. n. j., was ar
rested about l.30 this morning in Il little
hotel just across the city line in Mont
gomery county. 1t is probable that
Rech has made full confession that
he killed his wife, but the police re-
fuse to affirm or deny this. Still. from
various little circumstances this re-
fusal to affirm or deny in every likeH-
hood means that Rech has confessed.
Rech was seen in his cell ut the city
hall today by Il reporter. The man is
about 80 years of age and well set
up, rather good looking fellow of the
ordinary type. While not overly in
telligent, Rech seems clever enough,
but while giving no evidence of bru-
tality. he seems to lack moral percep-
ton and to have no realiZa tion of the
horn ible crime of which he stands ac-
cused. The man has pronounced
German accent and was ready enough
to answer any question that the police
official who accompanied the reporter
to the cell would allow him to reply to.
Rech was not allowed to answer any
questions bearing directly upon his
SuIlt or innocence, nor was he permit
ted 20 state whether he had confessed
anything to the police here.
According to his story Rech left Es-
telville on Thursday afternoon last for
Philadelphia with his brother and his
baby. His brother went on to Allen
town. where he resides, the same night
and Rech remained at the Home of In
dustry with the child over night. on
Friday morning early he started out
to look for a boarding place for the
infant. He inserted an advertisement
in one of the daily papers for board
ing place for the child. and then con-
tinued his search. He finally found a
boarding place for the infant with
German family. and leaving it there
walked towards the suburbs of the
city and sought work from the farm
ers of the neighborhood He was un-
successful and spent the night at a
country hotel on Saturday he con-
tinued his search for farm work. Sat
urday he read the account i'm the papers
of the finding of his wife's body and the
hot search for himself He says he be-
came nervous and frightened. and
leaving the hotel where he was, went
out for a walk. He left his overcoat
behind him. and this oversight caused
his arrest. The mans evident nervous
ness had excited the suspicious of the
landlord. and when he went out with
out his overcoat the landlord searched
his pockets. He found in one of them
letter addressed tn John Rech." This
disclosed the mans identity. and the
landlord Immediately notified the
Philadelphia police and aroused the
neighboring farmers.
POSSE ON THE TRAIL.
Rech. in the meanwhile. had crossed
the city line into Montgomery county.
and, as it was now dark. he stopped at
Il small country hotel. A posse of
farmers We're. hot upon his trail and
later in the evening they came up with
him at the hotel. At first the farmers
hesitated to arrest the man, but finally
set upon him. A short rough-and-
tumble fight ensued. in which no great
damage was done to any of the contest
ants. and Rech being overcome, was
led towards Philadelphia His captors
meeting Il mounted policeman, they
turned their prisoner over to the officer.
who took the man to the district station
house. whore he was locked up over
night. This morning he was brought to
the central police station. Rech denied
that he had any quarrel with his wife
that could have led him to kill her. He
said the woman first came to his saloon
at Gloucester, n. j., about two years
ago and that they had lived together.
In May last they We're married in Jer-
scy City by justice of the peace.
Rech says that when ne read the ac-
counts I'm the papers of the case it was
his intention to give himself up but
that he was going to wait until Mon
day. He wrote a letter to his lawyer
Carroll Williams. yesterday. Mr.. Will
liams has not yet received the letter
AS the reporter was leaving the cell
room Rech called after him: Come
around tomorrow and perhaps | may
have something TO tell you
Rech was put through a loNg cross
by Chief of Detectives
Miller today and ii is supposed that he
has made confession to his inquisitor
Rech will be given Il hearing tomorrow
and will be committed to await the ac-
tion of the New Jersey authorities.
Chief of Detectives Miller tonight ad-
mitted that Rech has made full con-
fession, but the chief refused to give
any of the details. Miller vouchsafed
the further information that Rech con-
fessed that the child which passed for
his wife's and his Is not theirs. but was
an infant she secured for adoption by
ment. 1t is supposed that
Rech and his wife Obtained the child
and passed it off as theirs for the pur-
pose of securing the money left by
DR.. Weaver. of this city. Mrs. Rech's
father. Under Or. Weavers will the
money left to his daughter Bessie (Mrs
Rech). was to revert to relatives In the
event Of her death without issue.