The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-03-30
.AN EPIDEMIC OF MURDERS
John Rech Said to Have Made Full
Confession.
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN OHIO /!
An Isolated Farm House Entered by a
Masked Murderer, Who Kills the
Aged Parents and Knocks Two
others senseless.

MAYS LANDING, March 3O.-Tho young
woman strangled to death by her supposed
husband, John Rech, formerly notorious
"dive" keeper at Gloucester City. and
found buried in the woods near Estelville,
n. j.. on Friday, was Bessie Weaver,
daughter of n Germantown physician,
whose youthful escapades and marriage to
Willie Heft, the son of the wealthy brewer
from whom she was soon divorced, created
a decided sensation in Philadelphia sew
eral years ago.
John Rech was taken in custody late
Saturday night at Bustleton, and the coil
of circumstantial evidence that has been
woven around him is now so complete
that it will be almost impossible for him
to escape from the meshes of the law. 1t
was learned by the Atlantic county au-
thorities that the report that the murdered
woman had made will was correct, and
this mt once established the motive for the
crime
BY the provisions of the will and the
power of attorney given Rech by his sup
posed wife the former thought to secure
full control OF her property and personal
estate, The will provided that upon her
death all her money, annuity and prop
erty is given fully into the charge of Rech
until their child becomes of age, and as
the boy is practically an infant he would
have bad complete possession of her for
tune.
PHILADELPHIA, March 3O.-Suspected
murderer John Rech, it is said, yesterday
made a confession to the police admitting
that he murdered his wife for the purpose
of enjoying the money left by DIR. Weaver
to his daughter Elizabeth (Bessie). The
authorities refuse to reveal the details of
the confession. 1t is said however, that
Rech, in admitting the crime says that
the child is not the offspring of Elizabeth,
but that it was obtained in this city six
weeks ago as u result of a newspaper adj
vertisement 1t seems also that the cOu-
pie were not lawfully married, althougha
ceremony was gone through before a jus
tice of the peace in Jersey City in May,
1895 He is said to have confessed that he
has a wife and daughter living in Cata-
saqua, Pa, but whether she obtained di-
vorce papers is not known.
1t is claimed that he and Elizabeth
Weaver conspired to let him become the
beneficiary under the will of her father in
case of her death. Under the terms of the
doctors will Elizabeth had between $50, .
600 and $4,000 left her in trust. Should
she die without issue the money was to go
to charity, AS the first step in the con-
spiracy the woman made a will leaving
her inheritance to Rech in trust for their
child. They had yet to obtain a child.
When they appeared in Estelville she
began to 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 ten months old. One was
obtained, which is said to be the illegiti-
mate offspring of a prominent society
woman and a New York business man.
With the child they returned to Estelville
The resolve to murder the woman, it Is
said, entered Rech's mind suddenly. He
strangled her while she slept, and then
carried her to the grave he had hastily pre-
pared. He came here Thursday night and
Friday went to Fox Chase, and on Satur-
day to Somerton, where he stopped at a
hotel. He had previously left the child in
Philadelphia in 'baby farm" On Sat
urday night he read of the discovery Of
body, and began trembling so that the
hotel proprietor spoke to him. He ad-
mitted he was John Rech, and was then
turned over to the police.