The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-30
REcH IS HELD.
a Denoument that is Decidedly In
teresting.

PHILADELPHIA, March 29.-John
Rech, the Estelville N. j., farmer who
was arrested in Bustleton, Pa, on sus-
picion of having murdered his wife, Eliza
beth, at their home was brought to police
headquarters in this city and is held
here pending investigation. 1t has been
learned Mrs. Rech was none other than
Bessie Weaver, whose troubles with her
father and his housekeeper, afterwards
her step mother gained wide publicity a
dozen years ago. She was the daughter of
DR.. Martin Weaver,
WEALTHY BUT ECCENTRIC
resident of Germantown. He died leav-
+ ing an estate of over $4,000 entirely to
his second wife. Soon after his death
Bessie married William Heft, of German
town. She had previously begun proceed
ings against her fathers wife but COM
promised on an arrangement by which
the income on the estate was divided be-
tween Bessie and her step mother during
the remainder OF their lives. In 1887 Heft
secured a divorce on statutory grounds
and she soon afterwards married Henry
W. Pachman of this city. Pachman also
obtained a divorce. Attorney c. w. Will
iams of the Philadelphia bar, was trus-
tee for the estate. Upon the occasion of
Mrs. Rech's last visit she told Mr.. Will
Jams she had made up her mind to leave
her husband because he treated her badly,
and he noticed that two of her front teeth
were missing. Rech, it is said, today
made a confession to the police, admitting
he murdered his wife for the purpose OF
enjoying the money left by DR.. Weaver
to his daughter Elizabeth. The authori-
ties refuse to
REVEAL THE DETAILS
of the confession. 1t is said Rech claims
the couple were not lawfully married, al
though ceremony was gone through
he Inn Of
City in May, 1885. He is said to have
confessed he has wife and daughter in
Catasaqua, Pa. 1t is claimed he and
Elizabeth Weaver conspired to let him
become the beneficiary under the will of
her father in case of her death. AS the
first step in the conspiracy, it is said,
the woman made a will leaving her in
her1tance to Rech in trust for their child
rem. They had yet to obtain a child.
When they appeared in Estelville she be-
gan to make it appear they had a child
in this city. About six weeks ago they
are SAID to have come here and adver-
tlSed for an infant about ten months old
One was obtained, which is said to be
the illegitimate offspring of a prominent
society woman by 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.
but the manner in which 1T was done. is
not stated. It occurred last SaturGav
week. 1t seems; however, he strangled
her while she slept and carried her to
the grave he had hastily prepared With
an axe he chopped the branches of a
tree to hide the spot. He came here
Thursday night and Friday went to Fox
Chase and on Saturday to Somerton.
where he stopped at a hotel. He had pre-
vlously left the child in Philadelphia in
baby farm. On Saturday night he read
of the discovery of the body and began
trembling so that the hotel proprietor
spoke to him. He, admitted he was John
Keen. He was then turned over to the
police.