The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-18
Anderson Officers Now Watching the
Trains for Husband, Who Went
to Green Bay, Wis.
THE STORY OF MATTE PRITZ
WHO HAD FOR TWO YEARS UsuRPED
THE PLACE OF THE REAL WIFE.
Muncie Scptuagenarinn successfully
Defends His store Against Three
Woufd-Be Robbers.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
ANDERSON. Ind. Jan I7.-As the result
of official investigation on the part Of Sher-
if John Starr and Coroner :. c. Sells the
latter last night swore out a warrant for
the arrest of Barney Van Hoorebeck.
farmer. living between Anderson and Pen
dleton, charging him with the murder OF
his wife The family came 10 Madison
county from Green Bay. Wis. and consisted
in Van Hoorebeck. his wife and a woman
about twenty-five years oId, wno gave her
name as Matte Pritz. A week ago last
Saturday Mrs. Van Hoorebeck died and on
the following Monday was buried in St.
Marys Cemetery, i'm Anderson. On Tues
day Van Hoorebeck left for Green Bay TO
look after SO 600 worth OF property that fell
10 him by the death OF his wife lie has
not returned.
An anonymous letter from Green Bay
reached Sheriff Starr Friday night the
writer stating he was satisfied "A murder
had been committed and asking that an in
vestgation be made OF the death OF Mrs.
Van Hoorebeck Sheriff Starr and Coroner
Sells went 10 the Hoorebeck home yester-
day afternoon and met the Pritz woman,
who claimed to be Mrs. Van Hoorebeck.
on learning her visitors were officers the
woman broke down and told a story that
made the officers blood boil with indgna-
ton. She claimed that Van Hoorebeck had
always represented his wife as being his
sister, while she Miss Pritz) had passed
as his true wife for more than two years.
According TO the Pritz woman. on Thurs
day before Mrs. Van Hoorebecks death NJ
knocked her down twice and in falling ste
struck the floor on the back OF her head.
producing a large lump at the base CT the
brain. She carried upstairs and died
two days after. Mrs. Van Hoorebeck was
slightly demented. Not long ago she ran
away from home and went TO the woods.
where Van Hoorebeck found her, and. after
dragging her TO the house, beat her with
his fist. Coroner Sells learned that Van
Hoorebeck had promised the Pritz woman
that he would marry her il he could get
rid OF the old woman" The Pritz woman
acknowledged to Sheriff Starr that she had
threatened 10 send Mrs. Van Hoorebeck 10
the asylum IL she raised any fuss.
Two of the neighbors, Mrs McCarty and
Mrs. Blakely, VINO prepared the remains
for burial confirmed the story OF the Pritz
woman. while DIR. II. +. Jones. the family
physician, stated that when first called by
Van Hoorebeck it was to treat his sister.
but when IL came To getting the death
certificate il was for his wife.
Van Hoorebeck married his wife IN Green
Bay about seven years ago. She was then
engaged in the saloon business and had
property amounting TO about $4,000. A
telegram was sent TO the sheriff at Green
Bay To arrest Van Hoorebeck charge
of murder. Steps were also taken for
requisition papers from Governor Mount.
An order asked for q post mortem ex-
animation by the officers and Coroner Sells
this evening eNnumed the remains. The
nose and forehead between the eyes were
found broken and discolored. The surgeons
say the brain is congested. but differ as TO
causes. Only embalming fluid was found
i'm the stomach Tonight AZ is reported
that Van HoOrebeck VIII be home on a
night train. and police are watching close
ly for him.