The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-24
LAY IN WAIT FOR HIS WIFE
ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE
At A THEATRES DOOR.

Frederick Plotsch. whose wire. = Performer,
Is Suing for n Divorce. Tries to shoot Her
and Puts n bullet lnto His Own Brenst
In Front OF Proctor's Pleasure PaiHco.
Frederick Pletsch, = special officer Mt tho Cen
trail Opera House, on East Sixty-seventh street,
tried to kill his wife on the street yesterday
Afternoon. and. having failed, put n bullet in
his own breast. He is a prisoner at Flower Hos
pital. aud is in a dangerous condition. Pietsch's
wife 10 an actress. Her stage name 10 Mirzle
Meister.
She is a member of tho Alpine trio who dur.
ing tho past week have been singing Tyrolean
songs In costume at Proctor's Pleasure Palace
on Fifty.cighth street. between Third and Lex
ington avenues. 1t was in front of the theatre
that Pietsch attempted to kill his wife.
The Pietsches have been married ten years.
Five months ago they separated, and the wife
sued for q divorce. Tho husband went
to live with b. Sangmeister, a saloon
keeper Mt 1888 First avenue. while
the wife continued her stage career. Yesterday
the court awarded Mrs. Pietsch $3.50 alimony
pending the trial Of her suit, and this fact en-.
ragged Pietsch. About 4 o'clock yesterday after.
noon he went into Sangmeister's saloon. Sang
meistcr and his wife and a number Of other
friends were there.
Lets have a drink" said Pietsch. Tho
last one you'll ever have with me-"
His friends did not understand his meaning.
but they took the drink. AS they stood at the
bar Pietsch drew out a revolver and filled the
cylinder with cartridges.
"Oh. In need that to.nisht'" was the answer.
and the others, thinking he referred to his work
as a Waterman, felt relieved, ,., ,.u sou.
meister TO go to his room with him and help him
SrSss; ne asn pn Ito on r a ppew y suit Of clothes e and the nc
us DutlOnhOle. lnCn he went away with
his revolver ,Esi sr IL his pocket; His last remark
be- %"' t esst sT 'n aeain very ""s soo os wiz lie Vent %snt
stage door Of ProcioF's Pleasure Palace:
the street was filed With 10i the ontpour ring
crowd. Up and down the street he paced, anx.
man Coyne noticed HIM, but it did not occur to
him that the man was there for evil. .,
by and by Mrs. Pictsch came out. She started
when she saw her husband. and attempted to
pass on: but, he stopped her. They spoke for n
moment and the mans voice was fnil of anger,
moved toward Third avenue. Just in front of
the main entrance to the theatre Pietsch stopped
short and pulled his pistol.
He pointed it at the woman's head and fired.
The bullet went wild and crashed into the win
dow OF "A real estate office in the building. Mrs.
Pietsch gave n scream and sank down, ciutching
her husbands knees.
IIemust have thought he had killed her. for
he did not shout at her again. Instead. he
turned the weapon on himself. aiming square
at his heart So close did he hold the weapon
that his coat caught fire, but he did not
fall; He stood there. dazed. with the pistol in
his hand, and his wife, now unconscious. at his
feet. The report Of the pistol and the cry OF tho
woman had startled the crowd. There was n
rush from danger, and Policeman Coyne ran to
Pietsch.
IL did it," was all he said ms the policeman
look the weapon from hima and eNtinguishcd the
fire on his coat. The woman was lifted up and
carried into n store. The policeman and Pietsch
walked to the real estate Office, where Pietsch
fell unconscious.
The bullet had missed his heart and lodged
between the fifth and sixth ribs. causing n
dangerous wound. An ambulance was called
from Flower Hospital and DR.. Warren. who re-
sponded, hurried the wounded man to the wards
in the ! ope of saving his life. Mrs. Pictsch pres
emily recovered, and was able to 20 home. She
refused last night to talk about her husbands
act.