The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-06
EVERY EvENING-ONE CENT
SHE RAN AWAY.
Str0ch Says His Wife Went off With
Salvation Soldier.
Declares That Before Pair Departed
They Tried to Poison Him.

New York, March q 6--William StrOch, Il
baker living at No. ST Napoleon street,
Newark, declares that his wife has ran
away with Wilhelm Pcisch, who said he
was soldier of the Salvation Army. He
also believes that before the couple lnir
for parts unknown last Tuesday they tried
to poison MIN. He bases this charge upon
the facts that be suffered great pain FOR
Two days, found a bottle labelled poison"
IN tho house and some food which had
boon saturated with this poison"
Stroch told his story To Judge Eg1crs in
the Third Criminal Court, yesterday aud
was advised 10 have his wife and peisch
arrested as soon rs they return.
Stroch aud the pretty young Wife whose
name Is Bertha, although her husband
gave her "Frcrla" a. pet name, wcre
married in this city November ), 1888 and
then went TO live In Newark, where Stroch
was employed. Two children were born
To them, boy, now six years old, aud a
working and thrifty. His savings went
Ia pay for the modest little home i'm
Napoleon street, which he bought through
building and loan association. About
year ago Stroch procured new situation
In "a bakery some distance from his home
his working hours being from noon to
midnight each day.
day about two weeks ago The visitor
claimed 30 be n cousin Of the baker, anu
though the latter had never before seen
him the story he told was convincing
He was homeless and without money, he
said, 81 Stroch took him 10 his own
home, and told him to remain as long as
ne desired A few days later ne also
found Pcisch employment but the fellow
dId not keep IL long.
Peisch and Mrs. Stroch suddenly be-
came very warm friends. They went to
church together several times and to the
meetings of Salvation Army post at lsS
Ferry street Peisch wore badge of the
army conspicuously. He was unattached
at the time, but claimed To have been
prominent in the work of the army in
Worcester Mass.
Stroch says that at one time he became
suspicious of his wife and cousin, but
they convinced him that he was mis-
taken. Last week he was taken i'll while
at work. He could not retain food on
his stomach. and was i'm serious con
dition. He told his wife and cousin"
he must have eaten something which did
not agree with him, and they rubbed him
with liniment He felt all right on
Monday night and when he got home at
midnight ate lunch consisting largely
of picked herrings. About 3 o'clock
Tuesday morning he was awakened by
severe pains, got up and went into the
kitchen.
Pcisch was there drinking some wine.
Mrs. Stroch was absent, and in reply TO
her husbands question Peisch calmly re-
piled, "She's gone and I'm going with
her. Stroch says he then threatened TO
kill his cousin unless he got out Of
the house at once, and Peisch went taking
with him valise which was in the hall
way already packed and in readiness. As
he went he again said to Stroch, I'm
going where Bertha Is.
After Peisch left Stroch found the party
filled bottle of poison. Then he went To
Judge Eggers with his story.
Pcisch left behind his salvation Army
badge and n lot of tracts. The baker says
Peisch served five years in the United
States Army and deserted "a few minutes
after enlisting "a second time.
Stroch has learned that his wife told
neighbors of her intention to go away
with Peisch. She said she had no fault
TO find with her husband but that Peisch
had so instilled religion into her that she
could not resist his bidding.