The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-13
SHOT DOWN BY A WOMAN.
WEALTHY HARLEM JEWELER MUIR
DERED NEAR PLAINFIELD, NJ j.

Attorney Clarh's Yer Marrow Escape.
PLAINFIELD. N j.. Sept 12.-Paul Roehricht.
| a jeweler. OF 2l55 Seventh avenue. New York.
who has been Interested for about year In
developing a new site for suburban residences
at place called Som erset Park at Washington
vile. about three miles north OF here. was shot
and instantly killed about O'Clock this after
noon by Mrs. Katherine Fingerhut. the wife OF
tenant on his place. whom he was trying to
dispossess by force. Somerset Park contains
about 800 acres OF land. 1t was Roehricth's in
tentlon to lay this out In streets. avenues and
park. and when the trolley line. which now
reaches to within about a mile OF 1t was ex-
tended. to open 1t for the sale OF lots. In ac-
cordance with this plan. he advertised for
landscape gardener about eight months ago.
FinKerhut. who was then living on Staten
| Island. answered and was engaged for the
place. He was to receive so a week and have
| the use OF house. He moved in about seven
months ago with his wife and 22-year- old son.
According to the story told by lawyer Robert
II. Clark. who was Mr.. Roehrichts lawyer. and
who himself escaped death to-day at Mrs. Fin
gerhut's hands by the merest chance. Mr..
Roehrcht discovered very soon that Fingerhut
was only florist. as incom petent for his work
and that was not honest
Mr.. Roericht notified Fingerhut that he was
| discharged and to get out OF the house. Upon
| several occasions after this Edward o. Clark. a
brother OF the lawyer. went to the house and
| ordered the Fingerhuts to vacato. but they
| paid no attention.
| About six weeks ago Fingerhut went to Law
| yer William g. Demeza OF Plainaeld and ask
| cd for advice. He said that he had been en-
ployed for year and that he was to have the
house for that time. He was advised to keep pos
| session Of it unless put out by due process OF
| fhA law MANY damanda mazda for
| possession OF the house by Roerieht. or his
| representatives. but after this they we're met
by threats to kill any one who tried to get In
| by force.
| Matters were in this shape when yesterday
| Mr. Roericht. Lawyer Clark and a number OF
| others went to the house to mako demon-
| stration OF force. They found the Fingerhuts
| family all at home behind barred doors.
| The Fingerhuts appeared at the Windows
| and warned them not to attempt to enter.
| The older Fingerhut was armed with shot
| gun. his son had an axe and the mother a re-
| volver. The Roerlcht party reiterated and
arranged q plan to reduce the garrison
| to one member. warrant was sworn out
before Recorder Madison. charging the older
Fingerhut with malicious mischief in an at
| tempt to commit an assault and various other
wronEdoinRs, This was served on him to-day
and he was brought under arrest to North
| Plalnlelu his son accom- panied MIN. Inc case
fell through and Fngerhut was released.
! While he was under arrest Edward o. Clark
rode out to the FinRerhut house and de-
manded admission. Mrs. Fingerhut. who
was alone. displayed her pistol. and refused
| to let him In. Clark then sent his driver.
| Harry Ryan. back here for his brother and
| Roericht. These two. accompanied by William
! H. Titus. got into the carriage and went out
with Ryan. BY the time they arrived Thomas
Flynn. law student in Clark's office. was
| there on wheel.
| Lawyer Clark went near window where
| Mrs. FinRerhut stood. and reckoning to her.
pointed to Mr. Roerlcht. indicating that the
latter wanted to speak to her She opened the
window and Mr.. Roericht. speaking in Ger
| man. demanded admittance. She refused and
| Threatened again to Kill the first person who
| tried to cross the threshold.
1T is my house and have a right to enter"
said Mr.. Roerlcht. turning to his party. break
your way in and will be responsible for the
results"
With that the party scattered and tried to gain
entrance by the various doors The house is
an old fashioned low farm dwelling with four
doors along the front and two in the rear.
| Near the front OF the house runs a fence
| which separates 1t from the roadway. Lawyer
| Clark went to door near one end OF the house
| which opens into the kitchen. He found it
unlocked and was about pushing 1t open when
| II was suddenly thrown open by hand
within.
| The next moment Mrs. Fingerhut thrust
her arm forth. and. putting the muzzle Of her
revolver against Mr.. Clarks side. pulled the
trigger The cartridge failed to explode. The
next moment Mrs. Fingerhut drew
back. slammed the door and fastened
it, Edward O. Clark now tried one Of the other
, doors. AS he pressed against 1t he felt that it
| was being held against him.
| The next moment It was drawn open. and
shot rang forth from it. Mr.. Roercht. who had
been standing about ten feet away. facing the
door, fell Harry Ryan ran to his helm while
| others OF the party set off in the wagon
for a doctor. The bullet struck Mr.. Roericht
| fairly In the breast over the heart. and he was
dead in loss than fve minutes.
Watch was then kept on thee house to SCI
| that Mrs. Fingerhut did not escape. but she
made no attempt to get away Several con-
stables were summoned from Washington
Vile. and one OF them went up to the
| house and demanded entrance. He was al
| lowed to enter without opposition and he put
Mrs Fingerhut and her son under arrest
Mrs Fingerhut asked for time to dress and
during this time il ia thought she secreted the
pistol. 1t has not been found
| The prisoners were brouEh' to North Plain
field and turned over to Chief OF Police Grant
and locked up,
Paul Roehrcht came to this country with his
wife from Germany about thirty years
| ago. year after no started little
Jewelry store downtown. He was frugal
and soon had saved considerable money
| Nine years ago he opened the present
store in Harlem. He was reputed to be worth
between 100000 and 100000, Three and a
half years ago he started the Somerset Park
Land Improvement Company. and he owned
two-thrds OF the shares.
He leaves no children. His wife was very i'll
last night as a result OF the tragedy She
declared that she warned her husband yester-
day morning not to go to North Plainleld as
she was afraid that harm would befa him at
Fingerhut's hands She added that she was
restless and worried all day and that Finger
huts face haunted her.
THE POPE rs I'LL AGAIN