The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-21
Denounced as foul Maulhsd Pill and
Stunned hJ Former Friends.
HIS PROSPEROUS BUSINESS RUINED.
All His WsilIh Took Wings and His Attorneys Are
New Preparing Bankruptcy PapGs-Ihs
Stands b. Him In AdvsrsiI.

New York, May 21.-Philip Wissig.
once wealthy. influential and respected
dared the wrath of womanhood. and he
now seeks release from debts In bank
ruptcy which will aggregate $4,000.
His assets are so meagre that his cred
ftors will not contest his application to
be declared a bankrupt.
While women have followed Wissig
as his Nemesis. one woman, his wife,
has stood with him through all his mis-
fortunes. She is still at his side, bid
ding defiance to the world.
BY means of hard work and straight
forward dealing Wissig advanced him.
self from his position as a boy without
means to that OF a man with much
wealth and the prospect of more. En-
terlng politics ne joined Tammany Hall
apd was soon made leader in Eighth
district. Then he went to the leglsla-
ture as a member of the assembly, be-
ing twice reelected.
SPEECH AGAINST WOMAN.
While the assembly was considering
q bill framed for the purpose of con-
ferring the right of suffrage upon wo-
men, Wissig. one April day in 1892,
spoke against the measure, using lam
guage that was SO filled, il is said. with
obscene illusions that. by viva voce
vote. 1t was stricken from the records.
That day Wissig found himself no.
norious. From all parts OF the country
he was assailed. and his picture was
often published, bearing the caption,
foul Mouthed Phil He was called be-
fore Richard Croker. who deposed him
as leader in his district. He was
Stunned by many IL his old friends, and
his business fell away rapidly.
Wissig spent his money freely In an
attempt to rehabilitate himself. He
succeeded I'm 1894 In persuading Tam
many to again nominate him for the
assembly, this time in the Third dis
trict. There Immediately arose such a
clamor that he was forced to withdraw
just before election. Again. in 1897 he
sought election to the assembly, and
again failed His fortune dwindled
away and instead of prosperity he
found poverty surrounding him.
STORY OF MRS. wISsIG.
The other side of the story is told by
Mrs. Wissig. About 10 years ago."
she says, Il was left widow by the
death of my husband, Mr.. Hertz. who
was Phil Wissig's closest friend. Many
thought that 7 was wealthy and when
married Wissg II was said that
brought him $4,000 in cash. The con-
trary was true. l was I'm business and
was over whelmed with debt. Mr. Wissig
advanced $4,000 to me without asking or
thinking OF security. 1t was his inten-
tion to pay the debts left by my hus-
band, and that is what he did, as he
will now pay his own, IL he gets an op-
portunity.
II was in assembly gallery when he
made that speech for which he has been
attacked. 1t was not bitter. neither
was IL obscene. He was made the vic
tim OF the hatred OF certain men who
conspired to ruin him.
AT my request he sought and OBJ
tained the nomination as the Tammany
candidate from the Third district to the
assembly in 1894. He consented to with
draw when he learned that IL he did
not tds friend, Senator Timothy d. Sui
Ivan would be held responsible. Then
i went out and fought Tammany. I
helped elect Mr.. Houghton, the Re-
publican candidate"
II am as poor as was the day I was
born" said Mr.. Wissig yesterday.
s'Rosenthal & Rosenthal are preparing
papers In bankruptcy proceedings for
me- i will pay every dollor owe just
as fast as it is possible for me to do
eo"