Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-04


crime ever perpetrated In this part Of
the country occurred about one week
ago In this city when j. II. Gertz a
well known painter and paperhanger
whose shop Is on Market street, was
robbed Of SJ5,
The case involves the treachery OF a
son-n-law and the perfdy and down
fall Of daughter who, although reared
In Christian surroundings, has an
nounced her determination to live Il
life Of shame. The case further involves
a scandal in the divorce court, wife's
unblushng confession of adultery and
later the arrest Of the divorced husband
on the charge OF vagrancy and carry
ing concealed weapons with the
prospects of the serious charge Of ex-
tortion being lodged against him.
The story was first related to the po-
lice last week by Mr.. Gertz and later to
q News" representative with the re-
quest that the facts be withheld pend
ing further developments In the case
The daughter is Hette Gertz Cronk,
who was twenty-threo years Of age
last month, and the son-in-law Is Ern.
eat Cronk now confined In the city jail.
now 1T WAS WORKED.
According to the story related to the
police last week by Mr. Gertz, his
daughter came to him about ten days
ago and told him that she and her hus-
band must have $500 at once and that
Gertz must get the money by any
means he could or there would be a
scandal in the courts and he would be
the one to suffer. She told him that her
husband Cronk, was going to get a
divorce from her and that she had writ
ten some letters which Cronk had got
possession OF and which he was going
TO use In the case. She said they con-
tanned some awful things" and that
there was grave danger hanging over
Gerts' head, and the only way to avoid
the trouble was to get the $500 MIR.
Gert2 says he told his daughter that
he did not have the money and had no
means OF getting IT, She left him but
returned later and said she could get
along with $3.50, Gert2 said he refused
TO pay the money, whereupon she said
perhaps she could smooth the matter"
over for $l25. Mr.. Gertz said he told
her he would see what he conld do.
FLASHED A GUN.
Two evenings later as Mr.. Gertz was
working in his shop, he was startled
Dy the entrance OF Cronk and his wife.
II was quite dark In the shop and Cronk
struck light for the purpose OF see
ing II any one was in the place besides
them. What took place at that time is
best told in Gerta's own language.
Said he:
"Hettie stood on one side Of me and
Cronk stood by the door, He pulled out
a revolver and said, want that money
and am going to have 1t or blow your
head off. Now you can take your
choice"
Then" continued Mr. Gertz, "Hettla
spoke up and said TO me, You ought
to have your d. head shot off any
way
They told me they wanted the money
to go to Chicago With. and that II
| would give II to them they would let
me alone and would not bother me in
the future. ! then wrote them q check
for $50 on the National Bank of the
Republic, but wrote on the bottom of 1t
that 4 was money to go to Chicago
with. Cronk still had the gun in his
hand and then he said to me, "--- -.
you This is case Of blackmail and
] may as well tell you because there
IS no one here to prove It. gave them
the check thinking / would get rid of
them, but later they came back and de-
manded more and l gave them another
check for s25."
Mr. GertZ said he was under the i'm
preston that they would withdraw the
suit for divorce now they had the
money, but he was mistaken as Cronk
proceeded with the case and still re-
tanned the letters in which his wife
confessed her inhdelity. For a month
after he secured the letters, Gertz saws
they lived together and in fact they aid
so up until Yesterday when the divorce
was granted
CARRIED A REVOLVER.
That Cronk bore some deadly grudge
against Mr. Gertz is evident from the |
fact that he carried a loaded revolver
and repeatedly made the threats that |
he would XIII Gertz, He also swore |
he would ruin Gertg's younger daugh- |
ter. Last night In a conversation with |
her father Kettle admitted. IN the pres
ence Of O witness, that Cronk made the |
vile threat, and made II in the presence |
OF herself and another woman,
CALLED FATHER VILE NAMES.
This conversation occurred last
night between and Z O'Clock at Gertzs
residence at lOl7 Fuller Hill avenue. |
Although divorced from Cronk, the wo-
man called her father vile names and
made threats that II Gertz prosecuted
Cronk she would kill aim II Cronk did
not do 1t himself, She tried to persuade
him 10 refuse 10 sign any complaint
against Cronk but Gertz would make
no promise The scene between the
father and daughter was a most touch
ing one He told her how he had be-
frlended her and her unworthy husband.
on giving the latter work, purchasing
furniture for them and of sending
money to Cronk WIN he was III In Chi
cago during the summer
u have begged pleaded and prayed
with her 10 forsake her hayward life"
said Mr.. Gertz, but all TO no purpose.
/ have got to have protection for my J