The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-27
Aged German Gut OF His Own
Kin In Favor Of Servant.
SAID TO Be WORTH s5o,ooo.
Widow and Sons Had The Beneficiary Ar
rested, but She Was Discharged
BY The Court

New York, Sept. s7.--The will Of Fetsr
Cchellenschlaeger FLED yesterday, will
make more bitter the struggle on the part
Of the heirs OF the dead man against Mrs.
Olsen. the beneficiary. who was the tes-
tstor's washerwoman.
There il a widow, n Mrs. Catherine
Gesrer. who obtained a divorce in 1892,
and two sons. Peter and Frank. the for
mer being tho son OF wife 10 whofl
Schellenschiaeger was married In Ger
many before coming TO this country, and
who may be alive for all that Is known
10 the contrary. ,ffe
The 5enehciary. Sarah Olsen lives Sat
20 Beaver street. The petition for pro-
bate states that the teststor left only
$500 IN personal property, but the direct
heirs contend the amount Is nearer $4,000.
Much Of mystery clouds the death OF
Schellenschaeger thickened by the sus-
plcions of the two sons OF the old Ger
man. who protest that their interests are
threa tened by clique who surrounded
the old man at the time OF his death.
Mrs. Olsen was arrested Monday for
the second time since Schellenschlaegers
death. and was brought before Magistrate
Deuel..
This trial was but fash in the pan. az
Magistrate Deuel. lost his temper before
the case had been fairly started, and
barked the lawyers out OF court.
ROBBED THE DEAD.
What was stated there by Richard J.
Donovan and admitted by Mrs. Olsens
attorney was. that Mrs. Olsen had
snatched from the fingers of the dead
man two diamond rings. containing six
teen stones, before the body had grown
cold, and had taken from his pockets $50
in gold, a watch worth 800 and chain.
A number OF bank notes amounting to
$50 were also missing from the clothing
or the dead man.
Mrs. Olsen in admitting that the rings
and gold had been taken from the body
maintained that the old German had fire.
quently told her that she should have the
rings when he died and that the money
had been expended I'm paying the under
taker
After some sparring Judge Deuel. an
grily dismissed the case, but IL will not
be dropped by the heirs as they have at
stake a fortune accumulated by Schel-
lenschlaeger estimated at from 10000 10
$4,000.
In what hole or Granny this may be
hidden cannot be learned and hence their
anxiety TO establish some sort OF legal
clutch upon Mrs. Olsen which Will pre-
vent her from securing the money IL this
has not been already done.
In order TO fully understand the many
90 glance over the testator's life.
BUILT UP A FORTUNE.
Peter Schellenschlaeger who was sew
enty-three years old at the time OF his
death. was born in Worms, In Germany.
In 1853 he came 10 this country and OPEN
ed a barber shop. While he did not thrive
as barber, his work led TO his building
up a comfortable fortune. for his trim
ming of hair and shaving led TO an ac-
quaintance with men employed in the
! Corn Exchange bank across the way.
Thus IL was that when he saw two
! men enter the bank building one Sunday
In 1874 he became suspicious, for he knew
that they were not connected with the
bank as he had never shaved them.
| Therefore he hunted mp the watchman
and told him what had occurred.
ibid they let themselves in with
key?" asked the watchman.
"They did," said Schellenschlaeger.
"Then they arc all right" said the
| watchman.
This sort of reasoning did not appeal TO
| Schellenschlaeger. and he told the janitor,
| but without results.
Schellenschlaeger had a feeling OF 10y
/ atty toward the men he shaved and he
! finally found a policeman, who went with
! him and discovered two burglars who
/ We're breaking safe.
! schelenschlaeger caught the burglars
and they were arrested.
For this service 20 the bank he was
| given the place of the discharged watch
| man. and the news Of his exploit spread
ing. other business houses in the vicinity
| hired him 10 watch their buildings, and
| he was soon In receipt OF an income or
| S8n0 q month. -
| lie nut by each year p sum of money.
though he spent literally on clothes and
| shoes.
lie was vain OF his appearance. and
| was always nestly dressed. lie wore
| high .heeled boots and carried himself
| with military swasger induced by a
| ysgrapt r,Imor which had followed him
! 10 this country and asserted he had been
| AT one time y lieutenant in the Emper-
or's hodygusrd and high in favor With
the Emperor himself This story he never
| denied.
FREED FROM WIFE.
lie was married and had two children,
| hut i'm 1892 he was separated from his wife
as tho result of bitter auarrels. At this
| time he also severed relations with his
son. Frank. who had always been his Ia
voritr. because he had assisted his moth
or 10 secure evidence on which she OBJ
| tained her decree
lie paid Mrs. schellenschlaeger all.
mony and then settled all indebtedness
TO her by tho payment Of 5000.
The Mrs Olsen who has appeared IN
the case was for years his washcrwoman
She also rendered him other services, and
stated in coGst yesterday that she had
nursed him while ~ was III, and had at
tended him for six years.
lie had been il for some time. and Las
week called I'm = physician. who pro-
nounccd him IN with Brights disease The
old German would not hear of removal
10 a hospital. and lay with a huge revol
YER on his bed siorming at those wht
approached him.
on Friday morning ~ n O'Clock he died
Ills son Peter ives an the room AZ tho
time. but saws he was forced from The
house by Mrs Olsen and her husband
Andrew. burly Swcdc
shortly after. according TO Eliza Kyn
| hnIl ono Of the nlIncasns who annca roo