The San Francisco call., 1905-02-10
ELOPINC WIFE
RETURNS HOME
Aged Woman Who Left With
Man Thirty Years Younger
Tells a Tale of Disaster
COMPANION LEAVES HER
Fred TrOsch, She Says, Took
Money She Drew From
Bank and Left Her Alone
COMPANION LEAVES HER
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call,
2148 Center Street, Feb. 8.

Zl4c CenleI OlIccl, 4 CD' y.
Mrs. Lizette Werren, the 60-year-old
wife of Christopher Werren, who eloped
on January % with Fred Trosch. man
thirty years her junior, returned TO
her husbands home last night. plead
ing to be reinstated. She related story
of disaster In connection with her weird
romance, that eliminated when Trosch
took most of her money and deserted
her while they rode together in Oregon
on their way to Tacoma
Mrs. Werren is a portly Swiss woman,
remarkably well preserved, who Tor
many years has assisted her husband
in operating a picturesque little resort
in the North Berkeley hills. Trosch,
carpenter. was a boarder In their home
He persuaded Mrs. Werren that life
with him in home he would build in
the north would be preferable to COM
panionshfp with Werren, who Is SO
years old. Trosch promised to provide
Mrs. Werren with all that her heart
could wish II she would but draw the
joint savings Of herself and husband
from the bank and fee with him.
Mrs. Werren consented. and added to
the unusual. character OF the proceeding
by choosing the night Of her thirty
fourth wedding anniversary as the time
for the elopement. The WerrenS had
invited a lot of friends TO celebrate the
anniversary of their marriage on Janu-
ary %, and these came to the Werren
household at the time appointed, only
to be told that Mrs. Werren and Trosch
had disappeared. The aged husband
suspected that they had gone together.
When he visited the Union Savings
Bank Of Oakland the day after and
found his wife had drawn $1,000, banked
in their joint names and representing
nearly all the savings of lifetime.
Werren was convinced Of his wife's
guilt. He made no attempt to find the
couple.
Last night Mrs. Werren, haggard and
in distress, came back. She reported
that Trosch had basely deceived her,
deserted her and taken with him $500,
nearly all that was left of the $1,000.
She declared that Trosch stole the
money from her as she slept In the car
and left her at Oregon City. Their
tickets were for Tacoma She had paid
for them.
Mrs. Werren went on to Tacoma and
got rooms in a lodging-house. That
night a cyclone struck Tacoma and the
hotel burned down. Mrs. Werren's
clothes were all destroyed, and she cut
her feet on broken glass while escap-
ing from the burning building Shelter
with some Swiss ceuntrymen was found
for her, and she was nursed there for
two weeks. She spent most of what
money she had left for doctors bills
and new clothes, and then decided to
come back and ask to be forgiven. Mr..
Werren refused to admit her last night.
and the woman went to the home of
Postmaster George Schmidt, who is
Werren's landlord. Mr.. Schmidt inter-
ceded for the aged woman and she was
permitted to remain in Werren's home
to-day.
Werren says she may have shelter
there, and that as soon as possible he
will secure a divorce. He alleges that
this is the second time she has left him
for a younger and handsomer man,
the first offense occurring fifteen years
ago in Oakland, when one Peter Wat
tell was the object of Mrs. Werren's
wayward affections.