The Washington herald., 1907-08-22
ROBS CHURCH FUNDS
Woman Treasurer Flees and
Money Is Missing.
BARGAIN SALES HER RUIN
Mrs. Andrew GOetE, Friends Say,
CeSId Not Resist Temptation OF
shoPPing-I.eaVes Note 10 Husband
Admitting Her Guilt. and Intimat-
ing She Would End Her Life,

New York. Aug. 21.-That Mrs. Andrew
Goetz, church worker and highly re-
spected in her home. West New York.
\. J.. should have stolen funds belonging
TO the children OF the Sunday school Of
st. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church
could not be believed to-day until it was
learned that her own husband had cried
out 10 representatives Of the church:
Gentlemen, my wife is a thief!'
Mrs. Goetz is missing from her home
and the police have been asked to arrest
her on the charge Of theft There is
missing $6s9 in Sunday school funds and
$50 raised, penny by penny, by the chill
dren for an altar in the new church. now
building
Mrs. Goetz has been the leader among
the women Of ST. Johns for fifteen years.
She was treasurer of the Sunday school
and rivaled the pastor in the affections
OF the congregation. Such were her activ-
tiles that even now the church people are
wondering how they viii get along with
out her at the fair they are planning for
next month.
During the eight years Mrs. Goetz has
been treasurer of the Sunday school she
has never been asked for an accounting.
1t was supposed she had the funds in
bank drawing interest. but it appears now
she never had a bank account. and that
she has been digging into the children's s
funds when mania for shopping took
possession of her.
Has Bargain Mania.
Shopping seems TO have been the cause
Of Mrs. Goetz's downfall She could not
resist attending bargain sales, and any
money she had in her possession went at
such times.
In note left to her husband. the
woman intimated that she would take
her own life. The police. who are
searching for her. however, believe that
she has fed to Philadelphia. GOetz is n
shipping clerk employed by Murray &
Broking, 2lS Church street. this city. I'd
to a year ago he was treasurer Of St.
Johns Church. When ne withdrew his
accounts were found TO be correct. Goetz
Is half crazed by his wifes action, and
wants her to return and make amends.
The couple have been married twenty
five years, and have no children. Mrs.
Goetz is a comely, energetic woman, of
forty-two. She made frequent visits 10
New York. and boasted to her friends OF
the articles she had purchased I'm the de-
partment stores She dressed very well.
and attended all the social affairs in the
peighbOThOOd.
The fact Of the shortage was kept quiet
several days in the hope that Mrs. Goetz
would return. Last Friday night. when
her husband returned from work to his
home at 5S3 Seventeenth street. his wife
was gone On the dining-room table were
two notes. One told him that all the
SUnday-school money had been spent and
that she had never kept bank account,
as the church people had directed The
other read:
Il would rather face death than face
my husbands wrath"
Goetz had no sooner realized what had
happened when there came a ring at his
door bell The pastor Of the church. Rev.
E. F. G. Becker. accompanied by two of
the trustees, had come TO demand of Mrs.
Goetz an accounting Of the funds.
Goetz then told his visitors his wife was
a thief. Mr.. Becker thereupon consulted
the trustees, and an investigation was de-
cided upon.