Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-03-27
YOUTH IN LOVE
ENDS TWO LIVES
GIVES SWEETHEART STRYCHNINE,
THEN DOSES HIMSELF, DY-
ING SOON AFTER.
PARENTS OPPOSED MARRIAGE.
Leo Wojcinski, a Clerk, and Widows
Eldest Daughter Victims-Trag-
edy Follows Pleasure.
YOUNG MAN CONFESSES THE DEED.

MILWAUKEE. Wis. March %. 1905.
Poisoned by her lover because his par
ents objected to their union, Miss Nettie
PIaschek died i'll agony shortly after
midnight this morning, at her home, 764
Tenth avenue.
With the words God forgive me for
this nights work." her lover Leo Wo-
Jclnski, aged u years. swallowed the
balance OF the poisonous strychnine pills
ne had secured for the purpose. He
dled III agony within few feet of his
sweetheart, forty minutes later
NoJcInsh confessed i'll the presence
OF his SWcetheart'S family and Patrol
man Barney Kulas and DR.. Joseph T.
gum. The two young people had been
keeping company for three years and for
the past six months had been planning
their wedding and honeymoon
Depressed by Fathers Refusal.
Recently when WojcinSki laid the mat
ter before his father. John Wojcinski,
Il tailor living at 800 Austin street, ne
met with stern refusal.
Sunday afternoon with his brother,
John Wojcinski, Jr., and with a cousin,
he called upon his sweetheart at ner
home. The afternoon was spent IN
laughter and song and none seemed more
happy than the two betrothed.
After the others had gone, the young
man told Of his fathers refusal to sane
ton the marriage The girl and her
mother attempted to console him. but he
was deJeCted and seemed almost heart
broken: The girl suggested the theater,
and after supper the couple attended a
play at The Empire theater on Mitchell
street. After the show. he bought ice
cream and they went to her home. Net
tie set Il lunch for Wojcinalli of coffee
and cake. Wojcinski probably took adj
vantage OF moment when her back was
turned and emptied part of the contents
OF vial of strychnine pills into her cof-
fee.
Awakens Mother at Midnight.
At II O'Clock, the mother of the girl,
Mrs. Ida Plaschek, Il widow. was awak-
ened from her sleep by the loud cries of
Wojclnski: who. burst into her bedroom
crying. Nettie is siclln' Hastily slipping
on her clothing Mrs. Plaschek hurried
to her daughters side.
Mother Mary, what has happened"
she cried
Mother. I'm sick; I'm dying, mother
He gave me poison; Leo gave me pills.
1T isn't true" retorted the frightened
lover, L gave her nothing" The rest of
the family We're awakened and Joseph,
the l9-year-Old brother of the girl start
ed for 4 physician. Wojcmski insisted
upon accompanying him. Outside he
turned upon the young man and whis-
pered hoarsely, Here, Joe, take this"
slipping 4 loaded revolver into the lads
hand. The police will get it anyway
plaschek hurried for DR.. Heller while
WojCinski tried another physician. DR..
Joseph +. Quin, 1913 Forest lone ave-
nue. was awakened and hurried to the
bedside of the dying girl. Wojcinski re-
turned with Joseph to the house.
C0nfeSses and Faces Death.
Patrolman Barney Kulas arrived be
fore the doctor, and kept a watchful
eye on the apparently grief stricken low
Cr For a moment however, the young
man slipped away into another room.
Then he came into the kitchen. He
hastily gulped down Il drink of water
and ran into his sWeetheart's bedroom.
Throwing himself on the bed, he wildly
called her name as if attempting to call
her back from rapidly approaching
death. He kissed her hair and burst
into tears.
The girl was still in agony. one convul-
sion following another rapidly, and WOj-
cinski was hurried out of the room. In
the sitting room he stopped, facing the
policeman.
WHO did this?" asked the officer. seiz-
ing the pale, staggering form.
God forgive me for this nights work.
did this terrible thing; l poisoned her."
was his answer as he fell to the floor
was called from the bedside of his dying
patient and did everything possible, but
in thirty minutes Wojcinski was dead.
The little home this morning was
scene of sorrow. The widowed mother
only just began to realize that her eldest
daughter a girl of unusual beauty, had
been taken from her. The fact that to-
day was her 18th birthday made the
blow douhly hard. The two brothers,
Joseph and Thomas, the latter 10 years
old and another sister, Agnes, aged 10,
We're griefstricllen. The terrible scenes
of a few hours before had entirely un-
nerved the entire family.
Knew Potency of Poison
Nettie PlascheE will be buried Thurs
day morning after services are held in
St. Encents church. The funeral ar
rangements for Wojcinski have not yet
been made His body was removed to
the morgue at , o'clock this morning
and his father was notified
Wojcinski was clerk in the employ
of the Dahlmann q Inbusch company.
He had learned to be a barber but quit
it. He also worked for some time in Il
drug store and thus became acquainted
with the potency of strychnine. Where
Wojcinski is survived by his elder
brother. John Wojcinski, il, who had
accompanied him to his swcetheart's
home, Sunday afternoon, married SIS
ter and his aged father and mother.
Father Unable TO Work.
The aged father of the young man is
suffering from heart trouble and is Un-
a5le to work. He denied that he had
made strenuous objection to the young
peoples alliance but admitted that he
tod Leo to wait Il few years, because he
was too young and both were too poor.
Leo and his father Quarreled, but later
he said he would wait at least three
years.
Three sisters. one of whom is married
and three brothers survive Leo WOJcln-
ski. as we'll as his aged parents. Nettie
PIaschek worked for the Koch Cigar
company on the south side
Read Willoughby Story.
Reading the story of the sensational
Willoughby murder is believed to have
led Wojcinski 10 brood over his own mis-
fortune. and only Saturday he remarked
70 a friend. Stanislaus Siatoski. in talk
ing about the east side murder, And
tomorrow I'll he dead, too
Woicinski had a habit of carrying pills
for various ailments in his pockets and
frequently persuaded his friends to take
some when they felt i'll. His brother,
John. Jr.. took one recently, but COM
planned of no i'll effect. He is said to
have often offered pills to his sweet
heart but she mad always refused. 1t Is
thought possible that they both felt badly
and She may have accepted his invitation
This time to cure her nervousness.
On one occasion Wojcinski told ,JO-
seDh. Nettie's brother. in talking about
his fathers opposition to their marriage,
If | don't marry your sister II die.
TRIES SUICIDE BUT FAILS.