The Detroit times., 1910-11-12
t0LsToY vAEIsHEs;
WIFE TRIES TO DIE


(cOntinued From PsSs Onsl
ospital. Mrs. Schenk fought to have
i'm breu ght-baek home. IL was at
his point that the police interviewed
At midnight two days ago they call
d at her home and told her that she
as under arrest.
What for?" she asked.
"You are charged with poisoning
our husband" replied the officers.
Its lie," she cried. II love him.
yill 90 with you, but first | want to
pke my children where they will DO
hfe."
The children were awakened and
rought 10 the home Of a neighbor.
he mother kissed them and return
az home, put on her most valuable
ewelry and her furs, valued at $l0,-
100, and started OF for Jail.
The evidence against the million
Tres wife 80 far Is merely circum'
tantial.
Prosecutor Handlan declared he has
nough evidence to convict. When
be brothers OF Schenk became suspi-
ious they hired private detectives
shadow the wife. They dismissed
he chauffeur and IN his place put
chauffeur who was also a detective.
his man, according to the prosecu-
on, will have sensational testimony
give. Another detective. a wo-
ban, who was put into the house as
nurse, will testify.
There Is absolutely no truth in
he charges against Mrs. Schenk,
hys Attorney O'Brien, on advice OF
EhnnN che hoo 70
hing.
rom a mansion to a jail-covers the
fe story OF Laura Framework
chenk. She was born on a farm and
anne to this city to work 15 years
go. She worked as a domestic three
ears and the remaining 10 years In
his city have been devoted to unsuc
essful social climbing-to brilliant
pcial campaigns that have always
billed. She is 81 years old. Her hus-
and Is now so.
She was working as a domestic for
chenk's fathers neighbor when he
let her He married her against the
rotests OF his family. The Schenk
mily. too. had had social aspirations.
he first Schenk, the father OF John
chenk. came to Wheeling from Ger
bany. started a butcher shop and
ow his family owns a great deal OF
: he tangible property OF the city. The
ealth they had amassed had just
pened the doors OF the charmed so
al circle to them, when John mar
ed the neighbours domestic.
IF she Is not as good as we, | will
AXE her as good said John, and
built for her a mansion more mag
ficent than his fathers and fur.
shed 1t more beautifully than the
pine in which she had worked. Two
hildren were born to them-a girl
no Is now IL years old, and a boy
no Is seven.
Laura Farnesworth Schenk began
er social campaigns a year after she
arried, She invited numerous OF
be local aristocracy; the newspapers
Bed to describe the arrangements as
agnifcent. But few came.
Mrs. Schenk was not discouraged
nd made attack after attack on the
bcial barriers, that her humble past
ad set up against her.
One hundred thousand dollars a
ear is the income OF John Schenk
was spent freely on his wife. He
pught her a $4,000 automobile and
5Iilt a garage in the rear OF their
hme.
John Schenk. the millionaire, is a
ork-a-day sort OF person. Schooled |
hard work he had never acquired |
@ social graces necessary as an as !
4 In his wifes social campaigns. He |
dn't like dress suits and liked moth |
be- so much than to sit around the |
puse in his shirt sleeves. Among |
e things that Mrs. Schenk learned |
the course OF her social education |
as that shirt sleeves are not proper i
a mansion
John Schenk, old.fashioned and |
ain, began to find himself out OF |
ace in the home to which he had |
Fought his wife. His interests were |
In the pork establishment and in ,
8 real estate. He found himself TN /
BILE to keep pace. Schenk began to |
earn for the broader culture that he |
bought he had neglected and the so
al personal atmosphere that his wife |
femed to acquire so easily. So he /
ecided he would see the world. A |
bar ago he circled the globe.
Wheeling is not a large city and one |
hn not do things without the neigh.
prs knowing and talking, as is pos
BILE in a metropolis. Wheeling be- |
hn to do considerable talking short |
after John Schenk left. John |
chenk's $4,000 automobile Is one OF |
10 sights and was as prominent an |
Bset of the city as the old soldiers |
onument In front of the courthouse |
When WheeliDg's leading automo. !
lie was seen JOY riding about the |
Ireets OF the city during Schenk's |
Essence. gossip took a hand. There |
as talk about a young man who was