Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-05-31
ACCUSED OF
BIGAMY MAN
TAKES LIFE
Stephen Putzai Drowns Him
self in KoCh's Pond to
Escape Imprisonment.
WIFE HERE LEARNS OF
SPOUSE TN EUROPE

Aware that his second wife was
about to swear out a warrant for
his arrest, charging him with big
amy, and afraid that he would be
compelled to serve lengthy term In
prison, Stephen Puztai, of 387 ms
lee street, committed suicide Satur-
day by throwing himself, fully
clothed, in Koch's' pond, body of
water situated in a secluded spot
near Maurer.
About ] l o'clock in the morning, a
few minutes before Puztai is sup
posed to have committed the act that
ended his existence, he met friend
on Amboy avenue and announced his
intentions of throwing himself into
the pond, but thinking it an idle
threat, the friend did nothing to de-
ter Puztai from killing himself.
Not knowing that her husband
had killed himself, Mrs. Puztai ap-
peared before Recorder Pickersgill
Sunday morning and requested that
he be arrested, but the discovery at
about o'clock last night of the
body floating on the surface of the
pond, nullifled the warrant. Cor
oner Garretson was called and after
viewing it, issued a permit for the
removal. The body was identified
on the shore by Mrs Puztai
According to letter sent by Rev.
Francis Gross to Recorder Pickers-
gill a few days ago, Puztai married
his second wife, who was Miss An
ME Huber, knowing that he had a
wife living in Hungary, whom he
had married six years ago. The sec
ond ceremony, Rev. Father Gross
ayerred, was performed in the Slav-
ish Catholic church, in Penn street
about two years ago.
About three years ago, according
to reports, Puztai came to this coun.
try and secured employment in the
American Smelling and Refining
Works, where he has labored since
While boarding in Inslee street, he
met and became infatuated with An.
ME Huber, and so strong was his de.
votion that he married her, men.
tioning nothing to anyone of his
former marriage. In his two years
Of welded life, 1t Is declared, his
love waned, and he made frequent
assaults on his wife, Only Saturday
he attemptedsto shoot her, and prob
ably would have succeeded but fol
the timely appearance of Patrolman
Hartmann, who appeared on the
scene and so frightened the foreign
er that he dropped his revolver and
disappeared over fence.
Some time ago, Mrs. Puztai No.
became suspicious that her husband
was a bigamist and she informed
Rev. Mr. Gross OF her suspicious
An investigation and several letters
to Puztai's home town, the priest
says, brought forth the fact that he
still had wife living, and accord
ingly he advised the second Mrs
Puztai to have her husband arrested
She carried out his advice, with the
result that City Marshal Walters was
given orders to apprehend the man
| Saturday morning, Coroner Gar.
retson says, Puztai was informed oi
his wife's intentions, and he prob
| ably then resolved to evade the arm
of the law. About III o'clock he met
friend and said he intended tc
commit suicide. At that time he
was walking in the direction of The
pond and nothing more was seen Of
him until the body was recovered
From the decomposed state of ths
body when brought ashore, the cor
oner thinks Puztai carried out hii
threat shortly after making it.