The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-07
Mrs. Louis BertSch and Two !
Children, Living on Farm,
Left Without Food or Fuel
by Bertsch.
HE FAILS TO CASH
CHECK, THEN SkIPS
Woman and the Babies Be-,
ing Cared for by Rev. Fee
ger, Who Will Try to Send
Them to Germany.

Destitute of funds or provisions OF
any kind and without any means OF
support. Mrs. Louis Bertsch with her
two baby girls. one four weeks old
and the other twenty months. is be-
ing cared for at private home on
South Sixth street, the expense being
met by the Rev. Albert J. Feeger. pas
tor OF the ST. Johns Lutheran church.
me woman's husband. who deserted
her last Tuesday, is presumably put
tlng as great a distance as possible
between himself and this city. for fear
OF the clutches of the law. Bertsch
attempted to cash a note for $50. to
which he had fraudulently signed the
name of Romeo Shurley as security, at
the Second National bank Wednesday.
but was turned down and, SO far as
can be learned, he has not been seen
since. 1t has been rumored that he
has gone to Springfield.
Mrs. Bertsch was found "Wednesday
morning by Aaron Shute on whose
farm Bertsch last week had secured a
home and contracted to work for the
year, hugGing a little coal Oil lamp and
tightly clasping her babies in an ef-
fort to keep warm. She was without
food or fuel Mr.. Shute provided her
with fuel and later took her and the
children to his home, where they were
fed. Later he brought them to Rich
mond and entrusted them to the care
| of the Rev. Feeger, who found a home
for them with friend on South Sixth
street.
Well Cared For Now.
An effort was made by the Rev Fee
ger to secure position for the wom-
an at the Wernle Orphan Home, but
as all places at that institution were
filled, his attempt proved fruitless. He
will provide funds for the care OF
Mrs. Bertsch and her children at the
South Sixth street home for the pres
ent. She has expressed a desire to
return to her parents in Germany and
, the Rev. Feeger has written them and
also the parents Of Bertsch, who like
wise live in Germany, asking them to
supply funds to enable her to make
! the trip.
Bertsch is believed to be mentally
unba lanced and to this is attributed
his inability to keep position any
length of time, his attempt to cash
the note fraudulently indorsed, and
his subsequent fight from this city.
although no complaint has been regis
tered with the authorities and no eff
fort made to apprehend him. The po-
ence at the Second National bank,
and Mr.. Shurley. for whom Bertsch
worked at various times in the stock
yards east of the city. has not signified
any intention to cause him any trou-
BILE.
! Bertsch, who is comparatively
young man and of peculiar nature,
has lived in Richmond for some time
and has worked intermittently in var
ious and manifold capacities. He ney-
er made provision, 1t is alleged in a
suitable manner for his wife and chill
dren. They were boarded by friends
for months at d time out of sympa-
thy, no remuneration ever being forth
coming from Bertsch.
Took Them to Farm.
Last week Bertsch moved his wife
and children TO the farm of Aaron
Shute. northeast of the city and con-
tracted with Mr.. Shute TO work as A
farm hand during the coming season.
He worked several days before taking
his family to live in the tenant house,
but stopped working after their re-
moval there. He last appeared at the
house on Tuesday and al that time the
food and fuel had about given out
Wednesday afternoon Bertsch enter
ed the Second National bank and
handed TO the teller a crudely made
note for $50 payable to himself, with
Mr.. Romeo Shurley's name as secur-
ity. Misspelling OF Mr.. Shurley's last
name and an entire lack Of any SINH
larity TO his handwriting bore evid-
ence TO the fact that the name was
forged and payment "as refused
with declaration that he would
prove that the note was all right by
/ Mr. Shurley's brother, John. who OPP
crates livery stable on North Eighth
street, Bertsch left the bank. En-
ployes watched him enter the livery
stable by the front door. John Shur-
ley says he walked through the barn,
said Hello, John" and that seems to
have been the last seen of him in
Richmond.
No hope is entertained that Bertsch
will ever provide for his wife and ba-
bies, and unless funds are raised for
Mrs. Bertsch's return to Germany it
viii be necessary for her TO secure
light employment or be dependent
| upon charity Or some phiIanthropic