Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-14
AMANA FARMER IN
FEDERAL COURT
THEODORE TCHOPP'S ROMANCE
BEGUN IN SWITZERLAND
HAS SAD ENDING.

Cedar Rapids, March 13.--Fred and
Theodore Tschopp, well known Amana
farmers, waived their preliminary
hearing and were bound over to the
grand jury for the April term Of the
federal court. The events leading up to
the mems arrest is told in the follow
ing article published in the Repub-
lican:
South Amana has been the scene of
thrilling story, one OF love, and an at
tempt at revenge, the latter unsuccess-
full for the strong arm of the law inter-
vened Fred and Theodore Tschopp.
well known farmers and respected In
that community, were arrested Tues
day by Deputy Marshal M. l.. Healy
and were given a hearing Wednesday
afternoon before y. S. Commissioner F.
w. HARDWOOD. Fred was arraigned on 9
charge of using the mails to defraud
and Theodore on less serious charge
OF opening mail not addressed to him.
Theodore Tschopp was arrested on
the anniversary Of his arrival In this
country from Switzerland. He is an
honest, hard working Swiss farmer
and has been in country two years. He
is % years old, and in Switzerland, he
knew girl, Envy Durrenbarger, aged
Is years. They were on friendly terms
and some time ago Miss Durrenbarg-
er's mother wrote Theodore saying that
Envy would like to come to this coun-
try and marry him, but had no money.
Theodore had become lonely and
thought that wife would cheer up his
life on the farm and so sent to SWitz-
erland for Envy to come to this coun-
try. .
Envy started for the United States.
but on board the boat met a man
named Philip Stohr, a waiter in New
York City, and Stohr became madly in
love with Envy and proposed, but Envy
told him that she, was enroute to
South Amana to become farmers's
OF Theodore Tschopp. At Ellis Island
they parted, Stohr going to New York
and Envy to pass the inspection of the
immigration officers.
1t was while at Ellis Island that the
officers discovered Envy to be in a con-
dition that barred her entrance to this
country unless Theodore would con-
sent to marry her. A telegram received
from Theodore said to deport her. that
he did not care to marry her.
Upon receipt Of this message, the
authorities were about to send Envy
back to the old country, when she said
that Stohr would marry her. So he was
sent for. and the matter explained tc
Durrenbarger became Mrs. Philip
Stohr.
But in the meantime, Stohr had writ
ten a letter to Envy and sent 1t to hel
at South Amana, in care Of Theodore
Tschopp. Theodore opened the letter
in which Stohr pleaded with the girl tc
return to him in New York. comparing
the life in the city to that In the coun
try. Theodore communicated the con-
tents of the letter to his brother Fred
married man, who has been in this
country eleven years. Fred said that nc
would get Theodores money back fol
him. and wrote love letter to stohl
in New York signing Emy's name to It
saying that she did not like South
Amana, and that the man she had
come to this country to marry was not
good to her. This was the letter that
proved Fred Tschopp's undoing for he
asked that money for her transporta-
ton to New York and money for cloth
ing be sent.
Stohr showed the letter to the in
spectors in New York and through the
work Of the postoffice inspectors In
New York and the local authorities the
two men were arrested.
The two men are highly respected in
their community and it is not thought
that they would do anything contrary
to the law, but that it was their ignor-
ance that caused them to commit the
crimes. The facts are that Fred
Tschopp. believing that his brother ha6
been played for a Sucker" by some.
one thought that it was no more thar
right and fair to get the money back
/ that his brother had sent to Switzer.
land.
MAA- e,A~e e@o o~n@~,