South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-11
MOTHER MUST CARE FOR
FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN
Father Accused Ancient Murder
in Hungary is Held Despite
DeniIS and Good Reputation
Shown BY Friends.
BY MARY CLARK.

When Peter Kovacs was identified
as the man wanted by L. :. Commits
sioner Logan for the murder OF Ru-
dolph Kolempar, a gypsy, in Hungary
some nine years ago. his wife and
family Of four children. who had
gone to Fort Wayne, thinking to be
present ct his release returned TO
South Bend in despair The father,
now IN Indianapolis is being held un-
til the papers necessary for his eX-
tradition can be signed by Sec of
State w. j. Bryan, and the wife and
little ones are back, not knowing
which way TO turn.
Peter Kovacs was arrested and TAX
en into custody by the officers here
last week. The crime OF which he is
accused was committed nine years
ago. Since then. if Peter KOvacs is
the man. he has come TO the United
States. married and raised a family,
besides winning for himself an envi-
able reputation as a steady and COM
petent workman at Singers. where he
has been employed ever since COM
ing 10 this country.
The arrest OF the husband came as
a complete surprise to the wife. but
i'm spite of the evidence brought
against him here at the time of his
arrest, she stuck TO him Loyalty, new
er losing an opportunity of pro-
claiming his innocence or Of showing
her perfect trust in him.
Mrs. Kovacs and her four children
in company with her attorney, Geo.
~ Kurtz set out in good spirits Mon
day morning feeling sure that night
fall would see the once happy family
reunited.
So confident was this wife and
mother. that she prepared a feast in
tho nature OF chicken and took II
with her, that the condemned hus-
band might enjoy il there in jail.
with his family or, that in the event
Of his release. which she thought IN
evitaLle. the feast was to be brought
home and eaten there To celebrate
the return OF husband and father.
Picture OF Despair
Had I not known the outcome OF
the hearing Monday, that the unfor-
tunate man must go back TO Hungary
and face a trial for murder, l could
have read the verdict in the hopeless
expression OF Mary kOvacs' eyes.
Standing with her ten-months-old
baby in her arms. the other three on
the floor about her she was the pic
ture of despair.
What am 1 going to do now?' was
her greeting.
Il thought Ia feel better when I'd
seen him and this was over" she said.
''but now there isn't any hope at all.
1--WE went down yesterday morn
ing" she said, and her eyes filled with
tears. as she spoke Of the meeting
with her husband. Eve couldn't see
him ut first but finally he was
brought 10 the Offices OF the commits
sioner in the postofiice building.
While waiting TO be called into the
court room. this unfortunate FAMILY
had an opportunity OF being together
for "a short visit They took of the
handouts" said the wife. and he
fre1 an hRH
him most of the time we were there.
The other children climbed on his
. I5nCe or stood at his side. oVer1Oyed
al seeing their father again. Some
one had given him "A big apple, which
b,, gave To the oldest child, telling
her 10 share Il with her brothers ana
sisters"
IIrg. Kovacs brought forth the feast
she had prepared but the father
would touch none OF il. Il don't need
it divide IL between my poor little
children, who have no one 70 provide
for them now was mis- remark.
The wife sat near listening 10 the
innocent prattle OF the little ones ana
exchanging anxious questions Win
her husband The minutes flew by all
too quickly. Shortly they we're sum-
,noffed before the commissioner ana
the hearing began.
4 number of witnesses teSuned 20
fbe character Of the prisoner. Ills
foreman at Singers testified 10 his
repltatfou as a good and conSclen-
fious workman That he had worked
I'm the factory nearly nine years WIN
out being discharged, etc.
Policeman duplicates Her.
The next witness was the man VINO
lives in half OF the house the Kovacs
faDiIv rents. at 259 Sadie St. Andrew
Hor1zk hv name. He was questioned
as TO where and when he met the ac-
cused. how long he had known hlnl'
Officer PABLO testified that he had
known both Kovacs and his VIE an9
that the wife had called her husband
name. which in English MEANS
murderer. Mrs. KOvacs was most IN
6fgnant ar this saving she never re
-uemhered doing such q thing Out
that n she had IL was in reference 10
killing a chicken and was nothing out
"a Joke.
Tshs. wife was next put on the stand
She testified as tu how long she mao
f,nown her husband before she had
married him. TO whether she
tenev about his relatives. whether ne
wrote 10 them. if she read the an
s,rers 10 his letters. etc.
Then the accused was questioned
himself Every time his answers
yvere exactly the same. his story
fiTered. He admitted everything they
,ried 10 prove. as 20 his former place
- residence. his relatives in the OLD
country and the time OF his coming
(CONTINUED on PAGE TWO