New-York tribune., 1921-02-03
w oman Held
AS PlOtter of
Turks Murder
Mrs. Rose Schmerz Said to
Have Admitted Telling
Ex.Convict1'h 1'hatD Druggists
Wife Had Many Jewels
Man Was Shot by Mistake
Prosecutor Declares He Is
Convinced Death of the
Wife Was Aim of Crime

Israel Turk, the druggist who was
shot In his home at 1877 East Broad
way early Saturday morning, was mur-
dered by mistake, according to the
story Of the crime told yesterday by
John r. Hennis, Assistant District At
torney. Mr.. Hennis asserted that evil
dence he had obtained convinced him
that jealous woman had sent the
murderer to the Turk home kill Mrs.
Turk, and that her husband, appear
ing on the scene unexpectedly, had
fallen victim.
In pursuance of his theory Mr.. Hen
mis- managed to have Mrs Rose
schmerz. of 70 Adams Street. Hoboken,
held without bail in Essex Market po-
lice court yesterday on suspicion of
homicide. According to the story Rob-
ert Brown, who was held without bail,
charged with the killing of Turk, told
Mr.. Hennis he was retained by Mrs.
Schmerz to put Mrs. Turk out Of the
way.
Mrs. Schrentz's "Admission'
Magistrate rockingham refused at
first to hold MRS. Schmerz, the case
against her being rendered doubly
tenuous by the fact that it was not
Mrs. Turk, but Mr.. Turk, who was killed,
but finally agreed to do SO when Mr..
Hennis informed him that he had OBJ
tanned an admission" from, Mrs.
Schmerz which tended to corroborate
Browns story.
The admission" Mr.. Hennis said,
was to the effect that Mrs. Schmerz had
talked with Brown about Mrs. Turks
jewelry, telling him that she kept valu-
able pieces at her home. Browns own
story of his alleged conversation with
to put Mrs. Turk out of the way, and
offered as an inducement the jewelry
which Mrs. Turk owned.
According to his story, Mrs. Schmerz
believed that her husband was too at
tentive to Mrs. Turk. There was a
trip to Coney Island, it was said, where
Mr.. Schmerz paid $50 without q culver
for the entertainment Of his guest,
Mrs. Turk, and there were sundry at
tentions which he had paid her when
both families were staying at Pine
brook, N. ].
Friday night had been picked for the
had intended to pass that night at a
Turkish bath and Mrs. Turks only
companion was to be Browns wife, who
had done some sewing for the Turks
and sometimes kept Mrs. Turk COM
pany when her husband was away.
When it was too late to change the
plans, it is alleged, Turk decided to
pass the night at home, after ALL That
was at II, o'clock Friday evening. At
1850 Mrs. Brown departed. Mrs. Turk
went to bed. Her husband sat up to
read.
1t was a. m. Saturday when Brown.
in ignorance, he is said to have told
Mr. Hennis, of the change in Mr..
Turks plans, climbed into the Turk
apartment through window. To his
astonishment he was confronted by the
druggist himself, who Immediately
grapDled with the intruder
Shot in Struggle
There. Nas a struggle and Brown is
said to haze confessed drawing his re-
volver and firing the shot which caused
Mr.. Turks death an hour later in the
Gouverneur Hospital. Mr.. Turk was
preparing for bed when he heard steps
in his living room and was carrying
his trousers over his arm when he
entered and discovered the intruder.
AS he fell wallet containing ss6
fell from pocket Of the trousers.
Brown, according to the story he is
said to have told Mr.. Hennis, STAYED
only to seize the money and then fled
as he had come, through the window.
The next moment Mrs. Turk. the
woman Brown is said to have confessed
he agreed to murder, entered the room
in response to her husbands screams
for help.
To Go to Grand Jury
Mr.. Hennis said that before either
prisoner was arraigned again in police
court he would present the evidence
against. them to the grand jury and
ask for indictments.
Rapa rdlaSS of Mhether Rrnwn killad