New-York tribune., 1922-07-27
Barber Johns
Son Is Accused
By Dying Aunt
Held in Love Feud Murder
With Mother, Who Boasts
She Slew Little Sister
Who Stole Her Husband
Girl Trailed and Shot
Legal Flaw May Save Boy
She Named on Death Bed;
Promoter to Bury Her

Bertha Katz's deathbed Identification
of her nephew. Morris Reisler, as the
man who shot her cannot be used
against him at his trial for murder.
The rules of evidence do not permit
the introduction of, such an ante
mortem. statement unless the victim
has rrefaced the accusation with an
expression of belief in the nearness
of death. This Bertha did not do.
This legal handicap loomed large
last night in the mind of District At
torney John E. Ruston of Kings Coun-
ty, whose duty it is to disprove the
boastful, gloating confession of
Bertha's sister, Mrs. Minnie Reisler,
that she, and not her son, had done
the killing to revenge the alienated
love of her husband, known in pugilis-
tic circles as John the Barber, a fight
promoter who once was Jack Demp-
sey's manager.
Four Locked Up for Murder
But John the Barber, arranging last
night with an undertaken in Browns
ville for the funeral of the girl who
had been more than his sister-in law,
gave his name merely as Jacob Keisler.
Vengeance was not in his thoughts
then If society requires that some one
pay for this tragedy that mushroomed
from the sordid quarrels of the Reisler
and Katz families John the Barber
probably would testify that he will be
paying SO long as he lives. The girl
i r. zE
his sons and brother-in-law are
locked up in the Raymond Street Jail
charged with her murder.
Bertha Katz was only two years old
when Fate, or whatever it is that shuf-
fes the cards Of destiny, brought about
the marriage of her eldest sister, Min
ME, and young Jake Reisler. That was
twenLyseven years age, and thcYe are
some who will say that from the day
OF the wedding Bertka's steps were
pointing toward the slab in the n:orgue
where she lay last night.
Little Bertha then was to the young
eleven brothers and sisters law. He
had few thoughts then that did not
have for an orbit the big brown eyes
Of Minnie.
Then Bertha Grows Up
Nineteen years later Minnie had be-
come fat and the mother of six chill
dren. Jacob had grown prosperous,
dissatisfied and, in some circles, noted.
Bertha had grown up. She was slim
and her eyes were a deep brown in
which younger men than John the Bar
Der could see chance for happiness.
In the Raymond Street Jail yester-
day Mrs. Jacob Reisler, the former
Minnie Katz, told in loud voice what
she believed happened eight years age.
81 did the shooting" shrilled Mrs.
Reisler. waited long time to get
her, and l only wish I had been able
to get both of them. Pm not sorry.
I'd like to 60 to her funeral so l could
put lily in her hand and one Of my
husbands pictures in the casket. She
was always carrying his picture
around.
He'll be dead soon. too Some one
else will take care of that. Eight years
ago before my father died gave my
sister the best I had. Then she stole
my husband. Two years ago he left
me- For little while he paid for my
gas rent and food, but then he stopped
paying even for these I sued for q
separation because I didn't want him
to have divorce. That was what he
wanted SO he could marry my sister.
l told hiE1 eight years ago he could
have any other woman he wanted, but
not t. take my own flesh and blood.
what did he say? Listen. She is
nice girl and I like her. That's
CONTINUED on paue seysn)