Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA
1913 - POLICE ARREST MAN FOR ATTEMPT TO MURDER WIFE

Lukasz Luczkewiz Captured in Worcester Last Night for Woonsocket Office

Also Being Held on Bigamy Charge, the Police Declare Today

The dragnet cast out by the Woonsocket police for the apprehension of the husband of Mrs. Emma Luczkewiz, charged with attempted murder, by throwing her from the "Band Wagon" bridge into the Blackstone river at Woonsocket Saturday night, succeeded in bringing to toils the fugitive in Worcester last night. The Woonsocket authorities have another charge against the man, giving the name of Lukasz Luczkewiz, besides attempted murder, being that of bigamy. The Woonsocket police say that he admits the charge that he has two wives, and, also, that he pushed his first wife from the bridge, but denies that he attempted to murder her.

Luczkewiz' first wife was rescued from the Blackstone river, into which she had been thrown by her husband, assisted, it is claimed, by another woman, after she had given the couple all of her savings of $265. The police say the plot was to rob the first wife and then have her body found in the river as a suicide.

Mrs. Emma Luczkewiz was rescued by Frank Bak, a saloon-keeper of 124 Water street, and a neighbor, Daniel Kelly. The story the woman told the police of the robbery and attempted murder aroused the city of Woonsocket.

Inspector John T. Sutton of the Woonsocket police worked all Sunday in trying to locate the woman and her companion. Yesterday afternoon he learned that the other woman in the case was residing at 15 Social street, Woonsocket. He took her to the police station, where she gave the name of Anyla Luczkewiz. This woman claims that Rev. Thomas Morys married her and the prisoner a year ago last December. She said that her husband was employed at the American Wringer works, although he was not working yesterday. Mrs. Emma Luczkewiz states that she was married to the man in Passaic, N.J., four years ago.

The second wife admitted meeting the Passaic woman Saturday night at the Depot Square railroad station, and said that after the trio had paid Fr. Morys of Harris avenue a visit she went home and her husband went to walk with the other woman. She at first insisted that she did not accompany her husband on the trip with the Passaic Mrs. Luczkiewiz, to the "Band Wagon" bridge, but later admitted that she had walked as far as the bridge with the man and the Passaic woman.

The Passaic woman identified the Woonsocket Mrs. Luczkewiz as the woman who was her husband's companion of Saturday night, and adhered to the story that the woman accompanied them to the "band Wagon" bridge, and even that the woman had assisted the husband in pushing her over the bridge into the river. When the two women faced each other there was a dramatic episode. The accused woman appeared to shrink from the gaze of the first Mrs. Luczkewiz, and did not care to meet her eyes, and the accuser rose to her full height with eyes flashing and finger pointing straight at the accused cried. "There stands the woman who attempted to end my life."

The trio in the case all speak Russian. Yesterday afternoon the Woonsocket Mrs. Luczkewiz received a letter from her husband. The letter had been sent from Worcester and was written in Russian. It contained directions for the second Mrs. Luczkewiz to go immediately to 1 Dorchester street, Worcester. With this clue and the speedy promise of corraling the fugitive, Inspector Sutton telephoned the Worcester police and then took the 6:34 train for Worcester, arriving there shortly before 8. He had been in the station but a few moments when two inspectors walked in, bringing Luczkewiz with them. The prisoner waived his right to extradition papers and went to Woonsocket with Inspector Sutton.

The inspector says that the man admits marrying both women and, also, admits, it is claimed, that he threw the first wife into the Blackstone river but denies that he attempted to murder her. He had most of the first wife's money with him. He had secured work in a Worcester mill. He is 28 years of age. The first wife is 23 years of age and attractive looking. The second wife is 30.

The prisoner will be arraigned in the 12th district court at Woonsocket later. The Passaic Mrs. Luczkewiz told the police that she had drawn all of her savings from the bank and that she had given her husband $100 when he called to see her in Passaic, N.J., and that she gave the remainder to him when he asked for it on the "Band Wagon" bridge just previous to the alleged attempt on her life.

The woman in falling into the river states that she lost her muff, handbag and hat. These were lost in the river. Her trunk check, she claims, was also given to her husband. The trunk has not arrived in Woonsocket, and is probably waiting in New York. The woman is a speeder tender in Passaic and is remaining with a River street family in Woonsocket and is aiding the police to secure all the evidence possible in the case.

She said that her husband had left her over a year ago and that she did not know his whereabouts. He appeared at her door last Thursday, and told her, she said, that he was sorry for ever leaving her, and that he loved her as deeply as in the courting days and that he wanted only one more chance to prove his devotion for her and went into such a tearful tale of loneliness that he had suffered when away from her that her heart was touched and she resolved to take him back again into her trust and love.

He begged her to come and live with him in Woonsocket and told her that he had a job in a mill there, was making good money, and painted a pleasing picture of the delightful way in which they were to live ever after. She said that they both cried together in apparent realization of the happy hours that were to come.

She left her position in the mill, drew all her money from the bank, packed her trunk and came to Woonsocket at the direction of her husband. She was met at the station by her husband in Woonsocket. In the evening Mrs. Luczkewiz stated, her husband left her at the Depot square railroad station at 5 o'clock and promised to return for her. He got back shortly after 7 o'clock accompanied by another woman whom he introduced as his sister. The "sister" now claims to be Luczkewiz's wife.

The trio walked from the depot about the streets of Woonsocket, until 7:30 and then Luczkewiz stated that he wanted to show his wife the mill where he had secured a position.

The trio walked along the river bank and then Luczkewiz requested that they walk across the bridge in order to get a better view of the mill. In the centre of the Bridge, Mrs. Passaic woman claims that they talked for a moment or two, and the Luczkewiz asked for the remainder of the money which had been drawn from the Passaic bank by his wife.

When the money was turned over, Mrs. Luczkewiz claims that she was attacked by the husband and his "sister," and that despite her pleadings for mercy and begging her husband to remember his proffered love for her, she was hurled from the bridge.

She called to them for the "love of heaven" to save her, and said that there was no answer.

Mrs. Luczkowiz stated that she struggled with all the power she was capable of, and that finally she became exhausted and was only kept afloat by her garments which spread out in the water. The clothing was rapidly getting wet and would not have sustained her very long. She screamed as often as her scant breath would allow.

At last two men appeared at the bank, calling where to look. She cried repeatedly and the rescuers, Bak and Kelly worked quickly, and soon had the woman ashore. Mrs. Luczkewiz knew no more until she awoke in the hospital ward of the Woonsocket police station. She then told the story.

The husband takes his arrest stolidly. He does very little talking and now and then only moans to himself. He seems to fear the law and does not know just what will be done to him.

The second wife in the case is nervous to the extreme of breaking down. She is being watched closely in fear of any attempt at self-destruction.

The Evening News
Providence, Rhode Island
March 18, 1913

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