John Peter Wink
Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 April 1903, page 8
EXPLAINED
A remarkable story which may explain the suicide at Claryville
Ky. on October 3, 1901, of John Peter Wink, was brought to light yesterday by
the filing of a petition in the Probate Court here to removed Louise Wink as
administratrix of his estate.
John Peter Wink was a well to do dentist of Hanau, Germany, leaving his son, Heinrich, also a dentist, in charge of his practice. While here he became acquainted with a woman whom he afterward introduced as his wife. For a time they lied at No 819 Walnut street this city.
Wink spent his money freely and the couple took life easy. Suddenly Wind became despondent and it was learned that his wife and family in Germany had heard of his escapade with another woman here, and that they had written to him, charging him with perfidy and upbraiding him for it. The fact that he had been discovered so preyed upon Wink's mind that he took his own life, shooting himself while on a visit at Cold Springs, near Claryville Kentucky.
His body was brought to this city and buried in Spring Grove. Before coming to this country upon the trip, which was one of pleasure, Wink sold a piece of property in Hanau and the proceeds of this sale he had banked subject to his check for use on the trip.
Shortly before he took his life a check had been forwarded to him by the bank in Germany for 3200 marks, about 4800. After his funeral the woman whom he had introduced as his wife went to the Probate Court and was appointed administratrix of his estate which was appraised at $823.
The American Bonding Company went on her bond for $1700. She then cashed the check at the German National Bank and after securing the money disappeared without having filed an inventory of the estate or an accounting, though she had given the names of her alleged children in Germany as his heirs, Heinrich, Fritz, Johanna and Mina Wink.
Friends here wrote to the widow in Germany, telling her of her husband's death. She knew of the check that had been forwarded to him and she at once took steps to prevent it being cashed but she was too late. She placed the matter in the hands of the German Consulate here and the case was turned over to Attorneys Powell & Smiley and Fred Bertram. They went to work on the case, but were unable to locate the alleged wife.
John Boyle, the local representative of the American Bonding Company, was notified of the status of affairs and he at once took up the search. Mr. Doyle secured information to the effect that Wink and the woman were married in St Louis, which if true, would stamp the deceases as a bigamist as well as a suicide.
The alleged widow of Wink conducted an intelligence office on Walnut street for a time after his death. It is understood that she went to St Louis after leaving this city and she is supposed to be still living there.