The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-26
MURDER IN MI HIGAN.
A Mau Kills His Wife aud Her Child.
Correspondence OF the Detroit Free Press.l

NIau Kills His Wife aud Her Child.
Correspondence OF the Detroit Free rec Press
terrible and unnatural murder was committed
in this place last night between The hours OF zen ana
twelve O'CLOCK, terminating the existence 0I TWO
human beings.
The victims were Henrietta Wagner and her child.
little boy about three years OF age and the muir
derer was nenry Wagner, the husband Of the for.
mer and the stcpfathef OF the later. Mrs. Wagner
was u partner IN fancy store with another lady,
Mary Miley. The murderer was painter by trade,
Last night, about twelve O'Clock, Wagner came TO
the jan and wanted TO stay there all night saying
very much excited, looking anxiously behind him.
The jaior Admitted MN and locSeu Linn up; as he
give no cause ior his feelings. He was restless all
the night and slept none. This morning, when the
aor called him. he went immeaa1ey aw ny and
SAID 70 HINT don't know what have oeen doing.
don't Know whether she viii live or not" lie then
told has brother that he had murdered his wlfe, anu
together tney took the key OF the house. which they
occupied jointly as dwelling house and store. TO
Mrs. Schlotter5eck, VINO keeps saloon on Nam
street. ana told her to take II to Mr.. Retttch VINO
owns the building, and mere Wagner COME ssed that
he mad murdered MS wife. Rettlch took the key to
Oncer Leonard, VINO went Immediately and opened
the house. -
blood In the room in the rear OF the store, which
was occupied by the deceased anu Wagner as their
living ROOM and in which was their bed at the side
of the bed lay Mrs. Wagner in her night Dress lying
her right side, her leet extending under the bed
q short distances; one arm was unlcr her ana inc
other thrown over and upward toward ner mead;
her mead was one mass OF pounded nesh and bone;
from 1t had flowed nall q gallon Of blood; around
her were spatters OF blood aud clots OF bloody gore
covered her night clothes. Near her head lay INC
murderons weapon, a com uon hatchet, ana that
The officer had been In the room several minutes,
almost parayzed by the sight, when ne heard sligt
spectacle worse even than the other before MIN.
There lay little boy, Oscar wagner, about three
years Old his head ali pounded with the same wea-
pom OF death. The little boy was sii alive, but the
woman was cold ana SUD-
bodies. An excited crowd soon gathered around
the building, and threats OF lynching were made.
The parties are Germans, VINO have been III this
country about three years, and IN Ann ArbOr only
since July last They were married since they came
here. rney have lived unnappliy together at times.
build and wen proportioned form; her head had
been adorned with an abundance or RICH pack
hair, but the murderous hatcnet, when II went
crashing INTO her brain. destroyer All her beauty
forever. oscar Wagner was the chu oi the de|
ceased by . former husband, brother Of the muir
defer and was born III Germany. lie was remark
ably pretty boy, with fair features blue eyes and
People were at their house last night late
O'clock ana say they appeared to De III the best OF
Mary Mlley the partner OF Mrs. Wagner, says that
Wagner came to her house last evening anu In
her that she need not come to the store TINS
morning as she was expected TO 10 winnie Mrs. Nag
went to Detroit to purchase some goods that she
was not well enough to 20 and would stay anu tend
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MURDERER.
Your correspondent visited the murderer In the
i
four years or age, and not at all bad or repulsive
| looking man. though he looks as II possessed OF a
fiery temper. lie was very willing 10 tell all about
The MURDER well as he could, considering that he
does not speak English well. He said:-l have had
| quarres. once when accidentally threw some wash
water the boy she came at me and caught me by
house ana never be seen there again Notwitnstand
ing these differences have always loved my wife
lived most happily she never seemed to love
me 80 much Last night she went . ,.c donit
a angw w az whaa ,.ne to her ''iood night
lace ana kicked Ut me, saying go away; you are
crazy man, and can't live With crazy man. |
SAID nothing to this. then Welt anu got the money
ana started to leave, wher. she jumped up and said,
~ VIII cut you In piec IS before You go with that
hatcnet from The WOO 4 box and went toward her.
she Jumped az me a4ld called me dog and told me
to lrighen her. she and the Guild both cried fire
ana ,a ID as she clutched me by the throa;
"on my a 's sroaned. e wi When t' saw saw what had
q9me .na' she was so hurt she could never get wei,
ner w % put ti aa fhs re her nahng
SCENE a TO see my wife before my eyes all the time
on nt remember striking the , boy a. all and
10 1,slng the door i went out in the street. but
could not go anywhere where did not see my
came down the jail, bu, could not sleep or east.
l don't know what l shall do. me murderer
c,tea and ' sad i' lie Would give anything il ne had
moi done it lie maniresuy knows something abou
the insanity game, for he spoke several times, say
Ing hmDrain all in u whirl and That lie must b.
| crazy. He SAID ne did not expect to gel free, pu
expected 10 suffer the full penalty OF The law Wisl
| he came TO the jail he had 800 with hun.
| wagner has considerable noney-about three
| thousand dollars-a part OF which Is still In Ger
| many. short time ago he ma lie a contract Civ.
| ing her the whole OF II. This contract was found
| this morning In his coat pocket, torn in TWO. By
| some 1t IS supposed that he murdered her TO gel
| possession OF the money again, having repented oil
his former generosity. One theory as to the cause
~ mn lnrI nn shot
| when he killed the mother. to leave and attempt an
escape, and Killed tue boy 70 avoid I'm mediate de-
| lection.