New-York tribune., 1885-02-20
1HE COURTS.
WAS THERE A CONSPIRACY
TESTIMONY IN MRS. wAGyEWs SUIT TO RECOVER


nER HUSBANDS INSURANCE.
According to the testimony in the suit of
Mrs Christina Wagner in her suit to 50 900 from
the st. Lawrence Life Association her husband, Chris
tian Wagner. was Ill In his life, and lame,
and yet had chronic rheumatism and other maladies.
MT wagner had some $4,000 insurance on his life in
eight mutual benefit associations. He died on July 2,
1894, and the companies refused to pay the
policies, alleging that Mr. Wagner had been n
victim OF rheumatism and excessive indulgence
in liquor, to the non-existence OF which habit
he had sworn in his application for
membership or somebodySse had sworn for him, as
1t is charged that his daughter Hannah else
subscribed his to the document Insurance broker
Dustin and Dr. Justus sprcng also charged with
conspiracy In the case.
Dr. Altenhain, who attended Mr.. Wagner In his final
illness. testified yesterday that the of death was
acute spinal meningitis and denied that his patient had
any chronic disease. On cross-oramnaton he was
asked II he was ever locked up in the State Prison OF
New-Jersey. "Oh, but that a conspiracy" he ex-
claimed He finally admitted that he had passed two
years OF his life inforced inmate OF the prison,
promptly adding But WAS pardoned."
One by one, the butcher tho baker. and the candle
stick maker, who had had the honor to supply Mr.. wag-
ner with the necessares OF life, swore that he had
given public appearance to the alleged rheuma-
tsm Mr. Wagner who doled out liquor and kept an eat
Ing place at No III scventayc hn always seemed in
good health. they declared.
A powerful episode in the case ,-Hed upon the rela-
tOns thereto OF one Johann Frcdrcks, cabinetnaker
He swoTe positively that Mr. Wagner had been sufferer
from rheumatism for long time. Messrs. Hess &
Ripley, therefore, put the stand Philip kuhnle,
wcaZel-faced German OF some seventy years lie Is q
cabnet-m too and q fellow workman with Fried
ricss Va lie said, Fricdricks he came 10 me after
Wagncrs death and he say, put bolt init dot Wagner
II lif. dot Wagner family nener gots dose
moneys / ask him what he mean, and he say, dot
Wagner should not get dot money by dose Insurance
companies"
" Did he give n reasonl"
I links he had some troubles nit dot Hannah 1.-THE
elder daughtc of Wagner.
kuhnle gave the Jury to understand that Friedrcks,
out revenge had determined to Inform the companies
that wagner had been chronic sufferer from rheuna
tisn; he sure that Friedrcks wished to put dot
bolt nit dot case" Being asked II he had visited
Wagner daughters often. the scptuagcnaran appeared
dazcd snd amid the laughter or the Court jury and the
spectators, discaimed ANY such Intentions adding
with dignity II go nit wagner's for my meals In de
day, and py night | go and sits ~ my glass
lager at Wagner's; for luf dot glass
lager" T.. H. Kent. tho president OF the Mutual
Benefit Life Association OF America asserted tiat etet
WagnrPs death. Dr spreng and Mrs Wagner called al
his office In Temple Court tn perfect the papers by whlch
Mrs. Wagner could secure the $1,000 her husband
make ont the papers" said the witness. Dr. epreng
turned To Mrs Wagner and said In Germans: I0n know
what you are To say l the answer was, Yes Then ne
added Your daughter has told you all or IL = n0d
was the response" Mr. Kent declared that the crcun
stance seemed suspicious, he had written down inc
words.
John j. Darns.la the president OF the st. Lawrence
Alenhan until his appearance IN court thus contradict
ing the phy -ciiu's testimony that Mr. Barnsda!l hhd
called On HIM regarding life policy.
The viii be summed up to-day