The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-14
ENDING AN EVIL CAREER.
John Wagner Mortally Wounds theWom-
an for Whom He Deserted His Family.
ing One She Likes Better, and lie
Shoots Her Three Times.

Social ""ssltton was that Of an avowed woman of
tns town, under the name of Fannie Howe. Her
maiden name was Miller, she being the daughter
OF family living west of the city. Before her
fall she gave promise, in early grlhood. of be-
coming an excellent woman but from the first
step her descent was rapid. She became mis-
tress of house under the protection of Wagner,
who left his wife and child in order to keep near
the Howe or Newberry woman. Mrs. Wagner
insisted on a separation on account of this asso-
citation, and, leaving the city, went with their
child, a girl, to Columbus, this State, whom she
placed in the care of Catholic school.
After this Wagner used his means in the In
terest of his mistress, whose house of il.repute
he handsomely furnished. The usual quarrels
and jealousies occurred between them, but they
were quickly adjusted, and for three years they
were never away from each other. In the mean.
time Wagner attended bar at the Occidental Ho-
tel, at Gates's saloon. the Capital House and
other places in Indianapolis Two years ago he
went to Frankfort, KY. where the Howe woman
frequently visited him. Selling out his saloon
in that town, he went to Maysville, KY, and be-
gan the same business, with poker rooms at
tached These rooms were frequented by
leading men of the city, and about
six weeks ago the police. raided them.
an act that caused great deal of gossip, as
eral well-known citizens were caught. Wagner,
had he remained, would have been brought to
trial for keeping a gambing-house. an offense
that carries with it in Kentucky peni.entiary
sentence. He at once sold his property and re-
turned to this city. The relations with the
Howe woman were resumed, and ne left in her
care some $500 or 5000 Drawing on this fund.-
he began prolonged spree, and those who know
him best say that hardly day has passed when
he was not under the influence of liquor. His
associates and friends tell OF his extreme liber
atty good nature and slowness to wrath
when sober. He would divide his last dollar
with one in need, besides being extravagant,
when drinking. 1t is said of him that he has
spent as high as 500 in night, treating friends
and taking them about town.
While his infatuation for Isabella Newberry
remained as intenseS as when he gave up wife
and child. she became tired of his attentions and
for some time has tried to send him adrft. This
led to numerous quarrels. particularly since his
return from KentNeky, because he believed she
had formed an attachment for Jim Wilson. a
saloon keeper. Saturday evening last the police
Risited the house of Fannie Howe, No. l57 West
Nary land street, and arrested everyone there,
including Wagner He furnished the cash
bail required over 800, and the party
released, to appear before the Mayor on Monday
morning Directly after this came the indict-
ments of the grand jury against owners of prop
erty who rented houses to women of this class
Naturally the tenants were disturbed, and day
before yesterday Fannie Howe made arrange
ments to move All the furniture except that of
one room was stored, she asking the police if she
could not live in the furnished room unmolested
until she could procure another place. Among
the effects in this room were some belonging to
Wagner. r
On Thursday evening they were together and
quarreled as usual. She repeated her often
expressed wish to get rid of him, saying that
she liked Jim Wilson better. Wagner replied
that he would never do that, at which she said:
lit is no use, then, for US to keep together any
longer" He left. and began a round of drinking
until yesterday when he returned to her. as he
says. to get what belonged to him, and then leave
her forever.
About 2:3O o'clock in the afternoon they were
was nothing but dust, straw and torn paper.
They stood in small hall that led from the front
door to what was used as the paror. She
had his revolver, which he asked for.
trouble you no more" AS he tells the
circumstance, she threatened to shoot him, at
which he snatched the weapon from her, and,
firing at her. sent ball into the left side of her
body. near the shoulder while another grazed
her abdomen and the third went into her leg,
near the knee. The fourth shot missed her as
she lay the floor. In moment large crowd
collected about the house, through which Pa
trolman Laporte worked his way into the hall,
where the woman lay Wagner stood over, ap-
parently in great distress at what he had done,
but he gave himself up to the officers without
protest, saying: 81 am sorry for it, but that
will not bring her back to life. I must bear the
consequence"
DR.. Hodges, the police surgeon, came and ex-
aiming the wound, found that the first shot,
forty -four bullet, entered between the second
and third rib, and passing through in an almost
direct line came out between the spinal column
and lower part of the clavcle. The shot in the
left lower Leg Embedded under and near the
knee joint, while the wound in the abdomen is
harmless The Doctor pronounced her condi-
tion dangerous, but would not say anything for
against her chances of recovery. She had
been carried into the deserted and unfinished
front ROOM where she lay on an improvised bed
of straw, with blanket covering it. After
while the many women of her class who We'd
with each other in offering kindly service, got
the bedstead and bedding from an upper
story, carried it to the room, and placed her
upon it.
Acting Superintendent ODonnell and Ser
geat Travis, of the police, had some time before
this arrived and thought the woman's ante NOR
tenn statement should be taken. Coroner Rocker
was summoned and to him she said: John
Wagner has been going with me for five years.
/ wanted to get rid of him, and it was best
should. had to keep house of this kind. He
has many times threatened to kill me when |
told him would leave him. had this revolver
and he asked me to give it to him. / did so, when
he turned it upon me and fred. He said: You
have sent me to NIL, and i might
as we'll go there now No one was present when
he did the shooting. He said he did not care
how soon be died. / did not make any attempt
to strike or injure him. We had a quarrel
Thursday evening, when he said he would settle
me if l left him."
During the afternoon the woman became
stronger but not sufficiently to give any hope of
her being able to recover. Yet, as the doctor
says, there is no telling how such wounds will
result She may live and save her discarded
lover from the danger of hanging. She has two
legitimate children, one of whom, girl
eight years old, is with her parents
on the Miller farm, west of the
city. One day last week Wagner went to Colum-
bus to take his dauehter from the school The