The morning call., 1893-12-05
THE DEATH OF MRS. WAGNER
The Husband, DIR. II. L. Wagner.
Held Responsible.
CORONER HUGHES DIFFERED.
All Findings Disapproved Because
They Were Not in Accord
With the Evidence.

cause of Mrs. Helene Wagner's death
came to an unexpected conclusion yester-
day.
Mrs. Wagner died at 400 Oak street about
two weeks ago from an overdose of NOR
phine. The circumstances were peculiar,
to say the least. She had taken a large
quantity of the drug. but o phial, glass or
empty package from which 1t was drunk
could be found in the room where the
woman died. The chemist who made an
analysis for Coroner Hughes found nearly
two grains of morphine, more than suffi-
cient to cause death.
Friends of Mrs. Wagner had their own
opinions about her death, as some thought
she committed suicide, while others said
she had accidentally taken en- overdose of
morphine. which she used to drink to re-
lieve pain.
Not long before her death Mrs. Wagner
obtained divorce from her husband, DT.
Henry l.. Wagner, a step which she SUBJ
sequently regretted sincerely. Ali this
along for two weeks. put for some reason
it seems to have had no effect on the jury.
A letter written by Mrs. Wagner from
Monterey was read yesterday, as ii had a
certain bearing on the case by showing
he condition of her mind shortly before
death. 1t was as follows:
DEL MONTE, %, 10, '93.
My Dear Doctress: 1t has long been my in
tention 10 write you and speak from the bot
tom OF my heart. Then again thought why
open The wound anew, as now nothing can be
changed.
II is best 1 let my husband 60 quietly. Per-
baps at some time an hour will come when he
sees that he did not act rightly by me.
My heart is often sick 10 despalring and
cannot even now conceive that | am so lonely
and without protection In the world. Why did
not the good God call me- TO him TWO years ago
when l was so SICK Many d bitter and sad
hour would have been spared me. AS much as
my husband has hurt my feelings / have no
grudge against him. love him just as much
will come together Will give me the strength TO
bear my heavy lot.
am in bope, dear doctress. that you bear me
no gfudge and allow ME TO visit you when re-
turn to San Francisco. Should the doctor see
my husband the matter is 10 be passed over in
silence. kindly ask you for IL; lt is for the
talking. Tell your husband to please
not 10 bear me any grudge and not
10 remember my having consulted DIR. Won
Holman but at that time with the parents
ance, and i sent for DR.. Won Hoffman. AS to
my health, it is fair. One day fe well, the
next one badly again. wish God would Dut
an end to my existence; then all would be
relieved. l would right away undergo an ope-
ration, since my life has no great value, and
my only thought is soon 10 lie by my Harry
What drove me to this place was the thought
when l once leave all behind me ] shall feel
more composed. Bul. on the contrary, think
too much here and feel worse instead OF better.
IL viii probably be long time until get lit
tie more quiet.
Now, enough about me, dear docfress. It's
not pleasant to you TO listen to my complaints.
y o one can help ine. i can only AK of you not
10 forget me. and 10 retain the friendship which
i formerly enjoyed. would have liked 10 an
swer your letter. but at that time my heart was
so heavy. and what should write you?
Tell your husband that am now weighing
1161a pounds. DR.. Arnold told me thai was
too little; L needed nursing. Cordially greet
ing you, HELENE NAGNER.
To Mrs. DR.. Fl. Kreutzmann. 913 Sutter
street. san Francisco.
Coroner Hughes received three verdicts
from the Jurors, but Is he thought the evil
deuce indicated case of suicide he de-
clined to approve the verdicts, which, he
says, are not in accordance with the testi-
moDy.
After finding that Mrs. Wagner died
from an overdose CT morphine the majority
of the jurors. consisting OF John McAdoo,
William Brennan, 5. Adler and George
Wilson. found further as follows:
THAT Mrs. Helen Wagner came to her
death Intentionally by means of an over
dUse Of morphine self-admnistered, and
that the aforesaid morphine was furnished
her Ey her former husband. DR.. henry l..
Wagner, with criminal intent.
"We therefore hold DR.. Henry L. Wagner
responsible for her death"
AS this verdict did not charge DIR. Wag-
ner with any crime nothing could be done
about il. The doctor was censured by
Juror Coleman in the following manner on
his verdict. which found that Mrs. Helen
Wagner came to her death from morphine
poisoning. land l further find that il was
taken accidentally and administered BY
her own hand and ceDsure DR.. ii. l.. Wagner
for not advising her as to what size of a
dose she was to take. as he was aware of
the fact of her taking the drug,
John j. COLEMAN"
Juror Burgess returned a verdict as fol-
lows:
THAT Helen Wagner came to her death
from morphine poisoning, and l further
find that it was taken accidentally and ad-
ministered by her own hand.
"IEORCE RTrp0rcc