The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-23
WAYLER'S LIEF In THIS CITY
Suspicious Circumstances That Sur
rounded the Wife-POiso While Here.
Woman Announced as His Wife and After
wards Claimed as q Sister-Advertising
for Victim-He Paid No Bills.

Inquiry, yesterday. into the domestic
affairs of Hugo Wsyler. who is charged by
the Equitable Life Insurance Company
with the murder of his wife, ELECTED some
peculiar demonstrations on the part of the
man during his residence in this city.
Wayler's wife died. some time since, in
Toledo. and an examination of the remains
of the dead woman revealed q large guam
tity of strychnine in her stomach, and it is
now claimed by the Equitable company
that the husband killed his wife in order
that he might get possession of the S., 600 on
herlife. Prior to Mrs. w ay ler' 8 sud en- death
it appears that she coeroed Miss May Neese.
domestic In the family. into taking out
policy on her life under the name of Mrs.
Hugo WsyIer. but an attempt to poison the
girl by Wayler failed. and as a last resort he
accomplished his end By taking the life of
his accomplish Her BODY was exhumed at
the request of the insurance company. and
1t was discovered that she was not the same
woman who had taken out the policy.
Wayler fed as soon as he learned of the
miscarriage of his villainous plot and it
was thought that he came to this city.
On the 1st day of last January q young
~
called at the Beville reai-estate Office. No.
pa West Washin gton street, aud made in
quiries for house. He stated that he had
lust arrived from Chicago with his wife
the Occidental Hotel. Mr.. Beville rented
him the property at No. 1871 Walcott street.
belonging TO j. NJ. Stevens gatekeeper &C
the Female Reformatory, and in the course
OF day or two he took possession. HIS
furniture bore Toledo shipping tags,
although he claimed to have moved from
Chicago. From the moment the strangers
settled down in the little cottage on Wal
colt street the neighborhOOd began to dis
play q curiosity about them, and they were
set down as suspicious. The family con-
sisted of young woman of decidedly Ger
man appearance, and an infant child. a
boy. The woman gave the people to under
stand that she was Wayler's wife, although
he himself never referred to her. The
couple rarely ever went out and the hus-
band speDt all of his time about the house.
politely courteous to callers, but with
manner that would hardly court acquaint-
ance. Two weeks passed and, one day, the
alleged Mrs. Wayler Informed her next
door neiRhbor that she was not the wife of
the man with whom she was living, but
was his sister.
In few days another woman arrived,
and was introduced by Wayler as his wife
explain the relationship between himself
and the first woman. and nobody caring TO
investigate the matter, the mysterious
family continued to move along with APP
parent smoothness. The wife No. was u
handsome woman about thirty years of
age. and kept herself severely aloof from
all intruders. Her husband had no yisi BILE
means OF earning money. and told several
different stories regarding mis- vocation.
He informed his grocery man. whom he
finally defrauded. that he was connected
with the German Tribune. and to Mr..
Ertel broker, of whom he borrowed $50.
he stated that he was n retired Chicago
business man, with much wealth tied mp
In property. He bought considerable fur
niture of dealers here on the ILstallment
plan. and altogether lived in the best
of style. To his wife and the sister
he was devoted. but subsequent develop
ments showed that be was Matching q
diabolicai plot under the guise of kindness
and responsibility.
Wayler and his family occupied the Wal
cott-street residence until the 1st of Feb
ruary. when he failed to pay the rent, and
was informed by the agent that he must
advance some money or move. He chose
the latter alternative, and on the morning
of Feb. Mr. Stevens, owner OF the house.
called to see his tenant. He fonnd the
house open, but no one at home. The
breakfast table showed that the family had
recently dined. and fires were burning in
the CRATE and kitchen stove. At the side
of the CRATE were Wayler's slippers. where
he had removed them to put on his shoes.
NOb al 6ItiClo VI was missing,
but three big trunks were gone which
led MIR. Stevens TO believe that the oc-
cnpants would not return. Nor was he
mistaken. The Wayler family have never
been heard of until Friday. when the hus-
bands dark deed was reported. Since
hearing of the murder of his wife the peo-
pie In the vicinity of his late home are not
at all surprised at his act, and recall an
incident W hich occurred during his residence
there that wonId lead to the belief that he
contemplated carrying on q wholesale pol
soning. Some time during January he ad-
vertised in the papers of the city for n
young girl companion for his wife. To a
young lady who called in answer to the
lad" Wayler informed her that he wanted
girl who was unincumbered by family
ties. He did not want to employ a person
who W as possessed of immediate relatives.
He ended the interview by requesting the
girl to call 81 q stated time. which she did,
but found that the family bad left tho city.