The morning call., 1894-07-07

thought, and so thought his fair bride,
Mrs Marion McAlIister Wise. But there
is an element in a secret marTiage-an in
tangible somethiDg-that is more explosive
than dynamite; and in this case. as in
many others, it burst the knot of secrecy
wide open and cast the news upon the
world.
It is perfectly safe to say, however. that
the information was not disseminated Dy
DR.. Wagner nor by his lovely pride, for
there Is a sad tragedy so "unremotely
near" to the joyous event of Thursday
which would stop them from giving out to
the public the news of their neW-fOund
happiness.
The story Of that tragedy was recently
told in The CALL. Less than eight
months ago Mrs. Helen Wagner, the heart
broken wife of the now beaming benedict,
lay dying of morphine poisoning at her
home in this city. She had taken the drug
to end her life, because she could find 20
hope in liVing-nothing in all the world
but black despair.
The woman had only been married to
DIR. Wagner for five years, and according
to her dying words she had loved him all
that time fondy and weIl-leved him with
q gentle and yet a stronger and a more
abiding affection than he may ever know
again. But there was no response-at
least not during the last two years OF her
life. Her husbands affection haf gone
out to another, and the another" who
Is the cause of so much heart grief in
this world was Mrs. McAllister Wise. She
became the friend of DR.. and Mrs. Wagner
,o;-
But Mrs. Wagner did not long remain in
the belief that Mrs. Wise was her friend.
and so husband and wife separated, the
woman to pine away in isolation and de-
spair and the man to bask in the light Of
his new love.
This state of affairs lasted for several
months and finally eliminated in DR..
Wagner securing a divorce from his wife
on The gTonnd of incompatibiity of temper
When this had been accomplished Mrs
Wagner grew more respondent than ever,
as letter written by her from Del Monte
TO Mrs hreulzmann of this city will attest
Dear Doctress: 1t has long been my intention
to write you and speak from the bottom of my
heart Then, again, ] thought what for open
Ing the wound anew as now nothing can be
changed. Ii is best l let my husband quietly
go. G6TUaDS at some Time aU DOuT Will come
when he sees that lie did not act rightly by me-
My heart is often sick to despair, and l not
even now can conceive I am so lonely and with.
oUt protection in the world Why has good
God two years ago, when | was so SICK not
called me TO him? There would have been
spared me many bitter and sad hour. AS
much as my husband has hurt my feelings l
have no grudge against him. love him Just
as much as ever. and the thought that eventu-
ally we again Will come together Will give me
strength 10 bear my heavy lot. L wish
God would put an end to my existence. then all
would be relieved. / would right away un-
dergo an operation since my life has now no
great value and my only thought Is soon to lie
by MY Harry bog.
After the woman had taken her life this
letter was produced by Mrs. Kreutzmann,
and it succeeded in thwarting Dr. Wag-
neT's mighty efforts to have the Coroner s
jury bring in verdict of accidental death.
They not only did not so agree, but three
of the jurors returned a verdict declaring
that Dr. Wagner had been instrumental in
causing his wife's death. OF course,
nothing came of that. and like all other
tragedies that startle the public for time
it was soon forgotten.
The engagement Of DR.. Wagner and Mrs.
Wise was announced in THE CALL on the
9th Of June, but at that time the doctor did
not think the marriage would take place
before November. II it had been post
poned until that month it would have
marked an interesting anniversary, as Mrs
Wagner ended her unhappy life on the 18th
of last November. But love chafes at de-
lay, and so the affair came off at the home
Of the bride, near San Rafael, on Thursday.
The second Mrs. Wagner is the daughter
of the late Hall McAlister, who In his
lifetime was one of the greatest jurists in
California, and she is the niece OF Ward
McAllister, the social leader of New York.
Some years ago she married Lieutenant
Wise, but he did not live long after the
union. The lady is we'll known in society
circles here and is considered to be very
bright and attractive woman.
DR.. Wagner is a specialist who is said
to make enormous Gums of money in his
practice. At the time he announced hi;
engagement 20 Mrs. Wise, be also stated
that he intended to start shortly for Lon
don. where he had been called TO trea
Henry Irving, the actor. There seems to