The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-11
A BROCK WAY VICTIM.
Fred Wagner, All Ex-Inmate of
Elmira, Commits Suicide,
Was Discharged Crippled in Body
and a Mental Wreck.
swallowed Carbolic Acid in the
Presence of His Brother.

Frederick Wagner. "A German, twenty
eight years old, committed suicide short
ly before midnight last night by taking
carbolC acid. The deed was committed
at the home of his brother. Paul. on the
top floor of the five-story tenement house
~ First avenue, in the presence of both
the brother and his wife
The suicide was a graduate of the Ell
mira Reformatory. lie received his
final release on June 10. The motive.
therefore, for taking his life could not
have been fear OF being returned to the
tOrtures which he had often told had
been inflicted upon him.
Wagner. since his return from Elmira,
was an object Of pity. Crippled, broken
down in health, and with he con-
seriousness that he was being constantly
pointed out as an object lesson of the
refining and reformatory influence Of
BrOckwayism preyed upon his mind, I'M
til he concluded TO end his sufferings and
shame. That Is the explanation made
by the surviving brother.
Frederick Wagner had the advantage
of good education. His character was
spotless, and he enjoyed the highest eS-
teen Of a wide circle of acquaintances
and the fullest confidence of his employ
ers. He was bookkeeper and confidential
clerk for felt manufacturing firm in
Eighteenth street for number of years.
He was paid good salary dressed well
and his companionship WAS ought by
young men and women of the wealthest
German families o fthe east side.
ne fell victim to the fiattery Of his
friends, and pressed for funds TO meet
an obligation of honor he signed the
name of a member Of the firm employing
him to a check for 500. He had in
tended to take up the check before the
knowledge of its utterance could have
reached the firm and his crime aNnOgp1
But he had miscdlculated. Before the
week had ended the firm was in full
possession of the facts, and Wagner was
a prlsoner-a disgraced felon.
on Sept. 20, 1891, he pleaded guilty to
forgery in the second degree, and on the
petition for mercy made by his former
Fitzgerald to the Elmira Reformatory.
During the first year Of his inCarcera-
ton he wrote regularly to his brother
Paul. He was repentant and promised
to redeem his reputation and wife out
by good deeds and proofs of reformation
the stain on his honor.
Suddenly the letters ceased. Nothing
more was heard from him until few
eral Supt. Brockway wrote to Paul, the
brother. that Frederick was to be
paroled. on Nov 20 he was released
and returned to New York.
said Paul to an "Evening World' re-
porter this morning. that the hollow
eyed, paleIdeeu, plllaDle wreck VINO
came to my home was my former hand
some brother. My wife and / cried
ourselves nearly blind. he was such a
shadow of his former self. broken down
IN. health and spirits and crippled for
life.
He appreciated his condition, too, and
was naturally remorseful. There was
such Wild haunted look in his eyes
as you often see in those of man who
has become desperate and lost the last
vistage of faith in the humanity and
charity of the worlG.