The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-05-22
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN BOONE
TOWNSHIP.
Jesse Warren Wagner Cats His Wife,
Tbrost, and His Own.

This community was shocked OF
: Tuesday evening by Mr.. Chas
Murray bringing in word from
, Boone township that Jesse Warner
Wagner, in fit Of insane jealousy
: had killed his wife, Manora Wagner
: himself, and tried to kill his five
year old son. They lived abou,
two miles from Portersville, on a
farm OF Mrs. Wagner's mother. the
widow Of Ben. Kelso. She had
oullt nice six room cottage for
their use, and tried to make it pleas
ant for them, giving him the use and
management of 100 acres of land
he was extremely and foolishlv
Jealous Of his wife, and quarreled
with her whenever she tall ed with
any OF the neighbor men, while she
was generally looked upon as an
excellent woman. She had left
MIN, and went to her mothers on a
neighboring farm several times on
account of it, but for the sake ofi
their only child had gone back to
him again. A few weeks ago
man entered Mrs. Kelso's house.
masked, and attempted to frighten
her. She tore his mask of, and
put him out, and recognized him as
wagner, but in describing him. to
prevent his arrest, said he had no
beard, while Wagner had a nous.
tache. She told neighbors she ,
knew who it was, but would not
mention his name. This worried
him considerably, and he repeated
her description of him to MIR. / d
L. keiso, and said his mustache {
was all that saved him from arrest q
de seemed afraid she would have {
him arrested, and it made partial '
" unsettled and cross mind worse
Coroner Bigham was Immediately
notified and went out Tuesday night q
and held an inquest. 1t was an n
awful sight. The dining floor, 4
where she was killed, was nearly "
covered with blood, and blood spots u
we're upon the table and wall. The a
bloody razor, with which the double h
lradegy was done, all grimy with
lrled blood, was at hand The S
viie's throat was cut on each side SO e.
hat the carotid artery was severed u
~! the wind pipe in front was not O
evered, the razor seeming almost Il
Q have skipped along the center Of ii
ne throat, but his throat was cut o.
lear through to the neck bone-in i
act his head was nearly cut of +
he inquest lasted from IL O'Clock Il
I night till daylight, and the fol- Il
'wlngls the evidence adduced: 1t
MARY kELs0,-mOther of Mrs pc
Vagner-They have been married St
velve years. Had trouble eight m
ears ago. He tried to kill all Of a
8 with knife then. He would Of de
n quarrel at her, and curse her "
i've years ago he shot at her sew.
al times with a revolver, and came
and kicked and knocked out pa
indow lights. Threatened to take an
y life then, and several other on
mes. His wife, Nora, left him
onday and came to my house
I'd staid there. Eat breakfast
ere tuesday morning, and went F.,
L. l.: kelso's. He said "I've Ma
i made any threats this time y mic
ley agreed to separate. He came Wi
OK about 3 O'Clock, said again. =.
we made no threats Left and t pa,
Ok Benny, his son, with him to VIII,
home. She then came home bro
q had not been gone more than w9 n
g minutes, when l heard the rea, !,
ID Benny, scream. l ran down and
q met Benny, and then came on our
wn; the door was locked; Nora wat
8 lying on dining room floor dead cry cry
n throat cut, and a razor near gave
body. He had spells frequent ritus
and was very jealous Of her. gray p'
Nv gun OH her last June, and reco
eatened to kill her. He tried 70 and
himself three years 400 hv per
Iging himself hnt oro .I drap
K hands cut him down. She nc
my daughter; was % years old
Y 70. lie was 33 years old in
ruary. "
/. l.. kELso-Saw Jesse Warren 5
sner at 8 A. NJ. May 10, 1896.
'eared to be in trouble. PIT 81
e in my stable, and said "Same
trouble. Nora has left me for q
!: Would rather die than leave :.
chiId.O Said this aovor.l s:.i sc