Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-20
John Wagner Gan Throw no Light
on Mystery.
DOES NOT KNOW WHO ROBBED HIM
Recovered Consciousness for Short
Time Yesterday, But Remembers
Nothing of the Assault and Robbery
Reward Has Been Increased.
From Tuesdays Daily.

IRON tuesdays Daily.
The hopes which have been held by
some that John Wagner who was SO
brutally assaulted and robbed in this
city Saturday night, would, on regain
ing consciousness, be able to say who
committed the murderous act, were
shattered yesterday afternoon, when
Mr.. Wagner reused for while from
the stupor in which he had been since
being found Sunday morning, and
talked to his relatives and to Mayor
III. Picker, who CHANGED to be at
the unfortunate mans bedside at the
time Mr.. Wagner cannot throw any
light whatever upon the affair and
does not even realize that he was
struck and all but killed This makes
the case the harder for the police to
solve, and thus far nothing has de-
veloped which can give the slightest
clue to the identity Of the brutes who
attacked the aged man, but no stone
will be left unturned In the search for
the party or parties who are respon-
sible for the deed. and when they are
found everything possible will be
done to bring them to justice and Sc
cure their punishment according to
law.
Rouses From Lethargy.
Throughout the day Sunday Mr..
Wagner lay almost without moving,
and Sunday night was spent in com
parative quiet, but Monday the fever
resulting from his exposure to the ele-
ments during all of Saturday night be-
gan to make him delirious, and it was
hard to keep him in his bed at times
During the forenoon, however. he
seemed to improve and about o'clock
he regained consciousness for few
minutes and was perfectly rational as
regards what took place before the
awful blow was struck which deprived
him of his senses and almost took his
life.
Remembers Nothing.
When Mr.. Wagner became concious
his wife attempted to converse with
him in German, and asked him who
struck him. His reply was that he had
not been struck was not injured. This
showed that he did not remember any
of the details of the assault. Mayor
Picker, who was in the room at the
time, talked with Mr.. Wagner, but he
could receive no satisfactory reply
when he asked him If he had any
trouble on his way home Saturday
night.
"Who came home with you," was
asked.
Lewis Deidrich and Ernest Koch,
was the immediate reply. Mr.. Deidrich
accompanied Mr.. Wagner and Mr.
Koch to the corner Of Vine and Sec
ond street and then went on down
Vine street to his home. Mr.. Koch was
with Mr.. Wagner until they reached
the G. F. T. Schwabkey residence
where Mr. Koch lives. He then went
inside, and Mr.. Wagner started on
home, distance of little more than
100 feet, but was waylaid before he
reached the gate.
did you see anyone after Mr.. Koch
left you," asked Mayor Picker
after Mr.. Wagner had answered the
first two questions. and the reply was,
mo"
Several more attempts were made to
restore memory to the unfortunate
man, but 1t is clear that he was struck
by an assailant who was waiting for
him in the dark or crept up behind
him. The first blow evidently deadened
all sense Of understanding and rem.
dered the man unconscious, after
which he was beaten more and then
robbed.
No Tangible Clue.
Any number of theories have been
advanced as to the probable manner
in which the robbery was committed
and by whom 1t was done, and several
people have been found who remember
having seen people in the vicinity OF
the saloon about II o'clock, acting In
a suspicious manner. but as yet there
is nothing tangible upon which the
police can work. However, everything
possible is being and will be done to
unearth the criminals and bring them
to Justice, and the whole community
or at least the great majority which
favors the rule of law and order, is as
one man in sympathy with the police
in their efforts to locate those who
committed the awful crime.
Reward Is Increased.
This pprnino nIovor D;olylo,, ,,,&1,o,