The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-09-24
STRANGE. CASE
OFFREDERICK
WEGENER
No Jewelry on Body Of Sup
posed Suicide IS Always
Carried 81, 900 Worth.

NEW YORK, Sept. 24-On Septem-
Der 12 there was printed in the news
papers story of the mysterious 6isap.
| dealt in gems and rare coins. On Sat
urday Wegener's body was found in the
bushes by the side of a lonely road
near Bloomsbury, N J., a revolver lying
by the right hand. and a bullet wound
in the head. G. M. Pidock, the coroner
of Bloomsbury. after viewing the bod,
and examining the condition CT the
bushes in it's vicinity, decided that
Wegeper had committed suicide, and.
without holding an inquest. gave per-
mission for the burial of the body.
All that seemed of any value 10 the
coroner found in Wegeners pockets
was fifty cents in familiar small change
and a number of odd-looking coins
lettered in heather words, and vial
which contained some pieces of red
and white glass. The last acquaintance
who saw Wegener reported that he
then wore, as was ais custom, rings and
! other jewelry worth about s1,uDG. and
carried, as usual, valuable watch. Nc
such property is reported as found OIL
the body.
To that acquaintance. who asked
Wegener where he was going, he re-
piled, ITO hell" That was in tke early
part of this month, but 1t was not until
the 18th that he bought a round-tri7
ticket to a point near where he was
found dead. and he had some purpose
of returning, for the return coupon
was found in his pocket.
Where he was between the 1st anG
the 18th of the month, and how he
disposed of his watch and jewery may
never be known. for the Bloomsbury
coroner did not inquire, and Wegener' s
distressed relatives will make no ef-
fort to learn.
Wegener was a person of some pleas
ing, some puzzling eccentricities. For
| twenty years he had told a story which
| his friends believed--that his interest
in gems began with his finding lot OF
them thrown in his way when boy by
some French sailors trying to escape
from pursuing French naval officers
For the last dozen years he had become
known to some reputable dealers in ole
and rare coins and unset gems as coll
lector of such objects with good
knowledge of the value of the things he
traded in.
The first inquiry about him, aftel
his disappearance about a month ago
came to the Sun office from reputabl,
dealer in old coins, who had traded will
Wegener. The dealers suspicious hat
been aroused by inquiries made at hi
office for Wegener by men whose ap
| xaoo did nof Indicate ON 1,ooaef in
terest in Wegener's stock in trade A
that time a reporter asked Sohn
Huser, commission merchant, OF II
Duane street, who Is Wegener's broth
er-in-law, If he had heard from tn
missing man. Mr.. Huser had hear
from the man to whom Wegener ha
said that he was going TO he'll. MI
Huser, when seen today, said:
"On Saturday telegram stating tina
Wegener's body had been found wa
delivered at the office of John Riefe
president of the Consumers Brewin
Company. Mr.. ,Riefe was not at hi
office. SO his secretary forwarded tn
telegram to mes On Sunday went t
Bloomsbury and made arrangement
for the burial at Greenville, N. j., to
morrow. I accept the theory Of tn
coroner that Fred shot himself. Yes.
did ask about Fred's watch and jew
elry, but nothing of such kind wa
found on the body. Fred had consider
able money too. but only fifty cents /
money was found in his pockets. Th
things in the little bottle found in
leather case in his pocket have bee
said to be diamonds. 1 do not know
have not examined them. See. ar
drawing a check for the Bloomsbur
undertaker's bill-that is all 1 can d
for poor Fred. A strange character
and strange end. eh?"