The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-24


a lifelong friend To Mrs. Wagner and
her family. assisted in the search Tor
her last night. He gave the following
version Of the affair this morning;
Mr.. wagner and his wife, I under
stand. had just returned from New
York Yesterday he took apartments in
the Chaplin. HIS wife was TO have met
him there at { o'clock. after spending
the afternoon with Mrs. Gatz Helm. at
the Kenesaw. About 5.45. I understand,
Mrs. Wagner left the Kenesaw, stating
that she intended meeting her husband
at their new apartments. She did not
report. and after waiting al hour Mr..
Wagner became uneasy He imme-
diately began 10 query friends
"Hc appeared distraught from the first
and finally said that his wife must have
committed suicide. He insisted upon a
search Of Rock Creek Park. especially
that portion about the new Connecticut
avenue bridge. once Mrs. Wagner had
remarked to him casually, he said, thar
Il would be an excellent place TO COM
nit suicide
About midnight 1 started out at the
head Of the searching party. consisting
of the husband, Policeman w. S. Weber,
r y. E T Hanson, a close friend to the
family. and J. Gales Moore. cashier OF
the National Metropolitan Bank. the
missing womans uncle.
Search Near Bridges.
"The husband made direct fer the
new bridge and seemed relieved when
his wife's body was not found there.
After this we searched every other
bridge and corner in the park. We then
returned to my house about . o'clock
and telephoned 10 every hospital and
police station. IN addition to the mutual
friends Of the family. Nothing could
Be learned Of Mrs. Wagners where
abouts. her husband all the while In
sisting that she had slain herself. About
day he became 50 wrought up that he
was placed under the care of physicians,
Early this morning we were told that
q body OF a woman had been found, and
twas at the Tenth precinct station await
ing identified ton. Mr.. Moore. Mr. Han
som. and myself Immediately went there
and identified Il as Mrs. Wagner's s"
Found By Zoo Employees.
The body Of Mrs, Wagner was found
by JChn J. Turner and William 3. VII
son. employed at the Geological Park,
as they we're en- route to work this morn
ing at O'Clock. 1t was lying on the
( left side, a pool OF frozen blood sure
grounding the woman head. The right
farm was raised Just as when the fatal
shot was fired The womaus index
finger stood straight out from the hand,
-She position assumed Immediately afIe'
the shot perhaps, while the other fin
gers were closed
She was attired in handsome tailor
made brown suit. with muff and hat 10
OF them calling cards were found, lead
ing Immediately 20 the discovery of her
identity. The pistol, which was stu
clutched in her hand, was a practically
new -SS-caliber Smith & Wesson. with
only one empty cartridge
The suppOsition Is that Mrs. Wagner,
after leaving her friends at the keue-
saw, at Sixteenth and Irving streets.
walked down about three blocks toward
the park, lay down in a lonely spot in
the road and took her life. The neares-
house YVES a block away. and on ac-
count of the storm the shot was not
Ihesrd by anyone
Detective on Case.
Detective Green, Of the Tenth pre-
uinct. was placed upon the case TO as
certain a motive for the act. He re
ported that II vas. apparently, caused
by Mrs. Wagners worry over financial
matters. the sale of his business and
the prospect that the couple would have
10 be more economical in future Here
-tofore, the couple have occupied an ele-
CANT apartment in the WOOdley, ard
have lived in the best OF style. ON the
recent visit TO New York. IL IS said
that the wife had hopes that her hu5-
band would retrieve some Of his losses, I
but IN this she was disappointed.
On their return to the city Tuesday
they took uD their abode two days WITH /
friends. and yesterday M. Wagner iJ /
said 10 have leased a more modest fat. Z
which they intended moving into last
night. Mrs Wagner carried a suit case
there earlier IN the afternoon, but failed
TO return for the O'Clock dinner en-
gaSement,
No funeral arrangements have been
made. Coroner hewitt permitted the
body TO be turned over TO an undertaken
this morning, and shortly before noon /
It was taken from the Tenth precinct !
station. Both the husband and The /
members OF the dead WOmans famili"s I
are in such CndiJiOn that no statement I
can be obtained from them.
Mrs. Wagner was the daughter OF Mrs /
Julia NJ. NOUTse. Of 1920 L street. and 4
has one sister, Ida NOurse, and "a broth |
er, Robert NOUrse. She was a niece /
Of former Chief Of Police Major William /
G. Moore.
Worry Over Money.
Her. uncle. J. Gales Moore, speaking
for the family. said this morning:
We can only attribute her act 70 /
worry over money matters. She had
been depressed of late, although none
of her friends ever thought she could .
do q thing ike this. She was an unuslI-
and the shock has Frustrated her fam
1ly and friends She must have been