The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-08
A. j. Wagner, EmpIoye at State
Hospital, Arrested.
Was Carrying Away the Stores
When Appreciated.
He Is LET OFF EASILY.
Fined SIS and Costs on Plea of
Guilty.
Thought He Was Entitled to
Living as Boarded at Home.

A. J. Wagner, who says his real
name Is Joseph A Wagner, a former
resident of Republic county, and said
10 be son of former probate Judge
and wealthy farmer of Republic ooun-
", was arrested Friday at the Topeka
state hospital for the insane. where
ne was employed as night watch
man, and pleaded guilty in the To-
peka city court Friday afternoon to
the charge of larceny OF groceries and
other supplies from the state store
rooms.
He was fined SIS and costs, amount
ing to nearly 800, which he PAID He
was discharged from his position at
the asylum
Wagner admitted that his steaiings
from the state had been carried on
over a period of more than a year, but
claimed that he had taken only about
$50 worth of supplies. The authori-
ties believe that he has taken much
more than this. When arrested Friday
morning as he was leaving his work
he had 10 pounds of beans and
pounds of rice which he was taking
to his home. He admitted that it
was his custom to take home some
thing every morning, and by means
of duplicate keys which he had Sc
cured. he had access to nearly all the
immense stores kept at the asylum.
Among other things which he adj
mitted having taken were shoes and
articles of clothing.
The peculiar thing about 1t IL that
Wagner was not in any financial need.
He was getting fair salary as night
watchman; he owned his own home,
and several other pieces of property,
and had $500 in the bank. It is said
that his father on last Christmas made
him a present Of 81 900 in cash
Wagner is 20 years old. He has
lived in Topeka six or seven years,
and for three or four years has been
employed at the state asylum. He
enjoyed the utmost confidence of
Superintendent Bidd1e. When IN
formation reached the authorities of
pected OF stealing state supplies. they
refused to beheve it. and attributed
the reports to the slanderous tongue
of some of Wagner's enemies. Re-
ports Of this nature are often started
among the employees. where consider
However, close watch of Wagner
was kept. Wagner lives with his wife
and four-year-o1d child in small
cottage near the state hospital
grounds, and it was arranged that De-
tective Judkins of the Topeka city
search the man when the time cams
for him to go of work Friday morn
ing. Just as Wagner was. leaving the
buildings, he was arrested, and to-
gether with his load of beans and
rice, taken to the police headquarters
Although Wagner's offenSe made
him liable to punishment for burg
larry and grand larceny, which would
have meant a term in the peniten-
tiary, the officers decided to allow
him to plead guilty to petit larceny.
Wagner said to the court when
called upon to explain his acts: my
wife used to ask me whether it was
right for me to bring that stuff home,
and I told her it was, because all en-
ployes were supposed to have their
board from the state. and as I did not
take my board at the institution. 1t
was right for me to take the supplies
home to be cooked and eaten
Wagner went by the name of
"John', while in Topeka, and was on
the payroll as "a. J. Wagner" On
the witness stand he testified that his
real name was Joseph A. Wagner. but
he failed to explain satisfactorily why
he was using a different name.