The Washington herald., 1908-01-25
WOMEN COURT DEATH
Mrs. Wagner and Mrs. Har-
ley End Their Lives.
ADOPTED DIFFERENT METHODS
Former shoots Herself and Latter
Inhales Illuminating Gas-ThOmas
Rowe Almost AsDhyXiated when
Found in Room IN seventh Street,
and Is Believed TO BE Dying.

and Is Believed TO BE Dying.
Two women are dead. both self-slain,
one by a revolver bullet. the other the
victim of Illuminating gas, and man.
also poisoned By inhaiing gas, but through
accident, lies in the hospital probably IN
extremis. This trio of casualties is yes
terday's record of tragedy in Washington
Mrs Howard g. Wagner. the wife OF
local dealer III Photographic supplies, Who
ended her life by shooting herself In the
temple with revolver. was found dead,
halt buried in a snowdrift, in the roadway
near Eighteenth and Irving streets north
west early yesterday morning
Mrs. Annie Harley who committed sui
eide by inhalng Illuminating gas while at
her home. Sl3-l5 Ninth street, was discov-
cred unconscious in the morning by "a
servant in her employ.
Victim of Accident.
The physicians al Emergency Hospital
al late hour last night, reported but
slight chance for the recovery OF Thomas
Rowe. ironworker twenty-eigLt years old,
who was accidentally overcome by illumi-
mating gas. yesterday morning. IN his
room on the second floor of a boarding
mouse. 424 Seventh street southwest.
Rowe is supposed TO have accidentally
turned on the gas in his room ia
lighting cigarette. The ashes OF
the cigarette were still on the gas jet yes
terday morning when the occupants OF
the house detected the oder of escaping
gas and forced an entrance into the
room.
The man had been boarding at the place
but "a day During that time he IS said
10 have been much under the influence Of
liquor II is believed that after lighting
his cigarette he exungushed the Tight
and in doing SO turned on the sas again.
Rowe was Immediately hurried 90 the
Emergency Hospital AT an early hour
this morning he was still ia a critical
condition, rot having gained conscious
ness.
Mental Depression the Cause.
The body OF Mrs. Wagner was d-coy-
cred In the roadway overlooking ths Zoo
Park early u .he morning Cuehrd in
her hand VIZ, ,he revolver wItH Ua.eL she
mad inflicted the wound in her temple,
causing. perhaps. instant death
Mental depression caused by recent
financial reverses OF her husband. a we'll
known T street photographer is sup
posed TO have been the cause Of toe rash
deed
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner had just returned
from New York City and had taken
rooms at the Chaplin apartment Mrs.
Wagner spent Thursday afternoon visit
ing her mother. who resides at 1920 L
street northwest, where her three-yeaT-
old daughter. Margaret. had been spend
ing several days. She then went 20 ~isit
Mrs. Gatz Helm at The kenesaW apart
ments
Nothing was heard Of her from the
time she left that place until her body,
frozen stIn by the extreme cold was
found yesterday morning.
Husbands UnayaiIinE Search.
When Mrs. Wagner failed 10 return 20
the Chaplin Thursday night her husband
became greatly alarmed. With Policeman
". 8. Weber and several friends he made
thorough search in the vicinity Of the
Connecticut avenue bridge. The search
was continued until . o'clock in the morn
ing. The party then gave UP the search.
Inquiry was then made at all the hos
pitals for the missing woman.
Mr. Wagner became frantic with grief
yesterday morning when he learned that
his wife's body had been discovered IN
the snow by two employees Of the Zoo
while on their way 10 work. He is said
to have become quite irrational, and dur
ing the entire day was closely watched
by his friends.
Coroner Neyitt made an examination Of
the body yesterday. After hearing the
/ reports Of Detectives Green and Evans
VINO were assigned TO the case, he issued
a certificate Of death from suicide.
Continued i'll health is believed 20 have
been the motive which caused Mrs. Annie
Harley 20 end her life. The woman is
said to have suffered from infammatory
rheumatism for some time and a few
weeks ago was obliged to take to her bed
/ because Of grip.
Discovered by Servant.
tD iE4bIS0dA NENkr liNNtNtIt sic y
said to have appeared 10 be quite well
She went to her room Immediately fol
lowing the departure of her husband,
/ Capt Charles Harley, engineer on night
| duty at the Winder Building. Seventeenth
and F streets. to so to his place Of en-
! ployment.
Yesterday morning a servant employed
at the Harley home detected the odor OF
gas Searching through the different
| rooms, she found that It was coming from
! the apartment occupied by Mrs Harley
/ Opening the door, she discovered the
woman unconscious on the bed, with the
/ gas escaping at full force from a tube
/ that lay beside her head.
/ The Emergency Hospital ambulance
was Immediately summoned, Mrs Har-
/ ley was hurried to that institution, wher,
| efforts were made to revive her The at
! tempt was unsuccessful, the woman dying
! two hours later
/ Despite the evidence at hand indicating
| careful preparation no notes or letter.
| telling of her intended act have beer
! found at the home Of the woman De
| spondeucy because Of i'll health is tbs
| only motive that her relatives can assigT
as the cause Of her act