The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-09-11
MANIAC KILLS AND BURNS.
Heavily Armed Maniac Finally Sub
dued by Gendarme with Sabre.

Muehlhausen, Germany, Sept. o.
Fifteen persons were killed here
when a school teacher named Wag-
ner ran amuck last night with sever
al revolvers and a plentiful supply
of ammunition. Eight persons died
shortly after Wagner opened up his
fusillade and seven others of 20
wounded succumbed today. Four
more persons are in a precarious
condition.
Wagner previously had killed his
wife and four children in the oearby
town of Degerloch, and then came
to Muehlhausen to continue his dead
ly work.
When Wagner finally was overpow-
cred by infuriated townspeople with
clubs and pitchforks it was believed
he was insane. A commission of ex-
amining judges after a hearing
when Wagner nationally answered
their questions, declared the muir
derer normal, mentally.
Although Wagner"s arm had to be
amputated because of wounds his
condition is said not to be dangerous.
He had 800 cartridges when he open
ed fire upon the townspeople and Of
these he fired 80.
The maniac took refuge in stable
where he killed all the cattle. He
was finally overpowered, after he
had exhausted all the 250 cartridges
with which he had provided himself.
The enraged villagers wreaked their
vengeance upon him by clubbing him
and stabbing him with pitchforks.
He will probably die.
When he entered Muehlhausen it
was not known that he was fugitive
murderer. 1t was only after the wild
scenes which had been enacted here
that the police went to his apartment
in Degerloch, where he has been
teaching, and found the bodies of his
wife and children.
After he had set fire to the first
building in the village Wagner open
ed fire with his revolvers on every
one he met or who appeared at the
windows of the houses.
The villagers believed the place
had been attacked by a band of rob-
bers. Some of them rushed to the
church and furiously rang the bells,
while others dashed off to the near
est barracks and asked for assistance
by the troops.
In the meantime village police
man. backed up by some Of the more
courageous citizens, rushed on Wag-
ner. who stood in the middle Of the
main street with a mask over his face
and an army revolver in each hand
and another pair in reserve in his
belt.
The policeman was twice wounded
By bullets, but continued to run TO-
ward Wagner. although armed only
with sabre. He finally reached and
fei;ed the maniac while he was re-
loading his revolver. Wagner con-
tinued the fight while on the ground
and wounded the policeman third
t:me.
Some peasants armed with rustic
weapons then reached the scene and
fractured his skull, as we'll as sever
ing one Of his hands.
Wagner was known to be heavy
drinker, but his acquaintance in the
neighborhood had no suspicion Of his
madness. He appears to have cOntem-
plated his deed for a long time.
Before leaving Degerloch, where
he had killed his wife and four chill
dren, he forwarded rambling letter
to a Stuttgart newspaper in which he
wrote:
Il believe there is no God 1 am
the devils ally. | wish I could tor
ture every one within reach of my
pistol, but I know / can't get all.
have slept for years with a dagger
and a revolver beneath my pillow