Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-03-16
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON. FRIDAY, MARCH 49, 1917.
ARMED LUNAT|C 1ERROR|zES GOVERNORS 0FF|CE|
Drives Out All Occupants Holds Sway
When Persuaded to Surrender by W. Calder Legislative
poyeWas Peaceaby Jail and Will Probably Committed
to AsyuCaims He Merely Sought Protection Intending
to Kill Anybody-Tells Story Of Life.

Crazed with the obsession that he
was to be burned at the stake "as a
Roman sacrifice" Charles Lorenz
Wagner, 33 years old, a logger, Gre
ated CONSERVATION in the governors
office about 1880 Tuesday afternoon
by fourishing revolver and declar-
ing he would shoot anybody who pre-
vented him from seeing the governor.
For more than half an hour he had
the Office to himself, the governor
and other occupants hurrying to
nearby Offices for safety. Finally A.
w. Calder of Vancouver, a legisla-
tive employe, talking to him through
the window from the lawn outside
the statehouse, persuaded him to toss
out his gun and cartridges and to
come down ladder that had been
placed at the window and give him.
self up.
With Calder, Sheriff Jack Clifford
and some of the crowd that had gsth-
cred about the building attracted by
the disturbance, Wagner walked
calmly to the county Jail. explaining
en- route that he had no intention Of
killing the governor, but merely
wanted his protection. He elabo-
rated that statement further Tues
day night, stoutly maintaining that
he was being chased by q mob that
wanted to burn him at the stake and
he went to the governors ONCE for
protection. He will be taken before
an insanity commissioH in Q day or
two and probably committed to the
steilacoom asylum.
Worked It Bordeaux.
Wagner told the county, authorities
he was 80 years old. that he came
originally from Milwaukee. Wis.,.
and that he worked 1T Camp 4. Bor-
deaux, q couple Of days about
month ago under the name Of F. L.
Miller. He said he came to Olympia
on the noon train Tuesday. intending
to take q boat down-sound, and left
his logger's OUTFIT at the Northern
Express once. when he learned there
was no steamer for Seattle until I
o'clock in the afternoon.
Wagner's peculiar actions were
first noticed by A. J. Frisch at the
Olympia Cafeteria and Frisch ran
down the street and notified PATROL
man Peck and then Sheriff Clifford.
Both Patrolmen Peck and Hall went
up to the cafeteria, Peck encounter
ing the man as he entered the door.
"I'm not the man you want"
Wagner said to Peck, brushing his
coat back at the same time and dis
playing his revolver, though not
drawing it. Instead of taking the
man into custody then. Peck and
Hall went into Hugh Ross drug
store adjoining, where the former
phoned to the sheriff and then went
down the street after Chief Of Police
Harry Cusack.
Wagner remained standing in the
doorway of the cafeteria for several
minutes and then walked out and
around the corner and toward the
statehouse about half q block ahead
Of Chief Cusack, Hall and Peck.
About half way up the capitol steps.
Chief Cusack hailed him and Wag-
ner pulled his gun and told Cusack
to stay where he was.
Then Wagner proceeded on into the
building and stood in the corridor
for several minutes near several
Tags. while State Treasurer Sherman
talked to him. I'm a Mason and
I'm going to have this out with the
governor" Wagner told him.
Enters Governors Onice.
Chief Cusack went around to the
south entrance Of the building and
as he approached Wagner. the latter
rushed into the governors ONCE.
Irwin w. Zieghaus. private secretary
to the governor, tried to prevent him
entering the governors private office,
but Wagner pulled his gun out of q
sack Of oranges he was carrying,
covered" Zieghaus and declared:
I'm a Mason and I'm going to
have this out with the governor. I'll
plug the first man who tries to stop
me-" Besides Zieghaus. David Welty,
an accountant, Major Walter Beals
of the national guard, and Chief Gu
sack were in the outer office at the
time.
Keeping Zieghaus and Welty COW
cred with the gun, Wagner backed