Introduction
Charles Ford was born in New Jersey around 1870. Charles Ford appears to have been living in South Philadelphia and working as a huckster when the Census was taken in 1900. Effie May “May” Wagner was living in South Philadelphia with her son Casper and then husband Frederick. This relationship appears to have ended not long after the 1900 census. The 1901 City Directory shows him at 125 Chestnut Street. By 1902 Charles Ford and May Wagner were living together in Camden, at 1010 Carpenter Street. The 1903 Directory shows them at 203 Chestnut Street. The 1904 version gives his address at 304 Mechanic Street, 1905 at 121 Chestnut Street, and 1907 has him at 1074 South 2nd Street. Charles Ford continued to work as a huckster during these years.
The 1908 and subsequent city directories show Charles Ford operating a restaurant at 123 Kaighn Avenue. The 1910 Census indicates that this was an oyster saloon. The Census and the above-cited City Directories indicate that Charles Ford and Effie May Wagner were living as husband and wife. The 1910 Census shows her sons Casper and another son, Harry, had the name of Ford as their surname.
Charles Ford drank heavily. He may have been a wife-beater, all we have in that point is hearsay. What is known is that Effie May Wagner ended their relationship and went to Laurel Springs, New Jersey to be with another man, Robert Wilson. Charles Ford’s reaction, on March 14, 1912, was to go to Laurel Springs, shoot Wilson, shoot Effie May Wagner, and shoot himself. He managed to kill Effie May, wound Wilson and wound himself. Wilson and Ford recovered from their injuries. Charles Ford was tried for Effie May Wagner’s murder, found guilty, and executed on February 18, 1913.
Murder Report
Harrisburg Patriot —
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Shooting Victim Better
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Two Parties to Camden Tragedy Will Recover
Indications last night pointed to the recovery of Charles Ford, who tried suicide after murdering Mrs. May Effie Wagner and wounding Robert M. Wilson, at Laurel Springs, on Thursday. Doctors at Cooper Hospital, Camden, say that one of the two bullets he fired into his head is lodged at the base of the brain. The other made a scalp wound. He was resting easy yesterday, as was also Wilson, who is at the same institution. Wilson, too, has a good chance for recovery.
According to the county authorities, Wilson, after some differences at home, went to board with Mrs. Wagner. Ford, sullen because the woman had left him, learned of this condition, imbibed whisky freely, and while intoxicated tried double murder and suicide.
Alleged Murderers to the Camden Bar
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Three Prisoners Will Appear for Trial at the April Term of Court Beginning Next Tuesday
With the opening of the Camden courts for the April term on Tuesday, arrangements will be made for the trials of three alleged murderers. The most important will be that of Charles Ford, who shot and killed Mrs. May Effie Wagner, at Laurel Springs, about a month ago, besides badly wounding Robert Wilson. Ford is still in the Cooper Hospital suffering from self-inflicted wounds of the head.
William Graedwell will be tried for braining Mrs. Martha Gillian, his boarding mistress, in her home on Cooper street, several weeks ago, while Stefano Torcesso will have to take his chances with a jury for the fatal stabbing of Nunzioto Imperato in a quarrel over an Italian damsel.
In view of the many lines of work taken up by the grand jury, whose labors have just ended and which was summoned by Sheriff Nowrey, there is much interest in the personnel of the second panel of grand inquisitors which will be selected with the opening of court. It is not believed that Judge Garrison will have anything of importance on which to charge them.
Trial Coverage
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Robert Wilson Moved Home
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Although unable to walk and still in a serious condition, Robert Wilson, who was shot on March 14 by Charles Ford, yesterday was moved from Cooper Hospital to his home at Laurel Springs. After shooting Wilson Ford murdered Mrs. May Wagner and shot himself. He is in the county jail awaiting trial.
Camden’s Court Docket Is Brief
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Smallest Number of Cases In Years for Session Opening Tuesday
In the various courts which will open for the September term in Camden on Tuesday, the respective lists of cases are shown to be exceptionally brief. This not only includes the Supreme Court, where there were but seventy issues scheduled, but also the Circuit Court, Common Pleas and the Criminal Courts. As a result most of the civil business will have been completed in a few weeks’ sitting by the judges.
As to the new grand jury which will be summoned and sworn in before Supreme Court Justice Garrison, there will be presented by Prosecutor Boyle the smallest number of cases in a number of years. Where it has been customary to have at least four or five hundred such issues, there are a little over two hundred and most of them are of such comparatively trifling import that they will not reach court for trial. This is due largely to the holding of special sessions throughout the summer, which has had a tendency to keep the calendar clean.
One of the most important cases to be considered by the grand inquisitors is that of Mrs. Martin Hern, who is charged with firing the shot which terminated fatally for Policeman Edward Schlereth, a few weeks since. There are three other murder cases to be tried, but indictments have already been found. These include Charles Ford, who fatally shot Mrs. May Effie Wagner last spring; Samuel and Edward Farr, who are charged with beating Charles Sturgis to death, and William Gold, who shot Maud Daisy
Trial Coverage
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Case of Mrs. May Wagner’s Slayer Will Go to the Jury Today
Alleging that because of excessive and continuous drinking he was irrational and thus irresponsible for his act, Charles Ford yesterday combatted the efforts of Prosecutor Boyle to send him to the electric chair for the murder of May Effie Wagner. The case was partly tried before Supreme Court Justice Garrison, all the evidence being submitted. It will go to the jury this morning.
It is charged by the State that Ford, on the afternoon of March 14 last went to Laurel Springs and visited the home of Mrs. Wagner, with whom he had lived for eighteen years and who had left him because of his abuse. Failing in his efforts to persuade her to return home with him on a previous occasion, he had repeated the call and hunted for Robert Wilson, whom he accused of being responsible for Mrs. Wagner’s obduracy. After shooting Wilson he broke into the home of Mrs. Wagner and shot her to death, sending two bullets into his own head but recovering in the Cooper Hospital. Prosecutor Boyle had a number of witnesses who traced Ford’s movement and who testified as to his declarations to “do” Wilson and the woman.
In the defense presented through Lawyers Frank B. Jess and Adam R. Sloan, it was shown by witnesses that Ford had been a heavy drinker all his life and that because of the woman’s going away from him he drank more than ever. As a result it was asserted his mind was so affected that he did not know what he was doing.
Slayer of Woman Sentenced to Die
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Charles Ford to Meet Death in Electric Chair Week Beginning November 24
Charles Ford, who shot and killed Mrs. Mary Effie Wagner at Laurel Springs on March 14 last, must expiate his crime in the electric chair at Trenton during the week of November 24, that sentence being passed upon him yesterday by Supreme Court Justice Garrison in Camden after a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree was submitted. The jury deliberated exactly one hour. When the verdict was announced and the sentence imposed Ford did not give any indication that he cared. He appeared to be dazed.
For eighteen years Ford had lived with the woman and during that time she had left him fourteen times because of his abuse. On the last occasion she sought to escape him by going to Laurel Springs, Ford claiming she had gone with Robert Wilson. In vengeful mood and, the State alleged, after planning and deliberating, he visited her home, shot Wilson, dangerously wounding him, killed the woman and then sent two bullets into his own head.
Lawyers Frank B. Jess and Adam R. Sloan, who were assigned to defend him, sought to have him escape on a second degree verdict, they declaring that because of his excessive drinking his mind was not such as could plan a crime of that character. Prosecutor Boyle was able to produce witnesses which showed beyond any doubt that the man was rational and had planned for the tragedy weeks before.
Ford May Seek New Trial
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Before being taken to Trenton yesterday to await electrocution for the murder of Mrs. May Effie Wagner, Charles Ford summoned his counsel to the Camden county jail to discuss the advisability of applying for a new trial. Although Ford’s view that the evidence did not warrant the death penalty is not general, the doomed slayer left for Trenton under the impression that a further effort will be made to save his life. He will be put to death during the week of November 24.
Ford Gets a Stay
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Acting Governor Prince has reprieved Charles E. Ford, the alleged Camden murderer, to January 6. In the meantime newly discovered evidence will be presented to the Court of Pardons. Ford murdered his wife and was to have been electrocuted next Monday.
Ford’s Attorney Sees Little Hope of Pardon
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Special to The Inquirer. TRENTON, N. J., Nov. 22.—From his cell in the death house here, Charles Ford yesterday sent a fervent note of thanks to Lawyers Jess and Sloan, who have renewed their efforts to save his life. Acting Governor Prince on Thursday granted a reprieve to Ford until January 6. He was to be put to death next week.
“To be frank I do not see much ground for hope,” said Attorney Sloan yesterday. “In order to accomplish anything it will be necessary to secure considerable evidence that Ford was not only drunk for a long period of time before he killed Mrs. Effie Wagner, but also that his faculties were so prostrated by intoxicants that he could not possibly have committed the murder after premeditation. Friends of the condemned man are at work along this line and we shall make every effort to have his sentence commuted by the Board of Pardons to life imprisonment.”
It is understood that Prosecutor Boyle will oppose leniency.
Commutation for Youthful Slayers Sentenced to Die
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Pardon Board Gives Coursey Thirty Years, Duffield Fifteen
They Held Up and Killed Karl Kellman in Camden; Wilson Heads Board
Special to The Inquirer.
TRENTON, N. J., Dec. 23.—Apparently with the Christmas thought, “peace on earth, good will toward men” in mind, the New Jersey Court of Pardons, sitting for the last time with President-elect Wilson, met here this afternoon and took action that will not only result in the saving of the lives of the Camden youths, but that will also return them to liberty in a comparatively few years. Frederick Coursey and Harry Duffield, each of whom is less than 21 years of age, were the two boys who had been sentenced to die in the electric chair four days after Christmas.
They had attended a motion picture show and tried to imitate one of the films by holding up and killing Karl Kellman, a youth. The court today changed Coursey’s sentence from death to thirty years’ imprisonment and Duffield was sentenced to fifteen years.
Ford Goes to Chair
The case of Charles Ford, also of Camden, was considered, but his appeal was dismissed and he will be electrocuted. The man killed his paramour, Effie Wagner.
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William Leist, a Newark drug clerk, whose mistake in filling a prescription caused a patient’s death, was granted a parole. He is now in the Rahway Reformatory for manslaughter.
A parole was granted Leander J. Smith, of Atlantic county. The man was first sentenced to death, but this was commuted to life imprisonment and now he will go free.
Paroles were also granted to these murderers: Paul Bernack, Essex county, manslaughter, 10 years; Philemon B. Crelin, Essex county, 20 years; Domenica Scalla, Essex, 3 years; William Schneidler, Essex, 5 years; Casmer Teresnick, Hudson, 20 years; Bartholomew Sorroco, Passaic, 20 years; Patrick [cut off at the crop edge]
Caroll, Hudson county, paroled in 1891, restored to citizenship.
Many Get Liberty
A number of other prisoners from all parts of the State and serving short terms were granted conditional freedom. Governor Wilson did not relish today’s proceedings and so expressed himself to the newspaper men, when he said: “It pulls at the sympathies so.” He had arranged today’s meeting so that any convicts freed would be able to get home by Christmas.
There was much local interest in the cases of David H. Brand, in prison for abetting arson, and John Sykes, a lawyer, serving time for misappropriating clients funds. Neither were shown clemency.
Sentencing
Trenton Evening Times —
Named: Frederick Coursey, Harry Duffield, David H. Brand, John Sykes, Bartholomew Zdanwicz, William Leist, Leander J. Smith, Thomas Burnett, Charles Horner, William Rolla, Thomas Pierce, John A. Reich, Paul Bernack, Philemon Crelin, Domenica Scala, William Schneider, Casimir Teresnick, Bartholomew Soroco, and Patrick Carroll.
Must Resentence Murderer to Die
Philadelphia Inquirer —
According to information received by Camden authorities, Charles Ford, the Camden restaurateur now in the death house at Trenton awaiting electrocution for the murder of May Effie Wagner, cannot be legally put to death until he is resentenced by Supreme Court Justice Garrison. Ford was originally sentenced to die during the week of November 22, but the then Acting Governor Prince gave him a reprieve until January 6. It was supposed that he would be electrocuted the past week, but the State Prison authorities have asked that a new date be fixed by Judge Garrison.
Ford to Die February 16
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Supreme Court Justice Garrison, in Camden yesterday, signed a new death warrant for Charles Ford, the Camden restaurateur, who was convicted of murdering his common law wife, Effie May Wagner. The date fixed for Ford’s electrocution in the death house at Trenton is during the week of February 16.
Execution
Trenton Evening Times —
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Execution
Trenton Evening Times —
W.J. Ford – Rev. J.K. Milton
Execution
Trenton Evening Times —
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Execution
Jersey Journal —
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Execution
Woodbury Daily Times —
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