New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-01
THE TRUNK MURDER.
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THE MYSTERY.

BY was widely known and respected, and very few
even aware Of her absence from the city.
The Bowlsby family consists Of Mrs. Bowlsby. whose
husband 10 disspatod Newark mechanic and her
three daughters Carrie Addie and Alice Augusta, the
latter the unfortunate victim Of this heartrending
tragedy. All these girls were between II and u, Alice
being the Oldest They were Of high respecabity and
being vivacous, handsome, and agreeable, had very
large circle Of acquaintance, comprisng of the
best families in the city, Mrs. Bowlsby, with Mrs. Sand
ford carried the busnesslof dressmskng at which
their daughters worked, as we'll some other young
girls who learning the trade. Mrs. Bowsby was the
sister Of the wife Of Charles sandford the inventor Of
"sandfords Magic salve," and President Of the incor
porated company engaged In the manufacture Of that
article
Alice Bowlsby beautiful girl, rather slimly built
and rather tall She had fair features fresh complexion
light hair, and blue eyes, Her features were regular
and her appearance more than ordinarily prepos-
sessing She very graceful In her carriage and
ried conversation with much animation and vivacty
The house in which the Bowlsbys live Is Q two-story
and attic brick building, at No. q Westst At the side Of
the front door is o tin sign, reading Sanford &
Bowlsby Dress-Makers" The house is Of the most
respectable in the street. and far beyond the average In
appearance Of the buildings Of the neighborhood
Mrs. Bowlsby knew nothing OF her daughters condi-
ton, and although she suffering much anxiety on
account of Alces mysterious disappearance the pre-
cedng Wednesday, she had not conceived the horrible
possibility that her daughter might be the victim Of the
mysterious trunk horror in New-York. Miss Bowlsby
had been to Newark to spend week with her uncle
John Williams Of Belmont-ave. On Wednes-
day she went to New-York. to attend natl
nee MS her friends supposed with Walter Conkn Her
mother, who accompanied her to Newark, returned to
Paterson on Monday there learned to her SURPRISE
that her daughter had not yet reached home. Being
much alarmed, she consulted with Dr. Parker an old
friend of the family and his suspicious and inquiries led
to the identification OF the body at Bellevue Hospital
and this recognition Dr. Knne the dentist enabled
to make douby by his knowledge of the victims
teeth.
Walter Conkn was at the Bowlsby house in Westst.
Wednesday evening He conversing with the mother
and when talking about Alice, Mrs. Bowlsby said she
had been reading about the trunk murder, and It had
created unpleasant feeling the other girls said 1t
might he Alice, and the mother expressed horrd ap
prehensiOn. COnkn ssid "Oh no. 1t could MT be Alice"
The mother knew nothing more Of the matter till
O'Clock yesterday morning. when Dr. Kline came In and
said, "Have you heard Of the trunk murder mysery
and Mrs Bowlsby instantly exclaimed as 1t AliceT"
The Doctor said sadly eyes 1t is Alice" The horror and
grief Of the mother and two sisters cannot be told Tho
whole family Frustrated and the mother became
wild with excitement.
Upon the death Of Alice Bowlsby becoming known
much surmise excited to who was the seducer
Public opinion at once implicated Walter L. Conklin,
stock clerk and timekeeper in the Dale Silk Mills near
the Paterson depot he known to have been fire.
qucnt visitor at the house Of the Bowsbys Several Of
COnklins friends spoke to him upon the subject.
but he denied all completely in the affair.
At O'Clock yesterday morning he went to the mill
usual. He read the papers and seemed somewhat de-
pressed excited and attended to his dues
portion of which was the Of the min Office in the
absence Of the other hands at dinner. At about 1G4
rs Alice Edge, one Of the girls employed In the
factory, passing the silk vault, which
is in the rear Of the Office, she heard
groans. Looking in she saw Conklin extended on the
Cid
who employees in the factory abe told them Conkns
condition They ran in, and found on the floor Of this
vault the insensble form Of Walter COnkn just
back of the left ugly wound from which tho
blood was flowing In stream; heart and pulse were
beating, but very feehy. He carried out into the
room back Of the Office, and the doctor was sum-
moned, while word sent to his fatherand his bro
Their who is one Of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The doctors arrived and found the young mans in
ures fatal; his life slowly but surely ebbing away
through the wound back Of the ear. The shot, which
had been fred from small revolver, entered just back
of his right ear and passed toward the temple under
which lodged without coming out. The protuberance
caused by the ball was felt the right temple He
never moved after falling but he lay upon his back
the floor, the blood still oozng from his wound. His
father brother had arrived but lie never recognized
them.
At 25 minutes past the feeble pnlse stopped and Dr.
Warner said in q low voice, that Walter Conkn was
dead Coroner Buterworth sent for, and then the
doors were Opened to some friends outside who In
to take last look at the unfortunate young man.
Gordon OF police prevented the crowd from coming in,
unless they were friends or reporters. Outside had
gathered q tremendous crowd that blocked up the
street. and reached time nearly over to the rail-
road.
When Coroner Butterworth arrived he viewed the
body and after n1uring into the circumstances inst
tuted the preninares toward holding an inquest For
hours afterward however the greatest excitement pre-
vailed and the feelings of the city seemed to be at
fever heat Walter Coukln has worked In the Dale Mill
since last September going to work there Immediately
after his return from Russia where he had been sent In
connection with another establishment He has always
borne fair character. and was highly esteemed by all
about the mill. He had the reputauoh' however, OF
being.a ladies man."
In Conkins coat pocket found the Following note:
Ih,v long had morbid the woessne" Of Me- and nov
be Obliged testify this affair and pessanness 70 ny Am
Good Good b. dear ssse1 mother and sister WALT
It was written in good, even. but slightly nervous
hand upon scrap letter paper, without address or
direction There was also In his pocket an engraved Wis
tnp card hearing the name Gideon Fountain" Under
the name was written in pencil "ll6 E. oath Street."
TRIBUNE reporter called upon John L. Conkiin' tho
clerk who stated that his brother walter was
about 2S years old and born and educated rater
son where he learned photography and then went to
NevYork and aterward Russia when he was 10 years
old There he spent about five years as eght clerk on
the wipans Railroad, which runs between Moscow
and st. Petersburg and iuily scquIea 'no
language. Upon his return to this country. In
1870. he was idle for i've six months, but then
obtained place in the Dale Mills, where he worked
nut,, hs death After his return from Russia he 70
n.ved his acquaintance with the Bowlsby family and
went there quite often. He never wrote notes
TO ANce, hut frequently received notes from
her. He contemplated going to Russia and
vAA