Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-09-13
THE TRUNK MURDER.

THE TRUNK MURDER.
Another Chapter OF the Mysfery-sui"
eide ofthc seducer of Alice Augusta
Foxvfs9,y-kEsstory OF tte Boyylsby
FamiiySTne servaut GIrps state
ncnt-Rosenzweis's Guilt.
From the New York Tribune.
The extraordinary train of horrible
crime and startling discovery which has
engrossed public attention during the
last few days, reached its elimination
Yesterday in the suicide of Walter il.
ConkIin of Paterson, the seducer of
Alice Augusta Bowlsby of that city,
who is now identified beyond doubt as
the unfortunate victim of DR. Rosen-
zweig's internal arts. The excitement
in Patterson yesterday was intense,
for Miss Bowlesby was widely known
and respected, and very few were even
aware OF her absence from the city.
The Bowlsby family consists Of Mrs.
BowlsbY, whose husband is a dissi-
pated Newark mechanic, and her three
daughters, Carrie, Addie, and Alice Au-
gusta, the latter the unfortunate victim
of this heart-rending tragedy. All
these girls were between IT and q,
Alice being the oldest. They were of
high respectabilitY, and being vivaclous,
handsome and agreeable, had very
large circle of acquaintance, comprls
inc some of the best families in the
city. Mrs Bowlsby, with Mrs. Sand
ford carried on the business of dress
making, at which their daughters
worked, as well as some other young
GIRLS, who were learning the trade
Mrs. Bowlsby was the sister of the wife
of Charles Sandford, the inventor Of
f'Sandford's Magic Salve," and Presl-
dent of the incorporated company en-
gagged in the manufacture of that ar
Gle.
Alice Bowlsby was beautiful girl,
rather slimly built, and rathertall. She
had fair features, fresh complexion,
light hair, and blue eyes. Her features
were regular, and her appearance was
more than ordinarily prepossesslng. She
was graceful in her carriage. and carried
on a conversation with much animation
and viyacity
The house in which the Bowlsbys
live is a two story and attic brick build
inc. at No. ~ West street. At the side
of the front door is a tin sign, reading
Stamford & BowJsby, Dress-Makers.
The house is one Of the most respecta-
BILE in the street, and far beyond the
average in appearance Of the buildings
of the neighborhood
Mrs Bowlsby knew nothing of her
daughters condition, and although she
was suffering much anxiety on account
of Alice's mysterious disappearance on
the preceding 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 New
ark to spend q week with her uncle,
John Williams, of Belmont-aye. On
Wednesday she went to New York, to
attend matinee, as her friends sup
posed, with Walter C0nklin. Her
mother, who accompanied her to New
York, returned to Paterson on Monday,
and there learned, to her surprise, that
her daughterhad not yet reached home.
Being much alarmed, she consulted
with DR.. Parker, an old friend of the
family, and his suspicious and in
quiries led to the identification of the
body at Bellevue Hospital, and this
recognition DE-. Kline, the dentist, wa
enabled to make doubly sure by hi
knowledge of the victims teeth.
Walter Conklin was at the Bowlsby
house in West street Wednesday even
ing. He was conversing with the moth
er, and wnen talking about Alice, Mrs
Bowlsby said she had been reading
about the trunk murder, and it haC
created an unpleasant feeling, as th,
other girls said it might be Alice, ant
the mother expressed hoTrid appre
hension. Conklin said, HOh, no, i
couldn't be Alice" The mother knew
nothing more of the matter till 7 o'clocI
yesterday morning, when DR.. Kim,
came in, and said, Have you heard O
the trunk murder mystery" and Mrs
Bowlsby instantly exclaimed, T" Is i
Alice2n The Doctor said sadly, eyes
it is Alice" The horror and grief 0
the mother and two sisters cannot b.
told. The whole family were prostrat
ed, and the mother became wild witt
excitement
Upon the death Of Alice Rowlsby be
coming known, much surmise was e11
cited as to who was the seducer Pub
lie opinion at once implicated Waite
Z. ConkIin, a stock clerk and time
keeper IN the Dale Silk Mills, near th.
Paterson depot, as he was known K
have been frequent visitor at th
house OF the Bowlsbys. Several o
Conklin's friends spoke to him on tn
subject, but he denied all completely il
the affair. At o'clock yesterday morn
ing he went to the mill as usual IL
read the papers and seemed somewha
depressed, but not excited, and at
tended to his duties, one portion O
which was the care of the mill office il
the absence of the other hands a
dinner.
At about 12:45, as Alice Edge, one O
the girls employed in the factory, wa
passing the silk vault, which is in th.
rear of the office, she heard groans
Looking IN, she saw Conklin extended
on the floor; running to two men
named Ridgeway and George, who arr
employees in the factory, she told then
Conklin's condition. They ran in, an6
found on the floor of this vault or safe
the insensible form of Waltar Conklin
just back Of the left ear was an ugl,
wound from which the blood was flow
ing in stream; heart and pulse were
beating, bat very feebly. He was car
Fled out into the room back of the
office, and the doctor was summoned
while word was sent to his father, and
his brother, who is one of the assistant
postmasters.
The doctors arrived, and found the
young mans injuries fatal his life
slowly but surely ebbing away through
the wound back of the ear. The shot.
which had been fired from a small re.
volver, entered just back of his right
ear, and passed up toward the temple.
under which it lodged without coming
out. The protuberance caused by the
ball was felt over the right temple. He
never moved after falling, but he Law
upon his back on the floor, the blood
still oozing from his wound. His faith