Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-07-06

up with brush. The back of her head
had been crushed in by heavy blow
with club or stone. Her umbrella and
package were gone, as was also her sill
yer snufl-box. A stranger had tramped
through the village in the forenoon, and
it was remembered that he had an UNI
brella and paper parcel. 1t was at
once believed that he was the murderer
of Mrs. Cooper, and measures were tax
en- to capture him. Beyond the fact
that travellers going toward Parkston
on the York road had met two men trav-
Cling together, both carrying umbrellas
and each with parcel, and both appear
ing in the jolliest of humor wherever
seen, no trace of any suspicious stranger
could be found. Detectives were then
employed to investigate the case.
PAUL KUNKEL, IN 1919,
had been resident Of York, Pa, fo1
several years. lie was an industrious
man, bearing character beyond re-
proach. lie had 4 wife and three chill
dren, and the whole family were devout
Catholics. They had a comfortable home
and the genial nature of Paul made him
n great favorite. In the fall of 1910 q
brother Of his, who had been in York for
some time, resolved to return to Germa-
ny. AS he intended to take the vessel
ut Baltimore, Paul accompanied him to
that, and after seeing him Off started TO
return on foot to York, leaving Balti-
more at very early hour in the morn
ing. He carried a common umbrella,
and had under his arm paper package
containing articles he had bought IN Bal
timore for his wife and children. Paul
passed directly by. the spot where Mrs.
Cooper's body was found a few hours
subsequently, and went on through
Parkston. A mile or so beyond that
place he came up to man sitting by the
roadside. The stranger arose, spoke to
Kunkel, and as he was also Il German
and going in the direction-of York, the
two walked on together. 1t was not
long before the men were quite well ac-
qainted. The stranger said his name
was Winter. He had an umbrella and II
small parcel. He offered to exchange
his umbrella for the one Kunkel carried,
and as the former was much more valu-
able than Paul's, he had no hesitation in
agreeing % the trade. The men trudgcd
merrily along the road, attracting the at
tontion Of all whom they met 10y their
singing and good-natured greetings,
When they reached York, Winter ex-
pressed desire to remain in the place u
day or two, aud Kunkel invited him to
make his house his headquarters. Win
ter accepted the invitation. He was
treated with great hospitality by the
Kunkel family. lie remained with them
two days, IN the meantime creating no
little amusement for them by insisting
on exchanging valuable articles in his
possession for others of little or no value
belonging to the family. He traded a
new pair Of woman's shoes for an old
flannel shirt, and insisted on presenting
one OF the children with a handsome ell
yer snuff-box. This Kunkel refused to
do. on the ground that the child had no
use for O snuff-box. After leaving n
number Of articles with the family Win
ter took his leave.
TWO DAYS AFTERwARD KrNKEL
was followed home from his work by
two men. They were detectives and ar-
rested him on the charge Of numbering
Mrs. Cooper. The house was' searched.
The umbrella with the stain on It was
found and identified as the property Of
the murdered woman. The shoes were
also found. Kunkel had heard of the
murder from Winter and when he found
himself charged with the terrible crime
he enw at once that he had been made
the victim of the real assassin. The
thought Of his fearful situation so affect
ed hia mind that he was unable to give
any connected or lucid explanation Of
the circumstances that pointed to him so
strongly 40 the murderer, and his wife
could tell nothing about the meeting Of
her husband with Winter, as he had told
her nothdg In relation TO II. She told
how the shoes came TO be IN the house,
but In her terror made her story contra
dictory and mysterious. and It had no
effect. Kunkcl was lodged In York jail,
and was subsequently taken to Baltimore
where he staid In prison ten months,
during which time he could not be
brought to give any satilactory account
Of hls movements after leaving Balti-
and bis council and friends had nothing
to rely on for their case except his good
character. This availed ching, and
Paul Kunkcl wns convicted Of tho MUIR
der and sentenced to be banged the fol-
lowing septembea, about year fom The
time the murder had been committed,
Executive clcmency could not be obtain
ed, although the Bishop Of Philadelphia
earnestly interested himself In Kunkle'e
case, among other prominent and inilu-
entlal persons, All hope was gone for
the unfortunate mhn. when, eight days
before the day set for The execution,
Kunkel's counsel was astonlshed to re.
celye message from the doomed man