Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-08
A YELLED MYSTERY
That as the Reigning Sensation
of the Hour.
PRINTER GRAY DEEPLY AelThTED
All New York Stunned Over the Ghastly
Find in the Carleton House Cellar
Last Week.
SIF TING THE RUMo r S

ton House still remains wrapped in impene-
trable mystery and is still the talk of the
town. The detectives say, in an evasive
way, that they have clews, and that seems
to be all they have.
Yesterday morning the steamer Fidelity
left her wharf at Bellevue Hospital, having
a score or more of rough pine coffins, over
which rough canvass was thrown. In one
of these the skeleton was placed, to be
buried in Potters Field with other friend
less dead.
The clothing and everything found on or
about the remains will be kept by the police
in the hope that they may still afford a clew
by which it can be identified. The detect
ives still cling to the belief that it is Johanna
Schmidt, despite the positive declaration OF
her young relative, Emma, and friends who
claim to know exactly how the missing wom-
an was dressed when she left her home on
June q last.
Not the Missing johanna Schmidt.
Mr.. Chas Sprenger, the brother of Mrs.
Schmidt, and who first identified the re-
mains as those of his missing sister, resumed
work yesterday at the gentlemen's furnish
ing store in Nassau street where he is en-
ployed. When seen yesterday by a repor'
ter. he said that now he felt sure that the
remains we're not those of his sister, al
though there was much resemblance.
The tracing ofLudwig Hart has now been
abandoned as the conclusion Of Mr.. SPrer-
ger that the remains we're not those of his
sister puts Hart beyond even the pale OF
suspicion.
The workmen in the sub-cellar of the
Carleton House continued their work yes
terlay, everything in the shape o; wearing
apparel, or anything from which the detec'
tiyes could form a clew, being carefully ex'
amned. All day long quite crowd stood
about, the boys Of which spent their time
searching the ashes and debris with sticks
that the workmen threw out Considerable
excitement was caused by the announce
ment that rope with blood stains on it had
been found. This one, among similar sto,
ries, was quickly sifed and found TO be
groundess. 4 man stands guard and no
one is allowed to enter the cellar except
those employed. Hope still exists that the
missing hand will be found on which, if the
skeleton should be Mrs. Schmidt's plain
gold ring will be found.
What the Detectives Say.
Captain Webb, of the Oak Street Station,
said, when asked what progress had been
made to-day: Not much, | am sorry TO
say, but every ciew is being worked diligent-
", and every effort will be made 10 fathom
the myster7 as soon as possible" Detect
i've Shelvey is still on the case and working
hard, but said he had nothing new TO give
to The press to day.
The more the record of the printer, Sam
uel S. Gray, is sifted the worse it becomes.
His character was such as TO make 1t a fair
assumption that his connection with the
m, stery is worthy of most careful investga-
ton. BE seems to have been better known
as Ben GRAY among his associates in the
Fourth Ward, where he was we'll known.
lie seems to have been one OF those rolling
stones that failed in everything. He tried
many different trades, and ran a small job
printing Office at Chambers street and
several other places before occupying the
roc m in the Carleton House in which the
tr. D door was situated that opened directly
over the place where the body was found.
An Interview With Gray.
This man Gray is now serving thirteen
wears sentence in the Trenton prison for at
tempted murder of one of the many women
who rumor says passed as his wives. The
attempt was made in October 1888, near
! Dover. Del, and he was tried and convicted
| beginning his term in February last. Gray,
when seen in Jail by Truth reporter
claimed that he was never known as Ben
Gray, but admits he is the Gray who occu
ME the room in the Carleton House, stay
ing there from September, 1882, till March,
1883. A curtain hung across the room
served to divide the shop from the bed
room. He SAYS his wife lived there with
him. and denies the stories published
alleging be was forced to leave on account
Of his receiving other women in his room.
| His Wife Ruined Him.
| His wife. he claims, was a very Jealous
minded woman and caused him much
trouble, constantly charging him with Inh
deity. He left the Carleton House II
March, 1883, because his wife caused him
so much trouble, and afterward was taker
sick and after selling out his shop, went tc
the Charity Hospital, where he remained
over a month He then went to Dover
upon recovering, where his wife follOwet
him and the attempt on her life was mad'
for which he is now imprisoned.
where is ysur wife nowT asked the re
porter.
81 do not know. She was in the habit o
coming to see me about once month, ou
since last August has not been to see me
nor have heard from her. =,
What was the last address she gave youY
'In Philadelphia on Broad street. but
can not remember the number.
"And yon deny having anything to d.
with the skeleton found in the sub-cella
Immediately bensath your trap door?
Most positively know nothing Of 1t.
During the interview Gray displaye'
much agitation, his face being a deathl
pallor. He is rather tall and thin, with
frank face, and does not look like one VIII
would be guilty of such an strocious crime
Barring the two scars, he would pass tor
very good looking man.
Upon questioning the warden Of the jsi
as TO The woman Gray claims as bis WIT
ard the visits she made him, the wa,del
said:
"A soman has been here TO see Gray Ire
uuen,ly. At first she came often, bat u
intervals between the visits gradual
heightened until they ceased altogether
She was a tall, good looking woman {
about 80, and dressed in good taste a
we'll as can remember, she gs.ye her 81
dress as l66 Broad street, Philadelphia.
when a reporter called at the above addrea
in Philadelphia the landlsdy denied tbs
any such person was there OF had bee
there.
Sitting the Rumors.
The rumor that GRAY and lis wife We
well known at Jerry McAuley'5 Cremor
mission was also sifted by oar investigate
. NJ McApIev uaa seen nv the reo0rte