The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-17
THE ST. LOUIS TRAGEDY.
Peculiar Religious Views Of Preller-Max-
wells Identity Fully Established.

NEW YORK, April 16.-The ST. Louis tragedy
continues to be the absorbing sensation. Init
mate friends of Preller state that his religious
convictions were very singular. His relatives
did not fully understand them, and refrained
from talking with him about the subject. He
belonged to a curious denomination, a com
munity of distinctive ideas, very small as yet IL
America, but with quite a foothold in England.
The believers refer TO one another in such terms
as kindred spirit, " ''dear brother and similar
expressions. The few believers in the city have
no regular place of worship. They meet in pub
lie halls and private houses, d~evoting much Of
their labor to young men. Preller's connection
with this people made him acquainted
with Richard w. Owens. Mr.. Owens
saw Preller frequently during his last
visit here, but he never spoke to
him of Maxwell. Mr.. Owens supposed that his
friend was going to Australia alone. He said.
yesterday, that the published circumstances al
most forced him to the sorrowful belief that the
body found in the trunk was all that was mortal
of his late friend Preller.
Frank Schlesinger, of the firm Of Fl. Sollen-
bach & Co., is a cousin Of Mr.. Preller, and has
been very intimate with him. Mr.. Schlesinger
took charge of Preller's letters while he was
quest. Before he babe his cousin good oye,
Preller spoke of Maxwell, and said that he had
arranged to meet him in ST. Louis. On April 4
Preller telegraphed Mr.. Schlesinger from st.
Louis: Kindly direct all post ~restsnte San
Francisco" This is the last that has been
heard from him. Letters that he had
promised to write, business arrangements
that b0 had nrnroicod fO p,aEo
which his friends believe he surely would have
carried out were he alive, have remained unat-
tended to. sit is the fact that we have not heard
from him for so long that suggests to me that
the body found in the trunk must be that of my
cousin" said Mr.. Schesinger when a reporter
asked him about the matter yesterday.
Have you cabled to his relatives in EnglandG"
mo, and shall not do so until it is settled be-
yond all doubt that the body was his: There
seems to be- some doubt about it yet. The news
will be a terrible blow to his parents and rela-
tives. It would be cruel to unnecessarily alarm
them. The young men were to have sailed for
Australia In the steamer leaving San Francisco
on April IL. I have telegraphed to ascertain
mitted that murder, / believe he is afioat on the
Pacific ocean before this time" VI
When questioned about the $50 perish all
traitors paper found in the trunk, Mr.. Sches-
niger said: "Oh! that is all nonsense. If Max
well murdered Preller he did it for his money"
Yesterday Mr.. Schlesinger conferred with the
police in this city to see if they could assist him.
So soon as he is assured that the body Is
that of his cousin, he will make arrangements
for burial, and notify the family in England.
The, British Consul-general said, yesterday,
that he knew nothing whatever about Maxwell.
He was represented in some reports as a baronet,
but his name was not found among the list of
British b~aronets, and his lame and former
address, as mentioned in some of the reports,
were not found in the London postoffice direct
tory. Nothing vas known of Preller at the
Russian consulate.