Morris tribune., 1885-04-15
PRELLER'S MOANS.
HEARD BY A MAN WHO OCCUPIED
THE NEXT ROOM. '
Progress or the InQuest-Tar and Feath-
ers In Kentucky-Two Unfortunats
Women-Criminal by 1nhori.
tance-Trusted His
Sweetheart.

NEW YORK, April 30.-A dispatch from
st. Louis says that search is making there
for w. X. Ross, New York hardware
merchant, who occupied room in the
Southern hotel next to that In which tho
ghastly remains of c. A. Preller were found
in q trunk a few days ago Mr. Ross ar
rived from the west on an early train Fri
day. When seen at his homo i'll Cilt-
ton, n. j., he said to reporter: Il was at
the Southern hotel, in St Louis, on Easter
Sunday, and left there Sunday night on the
7:30 train for Chicago When read OF this
murder in tie papers on Monday thought
l hal occupied the room next to the one in
which the mans body was found. but was
not certain Of its number had intended
to write out to the people at the hotel and
find out, just as matter or curiosity
more than any thing else. That Sun
day afternoon | had some writing to do,
AMI went to my room directly after lun-
cheou, or about 2 O'clock. settle down to
WI te about $50. I hal hardly taken my
seat, AMI everything was quiet, when I heard
something like low moaning in the next
room. I>topp,d and listened. 1t continued,
and besides | heard the sound OF running
water, As if the faucets were turned on i'll
the wash-baSin. l did not know before that
the room next to mine was occupied. had
never seen any one como in or go out OF tho
roOrl and never before heard any noise in
tho room.
II had drawn the table-a little writing
taolo-up near tho window, which was
about six feet from the communicating
door, l could have heard anything going on
in the next room very plainly. When l
heard the moaning, as if some one was
sick and suffering pain, asked tie bell
boy who brought me some papers if any
one was sick in the adjoining room. He
stopped to listen to the moans,
when spoke of them. and
thinking no would tell tha CLERK, | dismissed
til. matter from M mini. During the
xitrrnool several iIail s"ys cam, INTO tho
room and l spoke - al OF them, as the
yr: aning continued, !.ut only very low.
A!ont 5 O'clock, l got up ana went ovo- t.
i ,r;end'I rom across the hall to go with
Lin TO dinner. 1 casually said 1 shouSht
soIAs one wa> sick in that room. We wet
II dinner and 1 left the hotel for the dc pot
about ! o'clock
ST. LOUIS, NO., April 20-At 10:S0 a. IN.
Saturday the coroner's jury and witnesses
vlewel the body Of Preller at the morgue,
and thence proceeded to the coroner's office
and commenced the inquest. Cashier Hunt
of the Southern hotel, testified regarding
the arrival of Maxwell ami Preller. He
said he was not brought i'll
contact with either man often
during their stay. A. A. Aloe, opti
tician, testified to call made by Preler and
Maxwell together two weeks ago last Thurs
day. One Of them-Maxwell as described
wanted to dispose of a magic lantern. seere-
opticon, etc. The next Monday Maxwell
called alone and purchased some goods. He
had roll of bills. He rendered $780,
bill in payment for the purchase. James
johnson, a salesman Of Aloe, recognized
photographs of both Prelier and Maxwel.
Maxwell was the man who negotiated for the
sale Of the magic lantern ana stereopticon.
This testimony establishes Max ~elrs az
parent impecunious condition preceding the
murder as we'll as his being flush the next
day