The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-16
THE ST. LOUIS MYSTERY
NO DOUBT THAT A FOUL MURDER
HAS BEEN COMMITTED,
Nor That the Criminal Is MaxweiI-No
Clew to the Whereabouts of the MUIR
derer-Furt her Information of
the Crime and the Men.

the Crime and the Men.
ST. LOUIS. Mo-, April 16.-An examina-
tion of the trunks of Preller and Maxwell,
the former of whom is believed to be the
victim of the trunk mystery unearthed here
Tuesday, shows that Preller's trunks were
well filled with the finest accessories of the
toilet and raiment, while Maxwelrs were
mostly packed with books and articles of
wearing apparel etc, of an inferior quality.
Among the books were number of med
iral works, which were all marked with
MaxwelPs name; in one instance the in
scrlption was "Walter II. Maxwell, Sur
geon st. Bartholomew's Hospital"
Preller seemed to be commercial trav-
eler and one of his trunks contained samples
of furniture furnishings, tapestry, rugs, etc.
A bundle of letters from Preller to the firm
OF J. ID. Dixon, Bradford, Yorkshire, on
business matters was also found, as we'll as
the addresses of several carpet firms in this
city. A card plate reading &C. A. Preller,
Al Abchurch lane, London, England" was
also found.
In one of the papers found in Maxwelrs
| trunk his address was given "No. IA Paper
buildings, Temple, London" An envelope
| in his handwriting is addressed to'"The Rev.
d. &. A. Lewis, b. A, Curator of St Paul's,
| Morley, near Leeds, Yorkshire, England y
A half-empty bottle of chloform completed
the list of things found in Maxwell's trunk.
1t was ascertained that Maxwell bought
| high, creased crowned hat, little darker
than snuff color, April g. marked on the
band inside: Hart & Duff, Herald 1t is
| = 10, H. -,
| that mark He also on the same day had a
heavy beard shaved off, leaving only light
mustache and slight imperial On Easter
Sunday he entered drug store at the cor
ner Of Fifth and Market streets, and in an
excited manner bought four ounces
of chloroform. The proprietor rec
ogniZed him, as he had bought
things there several times before and
told who he was 1t is now believed by
those who have studied this mysterious ira
gedy most closely that DR.. Maxwell chloro-
formed and killed Mr. Preller on Sunday
evening, April s. 1t is known where he
bought the drug, and his hurry on that
occasion was noticeable On the next day
he dsguished himself by changing his beard
and buying clothes which make him
look like Yankee, and since April 6 no man
| IN SC. Louis mas seen MIN.
Nothing has come up throwing any ligh,
on the meaning of the words 80 perish all
traitors to the great cause" which were
placed in the trunk in which the body wa.
found.
Following is description of Maxwell: He
was about five feet nine and half inches in
height, weighed something like $40 pounds,
well-proportioned and rather good figure.
His face was of the English typo anG
cleanly shaven, eyes light blue, or a
least not dark in color. His hair is o
hight sandy color. He wore it cut very
short behind and rather bushy in front
without any part and banged like girls
He generally dressed in brown tweed sui
of clothes of English cut, Newmarke
overcoat and high Derby hat In his man
ners he was very effeminate, which he ever
carried so far as to walk with short, mincin!
steps like O woman.
In addition to discoveries made Tuesday
1t is learned that a man answering the de
scription Of Maxwell about 10 o'clock Mon
day morning, April 6, rushed into the oflict
of the Frisco line and purchased ticket TO
San Francisco He received sleeping ca
ticket good Monday night appeared +
know what tickets would cost and when th
train left His name was on the stub of tn,
ticket that will be found on his arriva
there at the San Francisco passenger office
Inspector Burns, of New York has sent th
following to the police of this city: Inspecto
Burns was called on Wednesday by Nj
Frank Schlesinger, a cousin of the mul
| dered man, and a member of a From
street business house. Mr.. Schlesinger tol
the inspector that there was no doubt but tina
the body found in the Southern hotel was tha
of his cousin, and that there was but littl
doubt in his mind that he was murdered b
his companion, Walter H. Lennox Maxwell
who disappeared from St Louis Monda
last. Mr. Schlesinger is inclined to th
opinion that Maxwell, after murderin
y and robbing Preller, returned east instea
of proceeding to Australia, as
intended All the leading hotel in the easter
cities are to be searched for Max we'll, an
the police in London, Liverpool, and otht
foreign parts are to be notified to watch a
steamers from this country. Preller Will
in New York was seen to have bills Of e,
change for several thousand dollars. II
companion Maxwell is understood to hav
had little or no money.
NEW YORK, April lG.-Richard Owen
| WHO kUSW NuOSe UOu1 IL SuppOSt
to be that found in the trunk in St Lou
Tuesday, says it was impossible that
should have belonged to any secret polite
- organization, and that he was travelling f
pleasure He said Preller carried a gre
deal of money with him. As f
Maxwell, all ne knows of him is that th,
had arranged to travel with him across tt
continent through India, and back to En-
land.
Mr. Owens said further: arthur Prell
was the son OF +. Preler, of London, deal
in the higher grades OF decorative prir
cloths and the finer qualities Of embroidt
ing silks. His brother and himself were al
interested in the firm. and he travelled as
= Representatives He was of retirin
almost effeminate, nature, pure-mind
man, and an earnest member of our ord
plymouth Brethrenl he being n member
Dalston Road assembly in London. He W
a good deal of an artist and musca
having music in his trunks which he valu
at $500 This was his third or fourth II
around this country, and he reached Il
city about March l, with six big trunI
containing quite little library, amo
other things. He was about y years Of al
but very young in appearance. He was o.
contemplative cast of mind, caring nothi
for society, and the last man i'll
= world to take up with fast companions.
dressed richly, but quietly, and often c.
j. ried as much as $500 about his person.
was of medium height and size, resemb
creole in features, and were dark m
tache. gave him letter of introducti
to the Rev. DIR. James Brooks, pastor of
Walnut Street Presbyterian church, in
)H Louis know of no other person in I'll
city with whom he would come in conta
"Of Walter Lennox Maxwell | know
little He is a wealthy English nobeman
baronet, and l think q relation of HI
Somerset Maxwell, the present Lord Fa
ts ham, who is an active member of our ord
Sir Walter was to be Mr.. Preller's traveli
companion through Australia and Ind
back to England"
Boston, April l6. 1t is learned that W
ter H. Lennox Maxwell, who figures in
St Louis trunk tragedy, arrived in