The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-15

for further Identification, with the following de-
scripton given by Superintendent Ryan: The
deceased was aboEt five feet nine inches in height
weight about 1T0 pounds eyes of brown color; he
wore white knit drawers; no other clothing
came with the body. Deceased was about
twenty two or twenty -three years DID, The body
is very much deeomposed. He had been dead
ten or twelve days The tongue was protruding,
and there were large blisters on both legs. There
is crosscut into the flesh ON the breast. The
following telegram, found among the papers OF
Preller is the best clew to the relations OF Prel-
| Ter and Maxwell:
BOSTON, Mass, March 49, 1885.
@. A. Preler Belvidere Hotel corner Fourth ave-
nue. and Eighteenth stretches. Could go direct to
Auckland from here. Will write TO Philadelphia to-
morrow. w. H. LENNoX MAXWELL.
From letter from the steamship company it
is inferred that Preller sailed from England for
this country on the Cephalonia JAN q, 1888, on
a commercial tour of this country and Australia
The telegram given above would indicate that
Maxwell agreed to accompany him to Australia
Among the letters found in Prelers trunks was
the following:
No. 8 CLINTON PLACE, NEW YORK CRY,
March "a, 1885.
note dear brother, Mr. c. A, Preller, of London
England known to by several visits he has paid to
New York Hoping you may be mutually profted by
this friendship during his stay city am yours
RICHARD w. OWENS.
To Rev. DR.. James H. Brooks. 2l2 North Fifth street.
st. Louis; MRS Grerson, g New Montgomery street
Moyse Evangelist. care of w. L. Lees, New Zeal
Zealand
This friendship awakened by my bringing him
to tea meeting for young men at which dear D. u.
Greenners spoke from Where Withal Shall Young
Man Clense His Wayl'
Among many other things in Maxwels trunks
were found some blanks from Fernow's drug
store, this city On being questioned, Mr..
Fernow said this afternoon, that he knew Max
WE'LL that the latter had been in his
CT npn nff hot hn i'm, InCf IN
Easter Sunday, when he called about
l o'clock and got four ounces of chloroform.
About o'clock he came in and got two ounces
more. He seemed to be in hurry but was not
excited. A partly filed bottle of chloroform was
found in Maxwell's trunk to-day.
1t has also been learned that on the Monday
following Easter Sunday, Maxwell went to Hick-
mans barber shop and had full beard, which
he wore reduced to moustache and small i'm
perial and that on the same day he purchased
snuffcolored felt SLOUGH hat with creased crown,
and marked on the inside, Herald, Hart & Duff.
Putting these things together, it is believed by
those who have studied the case closely, that
Maxwell chloroformed and killed Preller, on
Sunday, April 5, and it is known that he has not
been seen in the city since Monday, April 6.
Some OF the detectives were at first inclined to
believe that the body had been placed in the
trunk by some medical student with a view of
playing CHASTITY joke on the community, but
this theory Of the case has now been abandoned
by all. Chief of Detectives Burke said to a
reporter 1T is foul murder, and nothing less.
The in the trunk was killed in the room.
The marks of bis blood are there yet. Here is
trunk-strap with blood on it. The idea that it
could be a hoax is absolutely absurd No; this
was murder"
''What do you think of the placard in the
trunk, so perish all traitors to the great
causei"
''That may or may not be clew. 1t may be
a deliberate attempt to make us believe that the
| murder was political assassination, while it is
a murder for money"
s'Of course, all that can be done to run the
criminal down will be done?'
'Surely. The man must not escape. Every
thing that can be done, will be done to capture
him"
The coroner made an autopsy of the remains
this afternoon, which disclosed the fact that the
stomach contained poison, but what particular
kind was not determined, The stomach has
been given to chemist for analysis. An in
quest will be held tomorrow.
Two photographs of Preller were found among
his effects. but they bear little resemblance to
the body found in the trunk, and now at the
morgue. T1s may be acetunted for,
however from the swollen and partly
decomposed condition of the remains.
The police assert that there is
no positive evidence that the body is that of
Preller, bat all the circumstances, so far as
known lead to the belief that it is. Chief of
Police Harrigan is using every means known to
the detective service to obtain clews to Max
wells whereabouts, and pains will be spared
or efforts untried to capture him.