The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-22
INQUEST ON PRELLER,
The Victim Of the Southern Hotel Trunk
Tragedy.


ST. LOUIS April 1S.-coroner Nidelst this morn
ing regan The inquest on the body OF G. Arthur
Preller. the victim OF the Southern Hotel trunk
tragedy. A. s. Hunt, cashier at the southern
Hotel. was the first witness lie identified the
photograph OF Preller sc the man who registered
al the hotel Ee told OF the arrival OF PralleT and
Maxwell. Did not recollect OF &axwelfs maE-
t.oning the expected arrival or Pfeiler When
Maxwell paid his first weeks bill. April 6, he did
not speak of leaving, lie had not been brought
into contact with either msn TO any extent.
A. I. Aloe, opticisn, was next called. Two weeks
ago last Thursday two gentlemen came to his
store. lie was called from his Office TO the front
OF the store and WIS asked by the smaller OF the
men il he desired TO purchase some magic lanterns
that he had brought from England. The man said
tic lanterns were at his hotel but were unpacked.
afternoon ne called and said the trunk con
when they came he would let the witness know.
Witness rad seen two photographs, the ones sup
iieved 10 pe Maxwell did the talKing. Tue next
Mondsy the msn who had talked about me Ian
tens called, purehssed q hsld-gass, speetacies
and manicure OUTFIT When questioned about
tie arrival Of the trunk be passed the thing OF
lightly. He had roll OF bills at the time, ard
tendefed in payment for bis purchases SlOO bill.
James Johnson, salesman for A. 7. Aloe. was
shown the photograph. BE was shown the pic
ture supposed to be that OF Max well aud also that
thought 10 be OF PTeller. The latter. be said. he
wes not positive OF, as the man who called ST the
store had on hat and different clothing
The gave his name) was the man
who had negotiated the sale Of the stereopticon.
ana views. de old not want the witness TO send
up 10 the hotel 10 see the lanters at that time. In
;SSe afternoon he called and purchased some
smoked glass spectseles. BE spoke about payment
beirg deferred until the Transaction relative to the
siereoptcon bad been completed lie nsid $40 and
wss given the cnsnse Then he asked ioI change
for SlOO Pill, displaying a large roll While In
mitts nee from sbrO. d was then mentioned.
Charles Beiger, of 16 Broadway, being shown q
picture Of Maxwell, testified / recOgniz3 the
first saw him on April 6. He bought two trunks
az my store. He were full, ,shorLlight beard and
musGche ! asked his name so i could deliver
the vsiise he bought, but he carried it with him
He sskCd what Il was specially made for. ] said
j was waterproof l charged a, five dollar
On Tuesday was called to the hotel 10 open
trunk. noticed blood where the trunk lay.
intervals Some one shouted, 'Cus the ropa." 1
cut IL and when lifted the lid the dead mans
leg fell outward over the side Ol the trunk. Saw
the body Of in the trunk. When the police
man saw the body he shouted, "shuE the trunk"
When the man bought the trunk nc said he want
ed no tray with it
John Lyons. porter OF the Southern ts.,i6ed
that three weeks ago the occupant OF room Iii
asked me TO take uD some baggage. one trunk is
the same the body was found in. TIE trunk
and stTsp OF o. H. but he said not to rsiS i'Ps
Thomas Marion, another porter, vas shown the
two pictures, and said: 'lr6e1gnlzs one o. these
as PIeiler. but can't Identify the other so well.
Tony FreiIsg, another porter sail: idenily
this IS the picture OF the man called Prel er !
can't identify the other. Last Tuesday brought
very bad. There was lot of thick blood eaking
out OF the trunk. and when taking it down It0ld
The bar keeper / thought there was dead man in
it, think the man in the trunk is PrelleT.
William ETGin, another porter, said: I rec
ognize this picture as toat of Preller and
Maxwell several times on April c. AT a.
~. / took two empty trunks 70 room III. No one
was in the room lot OF clothes and tools were
hegped on the floor. Later, when st the room
AGAIN, Maxwell was ia the room, aud told me 10
take DOWN an iron trunk. He was very nervous
The clothes had disappeared from the hoor, aud
supposed his agitation was caused by his hurry TO
catch bus. He came right down and got in
the BUS.
Fred BIGGER, brother OF the trunk maker tessi-
fed that the man supposed to be Maxwell bought
two trunks and valise and two straps al their
them sent to the Southern Hotel.
MasRie Cuddy, a amoermaid at the Southern,
identified The picture OF Maxwell He easme TO
the mouse two weeks sgo, and had two trunks
i frequently saw Maxwell aud Ereiler to-
gether in Maxwell's room, and. never
thCm last toEe lher in the room between land
O'Clock Easter sunday; when 1 took in the
towels Prelier leaning against the window
and Maxwell sat near the table; both were smok
ing. Next morning all the baggage was packed
in The room ready TO go OUT Max Sell went in Just
after came out. The baggage was still there
Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday. and sup
posed the room was ccclDied all the time. o Ie
towel was used on Monday, bat nothing else was
UsaTrsngea; can't remember wnether the pea
seemed 10 have been occupied by one or two per-
sons. Maxwell left the room generally between
10 and 1880. saw Maxwell on the morning of
Easter Monday. He rushed into the room rs II in
great hurry; he seemed excited. think the
body at the morpue is Preller's
A. s. Aloe recognized one OF the photographs as
one OF the men who called at his store and bar
gained for the sale Of lot OF scenery views.