Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-16

ST. LOUIS, April 10.
! Two photographs of Preller were found
among the effects, but they bear little resem-
bance to the body found in the trunk at the
hotel, now at the morgue.
This may be accounted for, however, from
the swollen and partly decomposed condition
| of the remains.
The police assert there is no positive evil
dence that the body is that of Preler, but all
circumstances, so far as known. lead to the
belief that it is. The local ticket agent and
conductor of the San Francisco road now posi-
lively identify the photographs of Preller,
who it was supposed was on the slab in the
morgue. The agent says he sold Preller a
ticket to San Francisco, one week ago yester-
day and the conductor says Preller went out
with him, stopping at Pierce City, Mo. Max
well, the dude, cannot be traced. The dead
man found in the trunk seems to have been
a third party, and the question now is, who
was he, who killed him and what was the
object?
Walter Lrnnox Maxwell, who ie supposed
| to have murdered Preller at the Southern
hotel, April 5. purchased through unlimited
ticket to San Francisco, Monday morning,
April 9th, and signed his name to the ticket,
before leaving. He lett the same evening on
the San Francisco railroad. He was recog-
nized on the train 5y two st. Louis gentle
men, who talked with him and saw him as
far As Pierce City. Mo.
The inquest on the body of c. Arthur Prel-
ler the victim of the Southern Hotel trunk
murder, which was to take place this after
noon has been indefinitely postponed by the
coroner. He is awaiting the following of the
latest clues ard for advices from relatives.
A San Francisco special saws On re-
ceipt of a telegram yesterday from Chief of
Police Harrigan of st. Louis. the police here
commenced search for Maxwell, the alleged
murderer OF Preller. Investigation devel-
oped that a man answering Maxwells descrip-
ton arrived here Saturday last and put up at
the Palace Hotel. He only stopped there
one night and it is believed he sailed in the
steamer City of Sydney for Hawaii and
Australia which left the next afternoon.
Later developments, however, incline to the
belief that the police are on his trail and an
arrest may be looked for at any time.
1t transpred here today that Maxwell two
or three days before the murder was in great
need of money, and he attempted to cell his
watch and steroptican apparatus, but failed.
On Monday following, before he left the
CITY, he informed the persons to who he had
tried to sell these articles, that he no longer
needed money and displayed plenty of cash.
TACOMA, VT, April l5.
Mrs. Cooke. with whom Maxwell and
Preller, who are connected with the St. Louis
trunk mystery, boarded while in Boston,
leased the Elmwood House two weeks ago.
When called upon today by the reporter,
Mrs. Cookies daughter stated that she remem
bered Maxwell and Preller as having en-
gagged a room of them Feb. 5, at l5S Wash
ington street, Boston.
Maxwell left the room March 2Sth. She
expressed but little surprise on hearing he
was in trouble, as there was continual dread
of him by all their boarders. He said he was
Scotchmsn and had money enough to sup
port him for year; that the money had been
paid him to leave the English, as his testi-
mony would hang a certain man if he re-
msined He professed to be a surgeon
Preller did not occupy the room at night, and
in a short time started for California, but
Maxwell received letter from him at ST.
Louis. Maxwell brought four or five valises
to the house, and IN a short time had new
trunk arrive with his initials on it, He pos
itively refused to let the chambermaid make
his bed, saying that he could do it, and kept
his door locked.
At one time, Maxwell pointed a revolver
at Mrs. Cooke, and on another occasion
pointed the weapon at sick woman, fright
ening her badly. He said he was going west
to kill cowboys. He often spoke of getting
body and dissecting it, saying he was ac-
quainted with the business.