New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-15
DEAD AND NAKED IN A TRUNK
AN ENGLIsHMAN POISONED BY A FRIEND.
HORRIBLE DISCOVERY IN A At. LOUIS HoTEL-No
CLFw TO THE MURDERER
tpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBusE.l

quent investigation showed that crime had been
committed, which has but one parallel III criminal
annals-the Webster in Boston forty years
ago. On March 81 Engshman arrived at the
hotel and registered as Walter H. Lennox Maxwell,
London England. and on April 3, another English
man, who registered as c. Arthur Preler, London,
England, arrived. The latter was travelling
salesman for the house OF J. II. Dixon, decorative
fabrics Bradford, England; the other physician
of some distinction in the employ of the Turkish
Government. They were seen together until last
Sunday night. On Monday morning Maxwell went
| to n neighboriug trunk store and bought two
trunks, and hour later paid his bill and left the
| hotel. He said that he going east but would
| be back in a short time. and would leave his bag
gage in his ROOM When Preller arrived on April s.
he was given room No. 3s5, but did not stay in 1t
| long, preferring Maxwells company.
| The odor from the trunk in Maxwels room at
tracted the attention of the hotel people and they
sent for trunk maker aud had it opened this morn
! ing. The lock was broken and the cover was held
, down with rope. On cutting this the I'D sprung
back disclosing the decomposiHs body OF a corpse
IL iay jammed IN the trunk with the toes crushed
| against tho bottom aud side, and the shoulder
blades resting against the opposite end. 10 ut the
| body to its narrow bounds the limbs were spread
and pressed to the back and front side of the box
| The only garment of the corpse was G pair of
drawers which were folded ND above the dscOlored
| knees The head was pressed down toward one
corner. leaning the left should Not feature
was recognizable the body lay in this cottin
Ths discoorcd swollen tongue forced itself out from
| between tho blackened lips aud hung down toward
one side of the chm The rght elbow leaned OH the
bottom OF the trunk, while the left arm lay across
the body. Two intorsectng cuts or Sits gapcd
over the apex Of tue breast bone but on first exam
ttou ~ hp said
were superficial or extended into the cavity of the
chest aud had been tightly closed IN the process of
putrcfactiop. Just beside the head, pasted TO the
end OF the trunk was piece of unruled writing
paper five and half by seven inches. bearing the
following iuscrption
70 perish all traitors to the great cause.
|. The only marks on the exterior of the trunk
the four letters, "W. Il. l.. NJ" in square, bold
face. black letters, one and half inches high.
these initials correspond with the registration III
the Office, Walter II. Lennox Maxwell London,
England"
The police were summoned, and tho body taken
to the Morsuc. where the Coroner held an autopsy.
which shovel that death had been caused by
quick poison cyanide OF potassium. PreeTs room
was visited and his four trunks taken 10 Police
lleadauarters These were of different quality
from the cheap ones owned by Man we'll On each
the name Of G.. A Prcller London, England was
engraved while the material OF which the trunk
WAS made WAS hne leather. Mr.. Prellers passports
were the lrst papers discovered here They were
t,vo IA number; ono issued in 1878, authorizing
him 10 ,ra,sl in Russia ristd by the Russiaa Am
bassador IN London the other issued in 1883 by
Lord Granville authorizing Prelier TO travel in
spain. Mexico md the UIute' States. This one Is
psed by the Spanish authorities. In b0th he Is he
zcribcd as IL British subject. largo quantity OF
cartridges suitable for Winchester rifle were IN his
yalisc some of them loose and some IN box the
box being ,Incery burned ~ one corner as though
onr of the cartridges had exploded within Dir'
PrclleT had also "a box iuI OF gummed label blanks,
much Like those which aro used by entoinol0gsts
and the like tor attaching he names To specimens.
PTellcI's tnIiet appointments were OF tue hncst.
ills brushes soaps and travelling bag were costly
and clabuTatr. There was IN every possible dlrrc-
ton evlncrd the slgns oi wealth aud comfort about
his belongings. One trunk was hilel with CORE
spondenc1 aud showed that T.. Preller, his father,
" as "A merchant IN ChCapsiue, London half.
dozen letters from DR. Maxwell, all dated from M.
/ JOs MashngtOn-st., boston. were found. They
sbow that MAX well end"nvOnng tO have rtller
accoInuany him to kcw-Lcaand ana uSlrdiia.
Both men had travelled eN teusivoly IN Europe. bat
there was 10 evidences to show that they met until
last winter. fTcller was feiiglously inclined. hls
papers show that he had foreign exchange 10 the
amount of several Thousand dollars cashed recently.
Max well bad nothing lie practIsed medicine Tor
while in Boston. &" do not like the cute Yankees
he once remarked. He wanted an appointment AZ
surgeon on board ship and was once surgeon at
ST. Bartholomew Hospital, London; Inc letters
ara addressed to " Prcer Care OF +. SchlcrIDger,
IIG Broome-st, New-iork CITY,"
Evidence shows that Maxwell was addicted 10
immortality. had "A mlncing Salt and "a dudlhh AIR. |
n il snppusod that he met Preer by appointment
at the southern Hotel, and then deliberately |
MANNED to murder him. On sunday night. Aprli D. |
bottle of WINE was ordered to Parlor No. ~. ana
II is believed that this WINE was poisoned. Inc |
next morning the body was pat ~ the trunk and |
all money aud jewelry laken. Inc trunk was |
bought the same morning, ~ II was identlh"d 10 |
day. An hour later Maxwell left and SAID that le |
kua n stmg L.. BailIlal
of a wholesale bouse here saw Maxwell on san |
Francisco train, going west lie Identified nun Dy |
a photograph. They met casually ana MaAweli,
"a ho has "A strong English accent, told him that he
was IN the employ Of the Turkish Government ana
was getting information ~ thls country. io @ WAS
excited ard nervous. and had on a smoking gown
that did not tit Ho created suspicion IN the mud
of Mr.. Bauman, who promptly reported the nhys-
terious stranger to the police. MaXwePs picture
Was found among Precrs effects aud Mr Baunan
identified il as tho counterpart of the man he was
talking to On sunday night ~. Al,
There ls "a great deal Oi mystery surrounding the
case at No one seems TO know what the reference
to traitors pasted on tho trunk means dynamite
suggcsted PGscr is hgniy Jdrss eThnes'sa in an"
don is No ~ Woodst, T.. e.. lie had iour sample
trunks containing samples OF tapestry ana hecora
tive fabrics Maxwell was ioa
Of the Royal Collegc of Physlcans ana ourseoIs,
London. The following Telegram ionnd among the
papers of Preller Is the best ecw 10 MS reil'onS
Win ""A WI" "Bosroy. Mass. March 10, lss5.
&C A. PRELlEe, Beircdere H't' corner f0""-@'e' "'"
EighttnHst , -, -, u.t, |
yes could 20 direct 10 Auckland from here. VIII
write to Philadelphia Tomorrow . =, M
There is testimony to show that Maxwell bonght
a prescription containing large percohtaR1 on
ohiorolorIn Oh Sunday night. 1t ~ now believed ny
those who have studleu this mysterious Tragedy
most closely that Dr. Maxwell chor0i"rlned and
killed Mr.. Preller Sunday evening, hpri o, ahu h
his hurry uuon that occasion was notable On ttno tno
next day he disguised bmself by changing ms
beard aud buying clothes which would make MN y,
IonIs has seen him. The police are working nara
on the ease and every cndcay0r ls be'ng miue 10