The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-04-23
THE TRUNK TRAGEDY.

Evidence Accommodating Pointing Directly
to Maxwell as the Murderer and Preilel
as the Victim-The Antecedents of the
Latter-Maxwen En- Route to New Zea.
land.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April I5.-The South
ern Hotel mystery is still impenetrable.
In addition to the discoveries made yes
terday, it is learned that a man answer
ing the description of DR.. Maxwell about
ten O'Clock Monday morning, April 9th,
rushed into the office of the Frisco line
and purchased of Mr.. S. A. Hughes q
ticket for San Francisco. He gave there
for 500 bill and a $50 bill. He was
given in return 81 in change. He re.
ceived a sleeping-car ticket good foI
Monday night. He appeared to know
what his tickets would cost, and when
the train left. His name was on the
stub of the ticket that will be found on
his arrival there at the San Francisco pas
senger Office. Mr.. Hughes thinks it was
Maxwell.
One day last week man giving his
name as DIR. Walter Lenox- Maxwell visit
ed A. S. Aloe & Co., 800 North Fourth
street. He said that he had valuable
steriopticon which he would like to dis
pose of. The money was of more value
to him, and he would take $25 for it. A
bargain was struck.
Monday morning the same man called.
He said that he had found that the trunk
containing the steriopticon had not yet
arrived, and besides he had received a
remittance from England, and was no
longer desirous of selling. He displayed
a large roll of bills, in which were 800,
$500, and other bills of large denomina-
tion-just such a roll as had been shown
by PTeller at the Southern. He purchased
a $50 field glass and a pair of gold eye
glasses.
Sunday night, one of the Southern's
attaches remembers Maxwell told him
that Preller had gone to the country, and
would not be back. Maxwell was under
the influence of liquor at the time, and
seemed to be greatly excited. He spoke
of selling his clothing and adopting west
ern attire. He also displayed two re-
volvers. To another emplOye, the same
night, he said he had been suddenly called
to Washington.
Monday morning Maxwell had his hair
cut, his face shaved, and asked the bar
ber after the job was done if he thought
he would be known.
He also purchased a hat of peculiar
make that would tend to greatly trans
form his appearance, and said that the
transformation was what he wanted.
In the barber shop under the Laclede
Maxwell showed his revOlvers and two
bowie-knives. He said he had $1,000
and was going to the Indian Territory to
become cowboy.
Maxwell Monday morning took trunk
from the Southern which he was anxious
to gave got to the depot quickly. 1t was
sent there
ARTHUR PRELLER.
NEW YORK, April 15.-The night clerl
of the Hotel Belvidere thus describes
Preller, the victim of the st. Louis
tragedy: "He was tall, slight of figure
most gentlemanly and refined. He had &
Jewish cast of countenance, a prominent
nose, curved lips, dark complexion, black
curly hair, with slight but black mus
tache, and little mutton-chop side Whis.
kers. He was thirty years old. He re
mained here three weeks, leaving March
oath. 1 never saw any one with him dur
ing the time he remained with us. He was
always on a rush, as if he hadn't a
moment to spare. He never came OF
went without quite load of packages.
He received a large mail every day. He
was richly dressed, and seemed to have
plenty of money!
Richard w. Owens, an Irishman and an
employe of j. Deming, who lives at 81
Clinton Place, was seen at No. Z, Seventh
avenue, the place of meeting of the con-
gregation of Plymouth brethren, OF which
Owens is pastor. His account of Preller,
filed out by suggestions from another
member of the congregation who knew
him well, was as follows:
'tArthur Preller was the son of Z. Prel-
Ter, of London, a dealer in the higher
grades of decorative print cloths, and the
finer qualities of embroidering silks. His
brother and himself were interested in
the firm, and he travelled as its represen-
tative. He was of a retiring nature, a
pure-minded man, and an earnest member
of our order, being a member of the
Dalston Road Assembly in London.
He was a good deal of an artist,
and musician, having music in his trunk,
which he valued at $500. TDis was his
third or fourth trip around this country.
He reached this city about March 1st,
with six big trunks containing quite lit
tie library, among other things. He was
about twenty-seven years old, but young
in appearance. He was of a contempIa-
tive cast of mind, caring nothing for so
ciety, and the last man in the world to
take up with fast companions He
dressed richly, but quietly, and often car
ried as much as $500 about his person.
He was of medium height, resembled a
creole in his features, and wore a dark
mustache. l gave him a letter of intro
duction to Rev. DR.. James Brooks, Pas
tor of the Walnut Street Presbyterian
Church of st. Louis. / know no other
person in that city with whom he would
come in contact.
MAXWELL IN SAN FRANCISCO.
SAN Francisco, CAL, April I5.-On re-
ceipt of telegram yesterday from Chief
of Police Harrigan of st. Louis, the po-
lice commenced to search for Maxwell,
the alleged murderer of Preller. InVesti-
cation developed the fact that man an
swering Maxwels description arrived
here Saturday last and stopped at the
Palace Hotel. He only staid there one
night, and it is believed he sailed in the
steamer Sydney for Hawaii and Aus
tralia, which left the Eext afternoon.
Later developments, how, ver, incline the
reporters to the belief that the police are
on his trail, and an arrest may be looked
for at any time.