Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-25
is PRELLER ALIVE?
The Theory Calming Ground that the st.
Louis Trunk Mystery was
Mell-COBtriYed
Scheme on the Part Of PrelIer and Max
well 10 Defraud the Insurance
Companies.
A Strange Case Reported from New Ha-
ven, Ct.-A Supposed Dead Woman
Turns Up Alive.

st. Louis Republican: 1.-THE Repub-
licdR has at last struck the right clew to
the Preller- Maxwell murder mystery"
said one of the est-known life insur-
ance men in the city to a reporter yester-
day;
murder after all2"
That's it exactly, That is what
said the day after the body was discov-
cred in the trunk, and my friends
laughed at me. But my theory tallies
with that of one of the most experienced
| life insurance adjusters in this country,
and it is this: Preller was financially
embarrassed, SO he took considerable life
insurance before he left England. On
| the way over, or perhaps after he got
here, he and Maxwell made up the whole
plan. A stiff was procured, and Max
well was to play the murderer and leave
his tracksEsO the police could find him.
| OF course, the murder would be pub
| lished abroad, and the claim for the in
/ surance would be made. Maxwell if
caught, would be in jail for the fraud,
and as soon as the claim was paid,
Preller would turn up in America and
say that it was all a mistake, that he
had never been dead at ALL He would
stay in America and would have no
trouble, as the only thing that could be
charged against him would be fraud, and
that is not an extraditable offense. The
evidence is good enough to warrant the
company in paying the insurance, the
statement of the chief of police, the cor
oner's verdict; why We pay claims every
day of a similar kind, and attempts are
being made constantly to defraud insur-
ance companies in that way"
| ttfIbar, 4 Ill. Il.
is dead2"
mo more dead than am. l recall a
case now that will show you how insur-
ance companies are defrauded. 1t was
over here at Lincoln, Ill. The man who
had his life insured for $1,000 left his
wife and went out West. He is keeping
a grocery store now at Los Angeles, Cal.
His wife found a tramp who was dying OF
consumption; SO she fixed him up with
good clothes, took him around to her rel
atlves and introduced him as her hus-
band. Pretty soon he died and she had
no trouble at all In getting evidence that
her husband was dead. She got the
money, went out to California and Joined
her husband. The company afterward
went into the hands of a receiver, and as
there was nobody to follow up the case
there 1t dropped. Cases similar to that
are happening right alo %.
Chief Harrigau still maintains that
Preller was murdered by Maxwell, and
that is still the opinion OF nearly every
one who has investigated the affair, but
the other side must be given a show.
Mr.. w. II. Keevil, of this city, who
formerly lived near Bradford, England
and who has had some correspondence
with the father of C. a. Preller, received
yesterday the letter given below. The
paper and envelope are bordered with
black.
so WooD STREET, LONDON, June s, 1885.
W. Il. Keevil, Esq:
DEAR SIR have yet to thank you
for your very kind letter of sympathy OF
the 10th of April, and the sending of the
newspapers. thank you for the inter
est you take in my sad bereavement.
Your authorities have acted with won
derful tact and energy, for which | am
very grateful, and the scoundrel, nc
doubt, will be brought to justice, although
this will never bring me back my son.
If you have sons, may they be spared to
you to be comfort and joy. Very faith
fully yours 4 pRFJTFR