The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-01-26
A SILVER SNUFF BOX.
1t Solved a Mystery and Saved
Paul KunkeTs Life.


the manner in which il came into their
possession. and for the remarkable
story connected with it. On the inside
OF the lid Is engraved the single word
Cooper That word solved the mys-
terry of a friqhtfuI tragedy, and solved
il in time To prevent another tragedy
about TO occur under judicial sanction.
..NIanv years ago the farmers OF some
Of the border counties OF Pennsylvania
and Maryland had been for a long time
victims OF horse and sheep thieves, who
dcspoiled them Of much valuable prop
erty \ young German named Conrad
Winter, who was bound 10 woman
named Goodwin, Of FarSstou, Nd,
was arrested, charged with being con
cerned in the thieving, and he was
convicted and sentenced 10 six years in
the pcnitentiary. This was in 1s43.
One d:y in the fall of ls49 Mrs Charles
Cooper. wife OF a prominent farmer
who lived near Parkston, went 10 that
village to DO some shopping Among
other things that she purchased was "A |
pair Of shoes for herself Of peculiar
make When she left the village 10
walk home il was nearly dark She
carried an alpaca umbrella with yei-
low stain on one side of II. Her pur-
chases were in a paper package. Mrs.
Cooper was fond of snuff. and always
carried a supply in handsome silver
snuff box which she had had filed at
the store on this visit 10 Parkston.
Mrs. Cooper did not reach home that
night. Next morning search was made
for her, and towari evening, IN a lone
IL spot by the roadside, covered with
brush. her dead body was found The
back Of her mead had been crushed in
Her umbrella and paper parcels were
missing. as was ner silver snutf-boN. \
stranger had tramped through the viii
larc in the forenoon, and II was rcmeIn-
bered that he carried an umbrella and
paper parcel Efforts were At once
made to get trace Of the stranger, but,
beyond the fact that persons travelling
over the road between PariSston and
York, Pa, had seen two men going 20
ward the latter place in company-each
with an umbrella. each with a paper
parcel. and each in the iolIiest Oi humor
wherever seen-nothing TO give the
people of Parl5ston clew % the
stranger with an umbrella and paper
parcel could be discovered. Then de-
tectives from baltimore were put on
the case
paul Kunlzel, when he died only a
=
was one of the most conspicuous and
respected citizens OF that city. In 1919
he had been citizen OF York for sew
eral wears, and was an industrious man
/ with 4 character beyond rrprOach. He
/ had a wife and three children. and ali
! were derout Catholics Ia the fall OF
| 1919 a brother of his, who had been IN
York for some time. made mp ms mind
To return TO Germany. As he intended
ralSe-tlles vessel at baltimore, PauI
accompauied hfIr~t 20. that city, and
after seeing him on board the ship
started 10 return home on foot lie
! left baltimore early in the morning. lie
| carried a common umbrella, ana hiid
under his arm a paper parcel con
tanning articles ne had bought IN lbal-
| tiruore for his wife and children uls
course took him directly past the spot
where Mrs Cooper's body was found
few hours later in the day. lie passed
through Parllston, and a mile OF 50 be-
vond came up with a man who was
sittinr bv the roadside. The stranger
arose smoke to kunllel. and as he
vas also 4 German and travelling to-
ward York. the two walked on together
at was not long before the men were
unite well acquainted. The stranger
told Kunlxel that his name was Conrad
Winter. He had an umbrella and a
,,.,,,ay. marcel He offered 10 exchange
the urnbi ella he carrieddor Panls WIN
tar.'s umbrella, although II had a oig
yellow stain on one side. was much
better than his, and kunkel did not
| hesitate TO make the exchange hunhcl
was a man OF Jovial disposition ana
Winter fell into his mood, 50 that every
nersou they met was amused at their
| and snateheS OF song.
when they arrived at York, Winter
said he would like to remain a day ol
"a in that place before he continued hls
iouruev. and Kunkel invited him TO ac
cept the hospitality OF his household
which he did. He was treated VIII
the greatest kindness at hunkeIs
.D5 remained with the family tive
days. during which time he created NJ
little amusement 10y his persistence II
trading valuable articles from IN
r,a,,er parcel he carried for things OF n
possibIe value or use TO him lie trade
ra,, pair of vvomeu's shoes, of od'
pattern, 10 Mrs hunleI Tor an OF
flannel shirt, and insisted on present
ing Kunl1eI with silver snun BOZ
This kuallel would not accept, nor le
: his wife accept
Two days after Winter went ava
Errls.l was followed home from h
work one day 10y two men. Ihey wei
/, detectives, and they arrested hlm 9
the charge of being the murderer
Mrs. Cooper. The house was searche
- The umbrella with the stain on II, u
! r,aculiar shoes and other things wei
= found and identified as the property
- the murdered woman. hunkel n;
baard Of the murder through Ninte
n and when he found himself charg'
10 with the terrible crime, he saw at on
2" that he had been made the victim
ne the real assassin. The effect OF II
Us sudden revelation, and the fearful SIT
rs alton he was in, deranged hunke
mind so that he was unable 10 give a
Iucid or even connected explanation
the circumstances that pointed 50 p
nablv TO him as the murderer. !
= wife could tell nothing about the me
ing of her husband with Winter
cause he had told her nothing ABOUT
nj and. in explaining the presence OF
-" shoes and other things IN the hou
she. in her terror and confusion Ai'
'te- her story contradictory and my'
OoO rious kunlzel was placed III ioih )
hat until the necessary papers could oe
tained. and then was removed 10 ia
) IL more for trial
re- ..Ue was Ia prison there ten mon
ters before his trial came on, and during
sses that time his mind remained IN suci
nee state that he couldn't be induced
qnc rive any account OF his moveme
g., ,.,.,,-i,,.r Raltiruore and his CO