Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-01-11
SILVER SNUFF BOX.
1t Solved n Mystery and Saved
Paul Kunkors Lifo.

nhhh OoA WHICH, hlNnOukn HhhuhOllt
and valuable, Is not esteemed by its
owners 80 much on that account as for
the manner In which IL came into their
possession, and for the remarkable
story connected with It, On the inside
OF the lid 10 engraved the single word
Cooper That word solved the mys-
terry OF frightful tragedy, and solved
1t in time TO prevent another tragedy
about TO occur under judicial sanction.
MANY years ago the farmers OF some
OF the border counties of Pennsylvania
and Maryland had been for long time
victims OF horse and sheep thieves, who
despoiled them of much valuable prop.
erty. A young German named Conrad
Winter, who was bound to "A woman
named Goodwin, OF Parkston, Md,
was arrested, charged with being con-
cerned In the thieving, and he was
convicted and sentenced to six years in
the penitentiary This was In 1915.
One day in the fall OF ls49 Mrs. Charles
Cooper, wife of a prominent farmer
who lived near Parkston, went to 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 to
walk home 1t was nearly dark. She
carried an alpaca umbrella with a yell
low stain on one side OF It. Her pur-
chases were in n paper package. Mrs
Cooper was fond of snuff. and always
carried II supply In n handsome silver
snuff box, which she had had filled at
the store on this visit to Parkston.
Mrs. Cooper did not reach home that
night Next morning search was made
for her, and towari evening, In a lone
ly spot by the roadside, covered with
brush, her dead body was found. The
back Of her head had been crushed In
by blow with some heavy weapon.
Her umbrella and paper parcels were
missing, as was her silver snuff-box. A
stranger had tramped through the viii
lagc in the forenoon, and IL was remem-
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 tho road between Parltston and
York, Pa, had seen two men going TO-
ward the latter place in company-ench
with an um mOrclla, each with paper
parcel, and each in the iolliest OF humor
wherever seen-nothing to give the
people of Parlsston n clew TO the
stranger with an umbrella and paper
parcel could be discovered. Then do
tcctivcs from Baltimore were put on
tho case,
Paul Kunltel, when he died only n
short time ago in York, aged 10 years,
was one Of the most conspicuous and
respected citizens Of that city. In ls40
he had been citizen OF York for sew
cral years, and was an industrious man
with u character beyond rcproach. lie
had wife and three children, and ali
were devout Catholics. In the fall of
lSlo n brother of his, who had been in
York for some time, made up his mind
10 return to Germany. AS he intended
10 take the vessel at baltimore, Paul
accompanied him to that city, and
after seeing him on board the ship
started TO return home ON foot lie
LEFT Baltimore early IN the morning, lie
carried common umbrella, and had
under his arm a paper parcel con-
taining articles he had bought in BAL
timorc for his wife and children. Ills
course took him directly past the spot
where Mrs Coopers body was found a
few hours later In the day. lie passed
through Parkston, and u milo or SO be.
y0nd came up with man who was
sitting 10y the roadside. The stranger
arose., spoke to kunkel, and us he
was also German and travelling to-
ward York, the two walked on together.
at was not long bclore the men were
quite we'll acquainted The stranger
told Kunlsel that his namc was Conrad
Winter. lie had au umbrella and Il
paper parcel lie offered to exchange
| the unit ella he carried for paul's Win.
tcr's umbrella, although it had big
yellow stain on one side, was much
| better than his, and KunlIel did not
| hesitate to make the exchange, Kunkel
was man Of jovial disposition, and
| Winter fell into his mood, so that every
person they met was amused at clcii
merry greetings and snatchcs OF song
When they arrived at York, Winter
said he would like to remain n day Ul
so in that place before he continued hi.
journey, and Kuukel invited him TO ac
ccpt the hospitality of his household
which he did. lie was treated will
the greatest kindness at Kuukcrs
and remained with the family two
DAYS, during which time he created nC
little amusement by his persistence IN
trading valuable articles from tn,
paper parcel he carried for things of NJ
possible value or use to him. lie TRADED
a new pair OF womeu's shoes, OF ode
pattern, to Mrs. Kunlel for an ole
ilunnel shirt, and insisted on present
ing KuulSel with silver snuff box
This Kunllel would not accept, nor lo
his wife accept.
Two days after Winter went ava!
Kunlsel was followed home from hi
work one day by two men. They wer
detectives, and they arrested him ol
the charge of being the murderer o
Mrs Cooper, The house was searched
The umbrella with the stain on it, tn
, peculiar shoes, and other things wer,
found and Identified as the property o
the murdered woman. Kunkcl ha,
heard Of the murder through Winter
and when he found himself charge,
with the terrible crime, he saw at one
that he had been made the victim o
the real assassin. The effect of thi
sudden revelation, and the fearful stu
alton he was In, dorangcd Kunkel'
mind so that he was unable to give an
lucid or even connected explanation Q
the circumstance that pointed so pa
pably TO him as the murderer Iii
wife could tell nothing about the mcet
ing Of her husband with Winter, bC
cause he had told her nothing about Il