Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-13
NEW y0RK'S MYSTERY.
| REMARKABLE THEORY RE-
GARDING 1T IN PETERSBURG.
The Disappearance of a Photogra-
overwhelmingly of Body Marks
Not he Convinced.

PETERSBURG. VA, July 12--(SpeciaL)
The mysterious disappearance several
weeks ago Of William Edwards. travel
ling photographer, known In this city and
adjacent counties, has aroused a great
deal OF interest among his friends. The
published descriptions Of the mutilated
body found in New York, and believed
there to be that of Guldensuppe, coincide
so exactly with those of Edwards that
those who knew the latter well are yet
firmly convinced that it is his body now
held by the authorities Of New York city
for positive Identification. William Ed
wards was in the employment Of the
Murray Phctographing Company, OF this
city. On the 3eth of May he left here
for Emporia, to take photographs. He
was In the habit Of going from point to
point in the adjacent counties TO do this
business for the Murray Company, TO
whom he would send the negatives to be
finished. Edwards remained in En-
poria until the 10Th OF June, when he left,
saying he was going to Richmond to con-
suit an optician. 1t is learned that he
did go 20 Richmond. but that he did not
there consult any optician. 1t Is further
learned that on that day he purchased
a ticket to New York-the only ticket
sold on that day i'm Richmond to New
York. Since then nothing has been seen
or heard of Edwards.
On the 18th of June there was found
in the river just above Harlem, and near
Sedgwick avenue. i'm New York. a valise.
within fifty yards from the spot where
had been found the second portion of the
mutilated body, supposed to be that Of
Guldensuppe. The contents OF the
vaiise-slates, handkerchlefs. twine, up
holstery bindings, and hemp twine-were
all described I'm the New York papers AT
the time. and they exactly answered the
description of articles usually carried
about by Edwards.
Mr.. Edward >. King, OF this city, a
member Of the firm Of the Murray Photo
graphing Company, who knew Edwards
well. is confident, from all the circum-
stances he has read that the mutilated
body found In New York is that of Ed
wards. and not Gu,densuppe. Notwith
standing the mass Of evidence to the
contrary, Mr.. Ring says that all of the
marks which have been identified on the
body of Gudensuppe were upon the body
Of Edwards. even TO the scar of the
felon on the finger, and that there are
other marks on Edwards which would
make his Identification complete. He
claims. therefore, that there is just as
much reason to believe, from facts and
evidence in his possession in relation to
the Identification marks, that the body
found Is that of Edwards as that 1t is
that OF Guldensuppe. The fact that the
paper found i'm the valise was marked
"Emporia. Va" seems TO prove beyond
a reasonable doubt that the valise be-
longed to Edwards.
Edwards came TO this city last Decem-
ber and applied to the Murray Company
for a position He had a letter of recon-
mendation from the j. Hall Portrait
Studio, 1871 Broadway, corner of Thirty
fourth street, New York. The letter was
addressed 10 r.. w. Bogaruus, and spoke
nlgnIy OF Edwards as an all-around pho
tograpner he was employed and sent
out in the different counties around Pc
tersburg. and was frequently entrusted
with money TO the amount OF $780, all
Of which ne faithfully accounted for.
when ne LETT Emporia ne shipped back
to Murray s. Co. all of their instruments,
tents. receipts, and papers, but kept about
ND in casn Mnile IN petersburg Ed
wards was regarded as a quiet, sober
ana INDUSTRIOUS man. lie avoided making
acuuaintances, and was never known 10
have received letter while In the city.
Another point made by Mr.. Ring Is the
fact that the head OF the mutilated body
mas never been found. MIR. Ring says
that Edwards had a wart on each eye
I'D, a large scar on the chin under MS
goatee. and that while naturally blonde
in appearance. he had used dye on his
nair. moustacne, and goatee. which turn
cd him into n brunette; and that the
dive had colored his SCALP. and the skin
wherever it touched. Mr. Ring things that
II any one wanted TO get Edwards out
of the way and make him lost TO the
world the first thing necessary would De
to get rid of the head and face. EDWARDS
when last seen, wore a coat ana vest
made OF blue diagonal ciotn, dark sulpeu
pants. laced shoes, and derby hat. He
was feet Tx inches in height, ana
weighed about 80 pounds.
Mr.. Ring has had photographs made OF
states, needles. upholstery bindings,
hemp Irvine. and six handkerchlefs III MS
possession. similar 10 those round In the
vanse IN New FORK; ana also has in his
possession considerable evidence which
ne does not at this time desire to make
public. There are reliable persons in the
city who knew towards well, who were
frequently thrown into contact and asso-
citation with him, who substantiate MI.
Kings statement.
Every EFFORT has been made to trace
Edwards. but without avail. 1t Is known
positively that he did not meet any one
i'm Richmond on June 10th. and that he
did NOT receive any message while In
Emporia or Richmond summoning him to
New York Edwards claimed to have
an uncle in Nashville. but efforts TO find
MIN there met with no success.
TO say the least, this is very re-
markable case. The almost exact SINH
larity Of marks upon the bodies of Ed
wards and Guldensuppe, the simultaneous
disappearance Of the two men in the same
city. combine to make the mystery the