New-York tribune., 1906-05-13
BODY FOUND In TRUNK
ALLEGED KILLER HERE.
German 4n1Ues from Hamburg and
Is at Once Arrested.

"Llhelm Meyer, second cabin passenger on
Ihe Hamburg-American liner Graf Waldersee,
was arrested soon after the steamer docked yes
terday by Deputy United States Marshal Bern
hardt' on the charge of having murdered a
woman IN Germany and packed her dlsmem-
Dereo body in trunk with chloride of lime
me arrest was made a warrant issued by
United States Commissioner Shields who was
advised of the murder through a cable dispatch
received by the German Consulate in this city
Meyer was arranging his declaration with a
customs inspector when Deputy Marshal Bern
hardt boarded the steamer with Deputy Mar
snai Reid and put him under arrest When in
formed of the charge against him Meyer looked
surprised at first but the color soon left his
race and his knees trembled Never is a Ger
man of the blond type, and has gray eyes
"nlch shlfted from right to left as the marshals
led him handcuffed from the ship.
The crime was committed in Wildunper Wal
deck several months ago. According TO the ad-
vices from Frankfort, Meyer went there on April
"a from Wildungen and deposited with an ex-
press company several pieces of baggage, one
OF which was a large trunk Meyer said he was
going abroad and would reclaim the baggage
on his return, three months later. The trunk
was locked, strapped and tied strongly with stout
ropes 1t had not remained in the company's
storeroom many days when an odor was traced
to it, and. on the advice Of the police. II was
opened. Inside was found the semi -decomposed
body of an elderly woman packed in chloride of
lime.
The police traced Meyer to Hamburg and
found he had sailed on the Graf Waldersee
which left Hamburg on April 30, in company
with a woman registered as Mrs. s. Meyer
cable message was sent to the consul. general
in this city ordering Meyers arrest
The body in the trunk was later identified as
Mrs an ~
siderable wealth. who accompanied Meyer from
San Francisco to Wildungen two years ago.
The woman who arrived here yesterday with
Meyer and who, it is believed, is not accessory
to the murder. gave the name of Sophie Chris
tian She said she not Meyers wife, but
explained that Meyer promised to marry her
when he established a business in New Orleans
whence he had planned to go When booking on
the steamer at Hamburg Meyer gave New Or
leans as his home town
The immigration officials were preparing to
take Meyer and Sophie Christiani to Ellis Island.
when the deputy marshals with warrant from
Commissioner Shields, came aboard and took the
prisoner and his companion before the United
States Commissioner.
When arraigned before United States Commits
sioner Shields Meyer protested his innocence
Miss Christiani became excited and begged to
tell of her association with Meyer. She said she
had lived with the prisoner for two years. al
though they were not married.
Mrs Vogel. the woman alleged 20 have been
murdered by Meyer. she said, was Meyers
aunt, and objected to Meyers relations with Miss
Chrstani.
Soon after the murdered woman protested
against Meyers mode of life she was forced to
appeal for police protection. Miss ChristianI
said that Mrs Vogel suddenly disappeared in
July of last year. and that she never heard
of her until Meyer was arrested yesterday
Commissioner Shields committed Meyer and
his companion to the Tombs without bail The
pair will be arraigned tomorrow. when the Ger
man Consul General will appear against them