The Washington times., 1909-06-20

NEW YORK, June 20.-Two important
theories were preached today Ivy the
police, Coroner's Physician O'Hanlon.
and the special detectives investigating
the murder of Miss Elsie Sigel. grand
daughter of the war hero. Gen. Franz
Sigel, whose body was found in a
trunk in the rooms of William L. Leon,
a Chinaman, at 782 Eighth avenue.
The first is that the body may have
been shipped from Washington or some
other point. and second that the girl
may have been a suicide. The detec-
tives hold that it is possible the girl
went 20 washington to meet Leon, the
Chinese convert with whom she was
in love. and that In a fit of despon-
dency she took poison. 1t is supposed
that Leon. frightened at the idea Of
having to explain the presence of tho
body, Immediately took steps to dispose
of it.
The police assert that it was thrust
into the trunk and covered with quick
lime with the intention of shipping Il
into the country and burying II. Cor
oners Physician O'Hanlon, who per-
formed the autopsy said today, When
asked if he thought Miss Sigel had TAX
to speak definitely.
I would not say" he said, 4" that no
drugs were administered TO or taken
by Miss Sigel. 1t is possible that she
took cyanide of potassium or prussic
acid, both of which would leave only
a slight sign. But as far my investi-
cation has gone ! am inclined to favor
the theory that the girl was snothered
with a pillow and the body put in the
trunk. She NAV not have been quite
Il hYFf heRn
soon after the cover OF the trunk was
closed"
Body Not Claimed.
Meanwhile the family of the unforiu-
nate girl had made no effort UP TO this
afternoon to claim her body, and its
condition is such that it viii be inter
red in the potter's field by the city, II
MIR. Sigei, the father, does not hurry 1t.
He stu persists in refusing 10 reccg-
nize the body as mis- daughters al
though there is no doubt as to the COM
pleteness of The identification
The whole police force and Captain
Cary. head Of the detective bureau, are
working on every possible clue which
viii throw any light on the whereabouts
or habits of the missing Leon and
Chung Sing, his roommate. The mouse
at 7S2 Eighth avenue, where Leon ifVeus
Is under surveillance and an effort is
now being made TO discover whether
the trunk in which the body was found
was recently brought there. Chug
Cain. the Chinese proprietor OF res
taurant at Mott street. who inserted
in the Herald last Tuesday a personal
urging the murdered girl to come home.
and who the police believe was rival
for Miss Sigefs affections, was ar
raigned today
In court he PROGRESSED the utmost ig-
norance and was remanded until Tues
day when he win undergo a further and
searching examination.
Times Unearths Clue.
4 possible new clue was thrown on
Icons whereabouts today when II be-
came known through the discovery by
The Washington Times that Sam Wing,
OF So Bayard street, had written a let
ter TO William Lone addressed TO the
National Hotel, Washington. The letter
is stin there.
Wing is a well-educated Chinaman OF
about forty years, thick set. and with
alert manner unusual for one OF his
stond class. He declared that he did
not know anything about William Leon
and then relapsed into fetgned iguoF-
ance OF the nature OF questions put TO
him.
Don't speak English he said. VII
near Wings laundry, stated that Wing
understood English perfectly, and was
one OF the sTnartest Cinnamon OF the
vicinity.
He vas given q description of Leon.