New-York tribune., 1910-11-29
POLICE ASK FOREIGN AID
Want Irish, French and Italian
SJeuths to Look for Caller.
STATE DEPARTMENT ACTS
Meantime, Solution of Trunk
Murder Seems No Nearer
than Before.

The mystery of the man whose body was
found on November Il in a trunk in the
cellar of the tenement house at No. 40
West 54th street, took on a measure of in
ternational appearance yesterday, when
the ponce asked the State Department at
Washington to request the French and
British governments TO make a search for
Albert Caller the Frenchrlan whose body
vas al nrst supposed to be in the trunk,
am William Lewis, the Irish waiter VINO
sent the trunk containing the body to his
friend Philip Neaghe eight years ago.
The Police Department sent cable 70
the Royal Irish Constabulary week ago,
asking that Lewis be looked for near his
old home at Roscrea, Tipperary County,
Ireland. The chief of the Irish Consta bu-
larry replied that orders would have TO
come from the British government before
the search could be made. Yesterday the
police asked Secretary Knox to make the
formal request Of the British government.
The request to the French government
for q search for Caller came after in
formation was received by the police con-
cerning the Frenchman's friends and fam
lily. l.. Harding Rogers. who employed
Caller from 1885 to 1890. found among his
papers letter sent TO him by Caller In
answer 10 an advertisement Mr.. Rogers
mad put in the papers in 1895 for care
taker fer his mouse in LenoX avenue. Cal
lier said in the letter that he had been
in this country only week. but he referred
Mr. Rogers to two men who had known
D.-llier and his family in France.
When Mr.. Harding found this letter he
sent it to the police. and they at once
went to the men Caller gave as refer
ences. Enough was learned to make them
think It advisa bic to ask Secretary Knox
to request a search by the French gov
ernment. AS Caller was in he French
cavalry in 1892 and 1893. France has been
asked to see if he has re-enlisted
Thinking that either Caller or Lewis
may have gone to Italy, that country.
also has been asked to look for the two
men within her borders, but at Police
Headquarters yesterday fear was ex-
pressed that # either man were found in
Italy extra dition would be refused on ac-
count Of the recent case of Porter Charl-
ton. who murdered his wife at Lake Como
and escaped to this country, where his ex-
tradition has SO far been held up. The
police thought that Italy would not be
likely to extradte criminals to this coun-
try when America refused to send a nlur-
dereT into Italian jurisdiction for trial.
James Branson. a waiter at the New
York Press Club, said yesterday that three
years ago he had worked in q BroadV1v
hotel with a man he was sure was Lewis.
i recognize him from his pictures >"
said Branson, and 7 am sure the man I
worked with was Lewis. though I can't
remember what name he went under then.
He was a runner in the kitchen and a
pretty shiftless sort of a fellow There
mas something the matter with his teeth4
His lips were drawn in kind Of close to
his gums and sort of sunk In almost like
he didn't have any teeth at all.
About a year ago I was working IN
the Jersey Central station, at the lunch
counter, and this fellow came in there
He was full of booze and had a big bunch
Of money in his pockets He remembered
NE and wanted me to go out and bum
with him. but wouldn't GO I amt seen
him since"
Paul H. Merkens, who ran q grocery
store al l27th street and LenoZ avenue, ten
years ago, and is now at EIu2hurst, Long
Island. said yesterday that when he was
in Harlem he and his wife were among
Callers closest friends.
I don't believe Caller has been in this
city since 1907 Merkens continued, for
i he had been ne would certainly have
come 10 see us. we were SO friendly with
him that I don't see how he could take
any other course
The LAST time We saw Albert he told
Is that his brother Rene was sick and
was not expected to live many months
Rene was the brother in Sierra Leone
On that account We were not worried
when Albert did not come to see Us again
We thought his brother had died and
Albert had gone back TO France to settle
Up the estate"
Mrs. J 8 FiersaN, who has 4, boarding
house in Main street. Mount Kisco, looked
al photogra phs Of William Lewis last
night and then declared that Lewis board
Cd at her house up TO October II. She has
two setchels which belong 70 the man, one
Of which she opened 1t contained nothing
that gave z clew.
The man known as William Lewis, vas
2 rirerran for the telephone company. and