The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-29
Arms and Legs Bound With
Rope and Skull Crushed.
ChlOrOfOrmed Handkerchief
Stuffed in Her Mouth.
MURDERED IN ROOMlNG HOUSE
Her Sweetheart Is Held Pend
ing an Investigation.
Tenants of Room Where Body
Is Found Are Missing.

Chicago, Oct. 29.-Miss Sophia G.
Singer, % years old and the daugh-
ter of Mrs. o. H Singer, a Baltimore
widow, was found murdered her arms
and legs bound with a rope, hc~ skull
crushed, a chlorofOrmed handkerchief
stuffed into her mouth and her body
wrapped in a blanket in an Indiana
avenue rooming house today by VIM
r. Wharthen. who accompanied her
here from the eastern city three weeks
ago and to whom, according to lis own
story she was to have been married
tomorrow Charles D. Conway. said
to be a high diver. and his wife. who
also is known as Beatrice Rail and
May Monte, a variety actress who
had been befriended by Wharthen,
are being sought by the police IN con-
nection with the crime
The body of Miss Singer was
found on the bed in the room occu-
pied by them. The couple had leen in
the house during the evening but no
trace of them has been learned since
the discovery of the body.
According to Wharthen, Miss
Singer was an acquaintance Of Mrs.
Conway, who was known to her as
Miss RIAL and was through the lat
ter's invitation that he and his sweet
heart went to room at the same house.
The four moved into the rooms where
the murder was committed only yes
terday. They had previously lived
only a few blocks north on the same
street. Wharthen told the police he
had paid the expenses of the Conways
as well as those of himself and Miss
Singer, at the rOoming house since
Joining them. Wharthen, who was
held by the police. declared that be-
fore leaving the house last night he
handed his iancee $4S in the presence
of the Conways and then went down
town.
Hall Spattered With Blood.
I'd MIC "a
turned to the house and found the
hallway spattered with blood He
aroused the others in the house by
repeated pounding on the door leading
to the Conway room after finding that
Miss Alnger was not In her apart
ment A key was finally furnished by
Mrs. Julia Mccarthy, keeper of the
house and the door was opened A
crime was apparent and further in
vestiga ton showed that the money he
had given the woman was missing
as well as several articles of jewelry.
A trail of blood led to a kitchen,
which the four had the use and there
the table was found covered with blood,
as was the floor. A door knob with
the piece of iron attached for a knob
on the other end, lay on the floor
wrapped in a handkerchief saturated
with blood and with leather shoe
string attached to it in loopfashion.
Wharthen said Conway had once ex-
hibited the bludgeon to Miss Springer
with the remark:
This is what I knock 'em out
with
According to Wharthens story, he
met Miss Singer in Baltimore several
months ago while he was employed
there by a street car company. He
said her mother was in comforta BILE
stances. When he decided to
come to Chicago with the idea of To-
eating here Miss Singer, he said, ex-
pressed a desire to accompany him.
He told the police that ne had spent
most of his life on Maryland farm
near Baltimore with his father, who
still resides there. He is % years old.
Wharthen viii be held by the police
pending the outcome of the coroner's
investigation today.