The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-30
BAL LT|MORE GIRL IS
 MURDERED IN ROOM
Fiance Is Held-Mystery Surrounding Killing Is
 UnsOlved

Chicago, October 29.-Mystery surround ing the murder of Sophia G. Singer mem Der of well known Baltimore family, whose body was found bound and gagged in a lodging house today. three weeks afte- her elopement with William worthen. was not solved by an inquest, which was ad- had been examined. Coroner Hoffman said that no more could be done until the police found Charles D. Conway and his wife, vaudeville performers, wanted as witnesses.
 The Conways occupied rooms on the same floor as the victim and disappeared before the body was found. Conway re- gently had a leg amputated and was ad- vised by the surgeon that unless he con- tinued treatment he would die.
 Acting on this information the police are watching all the hospitals and doc tors offices for Conway and his wife. Worthen is held as a witness
 The police tonight abandoned the rob bery theory and declared Miss Singer jewelry was rot worth more than S10O and she did not have more than $50 in her purse when she was murdered.
 At the inquest Albert F. Harmon, a nephew of the victim. testified that Miss Singer had been married to a man by the name of Wells eight years ago, but was divorced after they had lived together two years.
 t, repeated the story he had previously told the police.
 The body of Miss Springer was found on bed in the rooia occupied by the Conways. The couple had been in the house during the evening, but no trace of them has been found since the dis covery of the murder. According 10 Wharthen's statement, Miss Springer was an acquaintance of Mrs. Conway. who was known to her as Miss Rial.
 Wharthen said it was true that Mrs Conway's statement that he and his sweetheart, who were to be married to- morrow, went to room at the same house The four moved into the rooms where the murder was committed only Monday Wharthen told the police that he had paid the expenses of the Conways as well as those of himself and Miss Spring. CT at the lodging house since joining them.
 Wharthen declared that before leaving the house last night he gave his Iiancee some money in the presence of the Con ways and then went down town. It was after midnight when he returned to the house and found the hall bespattered with blood He aroused others in the house by repeated pounding on the door leading to the Conway room, after find Ing that Miss Springer was not in her own apartment. Finally a key was fur nished by the janiter of the house and the door was opened
 Further inquiry showed that the money he had given the woman was missing as well as several articles of ieweiry This disclosed robbery as a possible mo- tive for the tragedy. A trail of blood led to kitchen of the apartment house. There billy" was found which Whar- then said Conway had once exhibited to Miss Springer with the remark, This is what I knock 'em out with"
 According to the story of Wharthen he met Mss Springer in Baltimore several months ago where he was employed with street car company. He said her mother was in comfortable circumstances and that when ne decided to come to Chicago Miss Springer. expressed the desire to accompany hin. Wharthen said ne al- lowed her to accompany him. The man told the police that he had spent most of his life on a Maryland farm near Baltimore with his father, who still re- sides there. Wharthen Is 26 years old.
 Wharthen will be held pending the in- quiry of the coroner's jury
 Miss Springer was g years old She was the daughter of Mrs. O. H. Springer, a widow.