The Coolidge examiner., 1934-10-12
True Detective
StoYv by Vance Wynn
9 Public Ledger
$50 Perish All Traitors"

Also they seemed TO be devoted
friends.
Charles A. Preller and Walter l..
Maxwell were the names they In
scribed on the book. and II later
developed that they were English
men, having come from Liverpool
10 Boston and thence 10 ST. Louis.
At all events they we're insepa-
rable companions. and their mutual
devotion attracted the attention OF
the other guests of the house.
Maxwell left the hotel first. say
Ing that his friend intended stay
ing a few days longer.
Also he suggested that he had
some work to do In his room and
did not want to be disturbed.
That was all very well. but when
Preller failed TO make his appear
ance after two days the manage
ment of the house thought 1t was
time to investigate.
There was no response to the
knock on his room door and il had
to be forced.
There was trunk in the corner
Of the apartment.
Ii was opened and in 1t was
found the dead body of Charles A.
Preller.
His mustache had been removed,
probably to change his appearance,
and on his clothing was pinned
sheet OF paper on which was writ
ten:
$50 perish all traitors to the
great cause"
The first and most natural move
on the part Of the detectives was
to try and find the former compan-
Ion OF the dead man.
There was no special reason for
suspecting that he had killed the
friend TO whom he seemed so de-
voted, but there was every reason
for supposing that he might throw
some light on the tragedy.
Did the two men belong TO some
secret society,"
Were they being pursued by
avengers?
II was not easy to get on the
1 track OF Maxwell, but IL was
eventually learned that he had gone
/ to San Francisco.
The chief OF police of that city
worked in unison with the chief Of
police OF ST. Louis.
In a few days be was able to re-
( port that a man who looked very
much like the description of Max
well had been seen In the smoking
room Of the Palace hotel.
Inquiry showed that this man
had registered as T. G. D'Auger, OF
I Paris.
He talked with a French accent,
although one day. in answering a
question suddenly asked by another
guest. he spoke perfect English.
Just when the police were plan
ming to place him under arrest he
left San Francisco for New Zea-
\ land
He was captured there, but re-
sisted extradltion.
He seemed to have plenty Of mon
ey and legal advice, but eventually
! the papers were signed by Presi-
dent Cleveland and the suspect
was brought back to ST. Louis.
But up to the time there was no
convincing legal proof that he had
killed Preller.
He denied the charge vehement
ly and defed the authorities.
But the police got to work and
In the course of time they proved a
number Of things.
First 1t was shown that the hand
writing on the note which was
pinned TO the clothing of the corpse
In the trunk was that of Maxwell.
II corresponded exactly with the
signature he had placed on the ho-
tel register.
That demolished the theory that
Preller had been the victim OF the
vengeance OF some secret society.
II was simply an ingenious idea of
Maxwell to send the police on
false scent.
Secondly, they proved that Max
well had gone TO barber shop
after leaving the Southern hotel
and had his beard taken off, and
that after il had been done he
turned to the barber and said:
do you think any one would rec
ognlze me now?"
Thirdly, they proved that he had
purchased the trunk In which the
body was found.
They produced the porter who
had carried it to his room, and
they had evidence that he displayed
big roll of hundred-dollar bills
shortly after leaving the hotel.
This furnished the motive for the
crime-the cold-blooded, calculated
robbery Of the man VINO had been
! his generous friend.
At the trial he was confronted
BY the druggist from whom he had
purchased the chloroform which he
had used TO overcome Preller be-
fore numbering him.
! There were no mitigating circum-
stances whatever. and the jury rem