The Murder of Solomon Krauskopf

Krauskopf's corpse was found by the Dinky line railroad bridges over the Delaware & Raritan Canal and Stony Brook.

This is the tale of an unsolved murder in the historic West Windsor/Plainsboro community of Princeton Basin.

Historical Overview

It is Tuesday, March 10, 1874. You're asleep in your bed in the historic West Windsor/Princeton community of Princeton Basin. You're woken up by a loud "bang" in the night, but you go back to bed. However, the next morning, a dead body is found floating in the Stony Brook. You've unwittingly been a witness to the murder of Solomon Krauskopf.

Solomon - also locally-known as "Sammy"[1] - was a Princeton-area jeweler and dry goods peddler, about 25 years old, who had emigrated from Prussia to the United States around 1859.[2],[3],[4] According to those with whom he boarded in Princeton, he was more family than friend.[5]

Early on the morning of Tuesday, March 10, Solomon left the house of Theodore Laird on Canal Street (present-day Alexander Street in Princeton).[6] He went to Trenton to collect some money owed him. That evening, after conducting business in the capitol city, he boarded a northbound train with about $175 in his pocketbook and $12 in small change in his watch fob. He also had on him a silver watch and revolver in his pocket.[7],[8] However, Solomon Krauskopf fell asleep on the train and awoke in New Brunswick. He boarded a return southbound "Owl Line" train and arrived at the Princeton Junction train station around 2AM in the dead of night. However, no Dinky line trains (that connected Princeton to Princeton Junction) were running into Princeton at this late hour, so he instead he decided to walk along the railroad tracks toward Princeton - and sealed his fate.[9]

The following morning, Solomon's body was found lying on the south side of the Stony Brook, close to the east side of the Dinky line railroad. He was discovered by William Hughes, son of Jonathan Hughes, bridge-tender for the Princeton Basin community. Solomon's body was almost entirely submerged except for his head. Justice Hezekiah Mount summoned a jury of twelve men, who viewed the body before it was moved.[10],[11]

It quickly became apparent that this was a case of murder for a single pistol ball wound was found in his chest. Moreover, his (roughly) $175 was missing and his pistol found some distance from his body. The wound was examined by Doctors Lytle and Baker, and they concluded that the person who shot him was probably taller than Solomon.[12],[13] It was also estimated that the murder took place around 3AM.[14]

So who did it? And why? Well, that's still a mystery to this day. No one was witnessed with Solomon on the train, nor did any conductor see anyone follow him. Instead, it was more likely confronted by someone already at Princeton Basin.[15] Although a man named "Eagan" was briefly said to have confessed to the crime,[16] no trial is known. Instead, even after Egan's confession, the inquest continued.[17] Another individual - John Corlies, proprietor of the Princeton Basin Hotel, was accused of the murder, but nothing substantial came of that theory.[18] On March 13, Solomon's body was taken to New York for internment (presumably by his brothers, who lived there).[19],[20],[21]

The Princeton Basin Hotel. From Scott Parry.

Despite the investigation, and a $500 reward for the apprehension and conviction of the person(s) who committed the crime,[22] the case was never solved. Yet its legacy still lingered, in a most interesting way. In January 1881 - nearly seven years after the murder - some newspapers reputedly reported on the death of John Corlies in Manasquan. They are said to have further asserted that prior to his death, Corlies confessed to the murder of Solomon Krauskopf.[23]

However, the following year, John Corlies himself, very much alive, wrote to a local newspaper to assert his innocence - and his continued existence:

"I desire through the columns of your paper to contradict the statement which has been currently circulated ... that I was dead, and that in my dying moments confessed that I, with three or four others, were guilty of the murder of [Solomon Krauskopf] ... Now first, I say I am not dead ... no person ever can say that I defrauded any one of one cent. I have served my constituents in the State Legislature from Monmouth County; am known by all its people and never was guilty of theft, fraud, or murder. I cannot imagine who is so wicked as to start a scandal about me, except it should be an old sinner ... that is an expert at lying ... [I] sincerely hope he may repent before his death."[24]

Solomon Krauskopf's murder remains unsolved to this day.

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Bibliography

1. "A Murder." The Princeton Press. March 14, 1874.
2. Ibid.
3. "Murder in Jersey." The New York Herald. March 12, 1874.
4. "Murder at Princeton" Monmouth Democrat. March 19, 1874.
5. Ibid.
6. "A Murder." The Princeton Press. March 14, 1874.
7. Ibid.
8. "Murder at Princeton" Monmouth Democrat. March 19, 1874.
9. "A Murder." The Princeton Press. March 14, 1874.
10. Ibid.
11. "Abstract of Proceedings of Coroner's Jury Over Body of S. S. Krauskopf." Princeton Press. March 21, 1874.
12. "A Murder." The Princeton Press. March 14, 1874.
13. Ibid.
14. "Murder at Princeton" Monmouth Democrat. March 19, 1874.
15. "A Murder." The Princeton Press. March 14, 1874.
16. "A Self-Confessed Murderer." The Evening Post. March 17, 1874.
17. "Murder at Princeton" Monmouth Democrat. March 19, 1874.
18. Ibid.
19. "The Murdered Pedler." The New York Herald. March 14, 1874.
20. "Murder in Jersey." The New York Herald. March 12, 1874.
21. "A Murder." The Princeton Press. March 14, 1874.
22. "Proclamation." The Princeton Press. March 28, 1874.
23. "A Murder Case Revived." Monmouth Democrat. March 2, 1882.
24. Ibid.