L. D. Poock, a leading shoe merchant of Newport, who took a most
decidedly active interest in the case from the start, claiming as was
proven true afterwards that the marks in the shoes would certainly
identify the remains, did some valuable detective work under the
direction of Sheriff Plummer. Mr. Poock was struck by the narrowness of
the shoes worn by the dead girl, and opened them to discover the size
and width. He recognized the fact that 11 and 22 in the shoe would give
him the information desired if he had but the key.
While at one of the Cincinnati factories, a salesman stepped forward and
recognized the shoe as one manufactured by Drew, Selby & Co., of
Portsmouth, Ohio.
Upon this information Mr. Poock, determined upon seeing the whole thing
out, took a train for Portsmouth, and, arriving at the factory of Drew,
Selby & Co., established in 10 minutes that Louis & Hays had given an
order for 12 pairs of black cloth top button shoes April 18, 1895, for
fall delivery. The shipment was made September the 3., 1895, and among
the lot there was but one pair of shoes numbered 22-11.
This clew so thoroughly worked up by Mr. Poock, who kept Sheriff Plummer
and the detectives, who had gone to Greencastle, Ind., posted as to the
result of his investigation regarding the shoes, proved to be the
correct one, the one by which the body of the murdered woman was
positively identified and by the investigation of which the arrest of
the murderers was secured.