The mystery of Roland T. Owen’s grisly murder in room 1046

On the afternoon of January 2, 1935, a man entered the Hotel President in Kansas City, Missouri. He had no luggage with him and requested a room on an upper floor. He registered under the name “Roland T. Owen” of Los Angeles and paid for a one night stay. Owen was described as a tall, robust young man with a cauliflower ear and a prominent scar on his head. He was assigned room 1046. As he escorted him to his room, the bellboy, Randolph Propst, listened as Owen said he had initially considered the Muehlebach Hotel but thought the $5 per night rate was too high….