I take that back. I just Googled around and found this:
Properly fitted, corneal PMMA contact lenses could be worn for 16 hours or longer. Advances in lens manufacturing techniques and fitting expertise among eye doctors led to the mass appeal of these hard plastic contact lenses in the 1950s and 1960s.
I am guessing that Conner was a bachelor, and probably had disposable income to spend on the contacts.
Magnum, 370 miles is a lot to cover. But let's keep in mind he was seen in Cadiz, thats over 1/2 way to where Mr. Bones was found. That, and that's only a long way, if he was planning on returning. I suspect ol Ralph made a few phone calls to see if "the heat was on". He probably made several calls to friends, to see what was up. It wouldn't suprisd me if he called his lawyer too.
So lets review.
Age: match
Build: match
Hair: match
Rifle : from fort Wayne
Killer seen precisely between murder site & dump site.
Time of death: match
Wound sustained: match
The only loose ends:
Books
Camping gear
Leather jacket
All of which Ralph, could have planted to confuse the scene.
Contacts - plausible.
Gold tooth - very plausible
DNA - will confirm! Here is to hoping!
Another note - If Ralph did plant all the other items, to throw off investigators. He probably learned that trick from someone. Most likely another underworld character. Makes me wonder how many other unidentified victims have had the circumstances of there cases confused by this method.