Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-07
BELIEVE THAT
ALIAS SHIELDED
FORMER CRIME
DEATH OF JAMES cox RECALLS
KILLING IN CHICAGO
NOTE FOUND ON BODY WRITTEN
BY LOS ANGELES GIRL
---
Facts Point to Identity of Man Found
Dead in Colorado Springs as
Descendant of Famous
Soldier
Tl HAT the man, giving the name of

James Cox, jr, who lived in Los
Angeles for two months. and
whose body was found in the Antlers
hotel, Colorado Springs, Friday, was
the grandson of the famous Confed-
crate general, w. f. Lyttle of Nash
vile, Tenn, and son of Wander Lyttle
of Murfreesboro, Tenn, is further
strengthened by information CLEANED
In Los Angeles last night.
1t is now believed that Cox was an
alias assumed because of the killing
of a negro in Chicago in 1908 the night
before his sister committed suicide In
that city, and that the man has since
that time been living in various cities
in the west, earning large sums oi
money by his ability as a salesman
and also receiving remittances from
wealthy relatives in Nashville.
The only letter or note OF any kind
found on the person of Cox, after the
discovery of his mysterious death, was
from a person in Los Angeles, signed
with the initials o. r. c., and bearing
the address, 534 South Broadway, Los
Angeles
Admits Writing Letter
Miss Ora r. Clifford, bookkeeper fol-
the firm of Fowler Brothers, station
ers, 534 South Broadway, last night
admitted that she had written the
letter to Cox, and thus cleared up one
of the mysteries of a case which has
been of country wide interest.
Miss Clifford also explained the
names of the other persons named in
the letter which the police have been
vainly striving to learn.
In the letter, which was of an en-
dearing nature and such as would nat
urally be written by persons whose
ral laf cordial TnfaranCe
was made to "M.' and also to Elsie.
In a frank manner. and apparently
with no effort to conceal any facts
which might aid in establishing the
identity of the former deborair Los
Angeles salesman and man of mystery
Miss Clifford told her story when in
terviewed at her home in the Sunny
side apartments at Ninth and Figueroa
streets.
II was introduced to Mr.. Cox threS
weeks ago by NJ. Meclleberger, 8
travelling salesman for plumbing con-
cern. who Is the man l referred to in mS
letter as M At the same time Elsie
another employe of the Fowler com
pany, met the men.
Il went to dinner with Mr. Cox or
several occasions, and he was perfect
gentleman, polished in manner and toio
me he was a southerner, and as alst
friends.
.4Ie was always retieent In speaking
of his life, although he did tell me tha1
his home was in Nashville, Tenn, anc
that he was of a well-to-do family and
we'll known in the south. l had M
reason to suspect his name was Other
than Cox, and as our relations were mo-
close enough to ask him definitely about
his family relations 1 obtained no In
formation other than what he volun'
teered.
HE said that he had travelled exten
sively in the south and west and was
planning a return to visit his parents
in Nashville last Tuesday.
"I understand that he received teie.
graphic dispatch last Saturday nigh
and that he left hurriedly. l did moi
hear from him until informed of hi:
death. 1 don't hardly think he would
commit suicide, and although l knew
he occasionally drank / did not thtnl
he imbibed to excess.
"I would gladly give any information
I had, although l dislike to gain no
toriety in this matter. but l can frankly
state that other than that he was oi
wealthy southern parentage l know nC
MORE Perhaps he was of the wei
known Lyttle family, but cannot YER
ify the report. He was perfect gen
tleman, and acted as a perfect gentle
man in my presence"
Miss Clifford is a fine type of the
southern blonde beauty, vivacious and
outspoken. She seemed to take the
matter lightly and her only regret was
that the letter she wrote him was not
destroyed, and she added demurely.
II suppose / ought to regard it as a
compliment, as he was such a nice
person."
Left Here Week Ago
For six weeks Cox was employed at
the Juvenile Clothing store, 429 South
Broadway, where he was spoken OF
highly as a good salesman, but had
started drinking heavily two days be-
fore he left Los Angeles.
While in Los Angeles Cox lived at
the Hotel Santa Rita, Eleventh and
South Main streets leaving there last
Saturday with all his baggage. Before
leaving he told friends he was going
to Chicago; thence to ST. Louis; thence
to visit married sister in Pittsburg
and to his parents in Nashville.
1t is believed now that Cox is the
same person who created whirl in
the social world in Chicago and wound
up his career by killing negro who
had made an insulting remark. The
night after the murder woman known
as Mrs. Henry Glover of Montgomery,
who killed the negro, committed sui
eide in the Auditorium hotel in Chi
cago.
The suicides identify was established
when Mrs. Eva Lyttle, of Murfreesboro
Tenn, went to Chicago and identified
the body as that of her daughter, Miss
Mary Lyttle. The mother could throw
no light on the indentlfy of the man.
1t was found at the time that Miss
Lyttle was related to Mrs. Carter II
Harrison, of Murfreesboro.
1t is said by acquaintances of Cox
that he had appeared down-hearted re-
Gently as if something was preying
upon his mind, and he then started
drinking heavily, which is the cause
ascribed for his sudden death in Colo
RADIO Springs, in company with girl,
giving the name of Miss Jennie Nit
chell whose identify has not been es-
tablished. Miss Mitchell is being held
in Colorado Springs pending an In
vestigation.
1t Is known that Cox left Los An
geles unaccompanied and that the girl
with him at the time of his death Is
not supposed to be a LOS Angeles