New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-24
STRANGER DECOYS
HIS VICTIM TO HOTEL
Uses Moose to Commit Murder.
Writes Confession and
Makes His Escape.
WANTED IN MANY CITIES
Youths Practice Was to Beat
and Rob Dealers in Cloth.
ing, Lured by Promise
of Sale.
BY Telegraph to The Tribune. !

fSy Telegraph to The Tribune1
Indianapolis. Sept. 23.-Joseph shalan.
sky, clothing merchant was deceived >.
the Oneida Hotel yesterday afternoon
and this morning his mutilated body va,
found in the room Of youth suppossa
10 be Joseph Ellis. twenty one years ola
Of Richmond. Va.
Inquiry made OF Eliis's father BY r,,.
brought an answer that the Young mar
is deranged. Other cities report cases a
men decoyed to hotels under preteno. Al,
selling them clothing. The description
fits Ellis.
From information gathered by the 10.
lice Ellis. known also as Brokay ana
Robert Duncan. committed similar crime,
in Louisville last week. and left thar.
Saturday for indianapolis. Previous n
the Louisville robbery the man is SUD.
posed TO have attacked clothing n.r.
chants in Cleveland. Toledo Phiadelnb,,
and Pittsburgh He was identified =,
Louisville by photographs sent from his
home, and also from photographs s.,t
out b. the Pittsburgh police.
At the time OF the murder four sou,s,
of detectives were seeking Ellis here A,
the hotel where Shalsnsky was kiT,d
the clerks did not remember guest an. 4,
swerins Ellis's description.
Yesterday morning a man appeared a,
Shalansky's store and represented tina, h.
had considerable amount Of clothing q,
his room at the oneida Hotel. which bs
was anxious 10 sell. An engagement 10
look at the articles was made by Shalan.
sky. who was busy, and the young man
appeared again at the clothers and
seemed out Of humor. because his expect.
ed customer was late. The two left TO-
gether and that was the last seen Of the
clothier until he was found dead in Elliss
room this morning.
The criminal is believed 10 have left the
city within an hour after committing the
crime.
The murderer took shalansky TO the
hotel few minutes before o'clock lie
opened the room door for his visitor,
stepped back for him TO enter, and as the
clothier crossed the threshold struck him
over the head with a dubbed revolver
That Shalansky was not killed by the
first blow is the belief OF Coroner Dur
ham, who says a CHASTITY wound on Sha-
lanskys face is evidence that he turned
on his assaiant as the latter closed the
door, and was struck in the face.
A moose prepared for the visitor vas
slipped over his neck as he lay uLcon-
scious on the floor and drawn tight.
After the murder the assaisnt tried 70
remove blood stains from his collar with
a wet rag but. not succeeding. he discard
ed the collar and went downstairs 10 buy
another. The detectives say ne then SAT
down calmly in the lobby Of the hotel
until 4 o'clock, when he took the elevator
10 the second floor and went 20 the room
in which the victim was lying. Shortly
afterward he turned in his key and left
the hotel.
The murderer obtained his suit case
identified by its labels from the check
room at the Union station at 40 o'clock.
and is believed 70 have left on train due
about that time.
In a drawer in the room where the mur-
der was committed unused rope was
found. and the piece from which the
strand with which Shalansky was choked
was found unravelled. 4 fiat wad OF tire
tape intended for a gag, lay on the
dresser. A revolver cartridge found lying
beside the body OF the dead man was eyi-
IDENTIFY from the weapon with which his
skull had been beaten in. The clothlers
pockets had been rified OF so he was
known TO have had. and an SIS sold
watch was missing. When the body was
lifted a heavy gold band ring vas found
under IL.
Ellis deliberately prepared for depart
ure from the room and stepped around
and over the body OF his victim. a sta'
tionary washstsnd bowl contained blood,
water, where the slayer had washed his
hands, and a bloody collar was found.
The murderer had calmly looked into the
glass. found the blood on his collar and
discarded II.
Search OF the room disclosed three
notes, written on plain paper from .
tablet found on the dresser. II tried To
take his money and killed him" one note
read. and the name signed Was Lory
Anderson. Another scrap OF paper bore
the words. Started TO take his pants, but
didn't" A third piece Of paper bore the
words, This is terrible"