The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-28
Blames Graveur, Long Time
Friend, for Deceit.
Find Identity of Only Survivor
of Triple Shooting.
DENIES IMPROPER RELATIONS
Confused With Woman Who
Did Shooting, She Says.
Denies Travelling With Gra-
veur: VIII Recover.

Philadelphia, Sept 2S.-Hurrying
to the bedside of his wife, the one sur
vivor in the triple shooting in a hotel
here early yesterday, ]. c. Leduc, of
Chicago, today said that he had every
confidence in her loyalty to him and
that he would stick to her thru all her
trouble
Mrs. Leduc is in jefferson hospital.
She was improved today and physi-
clans said she will recover unless
complications set in. She was shot by
Mrs. Harry Belzer, of New York, who
found her and j. C. Graveur, also of
New York, in a hotel room. Mrs.
Belzer killed Graveur, who had dis
carded her after a friendship of two
years, and also ended her own life.
There was an affecting meeting
when Leduc reached the bedside of
his wife, where he remained for some
time. Later he was escorted to detec-
tive headquarters for an interview
with the captain of detectives Before
reaching the hospital Leduc told of
his happy married life of fifteen years
and his implicit trust in his wife. He
repeated many times his belief in her
faithfulness to him.
Knew Graveur Ten Years.
Leduc said he had known Grayeur
for ten years, and always had regard
ed him as a square man. He had not
seen him for seven or eight years and
had never heard his wife speak of
him. Mrs. Leduc, he said, left Chi
cago for New York about two weeks
ago to visit her nephew and his wife.
a 11ea II JxafT
Leduc said he did not believe his
wife had visited Atlantic CITY with
Graveur- He thought she probably
met MIN accidentally in New York
ana consented to take an automobile
ride to this city.
The husband asked many questions
about the shooting, saying he had only
a 1ragmentary knowledge of the af-
fair gathered from newspapers. He
asked how Graveur and his wife had
registered at the hotel and when told
as man and wife, his face grew grave.
That was the work of Graveur and
L am sure Lila did not know it," he
exclaimed.
always regarded Joe as a square
man and I cannot understand his ac-
tions.''
Believes Wife Innocent.
Ieduc went on to say that his wife
is IN a position which would probably
reflect on her, but he still believed her
OI any wrong OO1nS.
| Mrs. Leduc, the husband said, has
/ been Studying operatic singing for ten
years. Before ner marriage she was
Lillia Kappes, daughter of Philip
Kappes, of Cincinnati, where her
mother now lives and is prominent So
cially.
At the hospital Leduc told his wife
to cheer up, that he would forgive and
take her back to Chicago.
! Mrs. Leduc told the story of the
Re Loo
to her husband in the presence of de-
tectives. She said she came to Phila-
delphia by train and not by automo-
bile as reported, to see her nephew
and his baby recently born. She de-
MED that she had Travelled to various
cities with Graveur and suggested that
her identity had been confused with
that of Mrs. Belzer. The wounded
woman said Graveur told her he had
come to Philadelphia with Mrs. Belzer
and then persuaded her to go back to
New York. According to Mrs. Leduc
Graveur called up Mrs. Leduc's New
York address by telephone anu
learned that she had come to Phila-
given the address and later he met
her The same evening Mrs. Ledue
said they went to a theater, then sup
per and dance on the roof garden OF
the hotel was suggested Mrs. Ledu'
said she did not want to be encum'
bered with her handbag and at Gra-
veur's suggestion she said she left i
in his room on the floor below.
Went to His Room.
Mrs. I.educ further said she intend
ed returning to New York that nigh
and after the dance she went witt
C,raveur to his room for the sole pur'
nose of getting the handbag. AS they
returned, Mrs. Leduc said. Mrs. Bel
ger. who Graveur thought he had in
Iuced to return to New York, jumped
from a closet and began shooting
Mrs. Mann, sister of Mrs. Leduc, cor
rohorated Mrs. Leduc'S story that Sn'
came to Philadelphia to visit relatives
Miss McAndrew, sister of Mrs Bel
Yer who came here today to claim tn
hodv of Mrs. Belzer. said Mrs. =Leduc'
statement that Mrs. Belzer had com
: with Graveur was not true. She ais
denied that her sister had lived witt
Graveur.
..She's the squarest little girl in tn
world" was the statement IN orokel
| tones today of Joseph c. Leduc, pro
nriator of a fashionable Chicago cloth
ing store and expert golfer, as he sa
at the bedside of his wife, finall
clearing up the identity of the las
l. nrincipaI in Philadelphia's hote
tragedy.
yes. it's my Lila said Leduc, a
he told detectives that the woman VIII
was shot with J. c. Graveur at tn
: Hotel Walton by Mrs Harry Belzer
= his wife. He made it clear that h
: does not regard his wife as guilty c
, amy wrong. He declared the mar
: whom he had regarded as his FRIEND
must have had Mrs Leduc under tn
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