Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-29
LEDUC BELIEVES
WIFE INNOCENT
CRAvEUR AFFAIR
Mrs. LeDuc Tells Story of Trag-
edy-Was in Philadelphia to
Visit Brother = Dead Wo-
mans Sisters. Denial

Philadelphia, Sept. 2S.-Hurrytng to
the bedside of his wife, the one survi-
vor in the triple shooting in hotel
here early yesterday, Joseph C. LIE
Due of Chicago today said that he had
every confidence in her loyalty to him
and that he would stick to her through
all her trouble.
Mrs. LIE Dues condition was i'm
proved today and physicians said she
will recover unless complications set
in. She was shot by Mrs. Harry Bel
zer of New York, who found her and
J. c. Graveur. also of New York, in q
hotel room. Mrs. Belzer killed Gra-
veur, who had discarded her after a
friendship of two years and also ended
her own life.
Before reaching the hospital. lie Due
told of his happy married life of Is
years and his implicit trust in his wife.
He repeated many times his belief in
her faithfulness to him.
LIE Due said he had known Graveur
for 10 years and always had regarded
him highly. He had not seen him for
seven or eight years and had never
heard his wife speak of him. Mrs. LIE
Due, he said, left Chicago for New
York about two weeks ago to visit her
nephew and his wife. He had letters
from her every day.
LIE Due said-he~did not believe his
wife had~Visited Atlantic City with
Graveur He thought she probably met
him accidentally in New York and
consented to take an automobile ride
to this city.
When told that Graveur and Mrs. Le
Duo had registered at the hotel as man
and wife, LIE Dues face grew grave.
That was the work Of Graveur and
1 am sure Lillian did not know It," he
exclaimed.
LIE Duo went on to say that his wife
is in a delicate position which would
probably reflect on her, but he still be-
lieved her innocent OF any wrongdoiny.
Mrs. LIE Due, the husband said. has
been studying operate singing for 10
years. Before her marriage she was
Lillian Kappes Of Cincinnati. where
her mother now lives.
At the hospital lie Due told MS wife
to cheer up. that he would forgive her
Mrs. lie Due told the story Of the
shooting and events leading up 70 1t,
to her husband, in the presence Of de-
tectives. She said she came to Phi)n-
delphia by train ana not by automo-
bile as reported, to see her nephew
and his baby, recently born. She denied
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 60 back to New York.
Mrs. LeDue's Story
After reciting the incidents which pre-
ceded the shooting to her husband, Mrs
Leduc gave a statement to the detectivei
in which she is quoted as saying:
1T is untrue that / registered WITH
Graveur at the hotel as his wife. lef,
New York Tuesday afternoon after visit
ing my sister and came to Philadelphia
to visit my nephew. After visiting my
nephew 1 received a telephone call from
Mr.. Graveur asking me to meet him ir
the evening. / met him at the hotel and
he invited me to go to the theatre. had
no baggage with me except a small hand
bag, as had planned to remain here only
for the day. intending to return to New
York the same day. After inviting mo Il
20 to the theatre Mr.. Graveur suggested
that I leave my handbag in his room and
I agreed to do so.
ION our return from the theatre we had
something to eat on the roof garden Of
the hotel and about 1 o'clock told him
It was time for me to 60 to my nephew's
home. I then remembered my handbag
in his room.
I'VE stopped at the room to get Il
We had barely stepped into the room
and Just as I was about to pick up
the handbag near the dresser woman
jumped out Of the closet She was tall
and dark and I don't believe ever saw
her before She had revolver in her
hand She said nothing.
She began to shoot. The first shot
struck Mr. Graveur in the left side. ]
tried to rush to the door, but before l
could I was shot. That IL all I re-
member
Mrs. Mann, sister Of Mrs. Le Due.
corroborated Mrs. lie Dues story that
she came to Philadelphia to visit rela-
tives.
Miss McAndrew. sister Of Mrs. Bel
zer, who came here today to claim the
body Of Mrs Belzer. said Mrs. Le DUO 8
statement that Mrs. Belzer had come
here with Graveur was not true. She
also denied that her sister had lived