The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-02
Police Dragnet Enmeshes Men
of High Degree.
Rich Gent LaviShed Wealth:
Scores Visited Beauty.
TWO WOMEN ARE INVOLVED
Taxi Took Supposed Slayer to
House Friday at 1880 A. nj.
Scout Jealousy Theory; Want
ed to Get Rid of Her.

Philadelphia, Jan. 2.-The web OF
mystery closed tighter this afternoon
around the murderer of pretty Maize
Colbert, otherwise known as Mrs.
Grace Roberts, whose shapely figure
had advertised corsets and stockings
the world over
Into the maze of conjecture over the
case that has baffled the detective de-
partments of three cities-New York,
Chicago and Philadelphia-one, and
possibly two women. stepped this af-
ternoon thru a statement issued by
Captain of Detectives Tate. He de-
clared an arrest might" be effected
today.
The detective chief re-told the story
of Elwood Powell, a taxi chauffeur,
who drove a man to the Wilton apart
ments in which the little models mu-
tilated body was found Saturday night.
The taxi ride occurred Friday morning
the last day on which Miss Colbert
was known to have been alive
Waited, But Man Didn't Return.
Shortly after 1 o'clock Friday morn
ing according to Powells story, a man
and two women entered his car at the
Bellevue-Stratford B o h women
were taken to one of the best parts OF
Germantown, the car was stopped at
a corner and they left The man then
directed Powell to drive to the Wilton
apartments. That was 1880 a. m and
at 3 O'Clock the same morning Powell
drove off without being paid.
Late this afternoon the chauffeur
will be taken to Germantown to iden-
tify the spot where he left the wo-
men.
Powell described the man as about
50: five feet eight inches in height, of
dark complexion and unusually we'll
ldressed.
This description talfies almost ex-
actly with that of a man known TO
the police only as "the bull dog.
janitor at the Wilton dubbed one of
Miss Co1bertS frequent callers by this
title because of his persistence. The
bull dog" is said to be man wen
known in Philadelphia, tho detectives
acknowledged they had little reason
to suspect him any more than the
scores of other prominent admirers,
except for his similarity to the de-
scription by Powell.
Even tho arrest is made today
police declared the mystery will not
be much nearer solution than it was
Saturday.
Suspicion is the only charge anyone
could be arrested on now. A series
of finger prints, stamped in blood on
walls, clothing, furniture and even
the dead models body, however, will
aid in identification.
Change. Murder Theory.
While Saturday police believed a
jealous lover killed Miss Colbert by
crushing her skull with a flat iron
and then strangling her with a silk
stocking, removed from the girls
shapely limb, they had changed today.
prominent man is known to have
squandered large sums on her. Now,
it is believed the slayer wished to rid
himself of the girl
Everyone of the score of men Miss
Colbert is known to have had as VS.
itors will be questioned. There lie
not one who does not hold a prOmi-
nent position.
''If things turn out according to our
plans, we will have the slayer before
the day is over" said detective. "It
is only a question of time now, but
we are certain we are on the right
track. and there will be interesting
Development
Captain of Detectives Tate said to-
day:
I'VE are near a solution today,
Wedding out of all of the dead wo-
mans friends has been going on. She
had been acquainted with so many
lawyers, newspaper men, physicians.
business men, detectives, theatrical
people. hotel men and others that we
do not want to jump at any rash con-
cluslon- / am cautioning my men to
be absolutely certain of their ground
before they do anything"
Wealthy Men Her Friends.
Asked whether the son of a wealthy
brewer upstate, the son of a baseball
magnate of this city. and others whose
names have been linked with that of
Miss Colbert, as acquaintances are to
be questioned. Captain Tate said:
I'VE will question every person who
knew Miss Colbert
ISSUE RANK CALI.