New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-19

in the Martinique led the police last
night TO q bellboy with a new and OF
first seemingly inconsequential detail
TO add to the story of the happenings
on the seventh floor Of the hotel Thurs
day afternoon.
Questioned concerning visitors to the
floor during the hours in which the
murder must have occurred, the boy
volunteered:
"A while after the party had been
'roomed' in 7Z5 ! remember that an
other woman took room across the
hall big blonde
That was enough to set many detec-
tives 20 work on a brand new lead. The
party i'm 726" was Mrs Hillair. and the
big blonde" had been heard Of before.
Mention Of her had first been made
when Miss Irene Murray, niece Of Mrs.
Hillair. had described the meeting be.
tween her aunt and the man she presum-
ably had arranged 20 see when she left
her Brooklyn home Thursday morning.
Met in Brooklyn Theatre
This meeting. Of which the police
also heard from girl usher. came
about In a box in the Orpheum Thea
ire nm Brooklyn "A week ago last Mon
day. Miss Murray and Mrs. Hillair,
having bought box seats, found them
selves thrown into AN informal party
when they took them. A man and
woman, seemingly we'll acquainted,
were already In possession OF the box.
The woman was a big blonde" The
man was raven-haired and swarthy.
a great diamond blazed on "a finger
of his right hand.
Mrs. Hillair. as usual, wore all her
diamonds the whole $500 worth
which her husband says has vanished.
She and the man with the giant soil
taire. noting the common taste at first
glance, exchanged smiles Miss Muir
ray says her aunt and the dark man
left the box during the intermission
and laid plans TO see each other fire.
quently.
Between that time and Thursday
morning, the niece says, there we're
three meetings between the diamond
wearers to her knowledge; and it was
the mans name Mrs. Hillair men
toned when she closed the telephone
conversation which preceded her de-
parturc on the last Of her afternoon
adventures "in society
The name of the man is known TO
the police. Detectives were searching
for him all yesterday.
In the course Of the search futile
so far as its chief object was con
cerned -four other Broadway dancing
men who had known Mrs. Ilillair were
interviewed Each knew her by differ
ent name and was able to convince
the police he had no knowledge which
might aid in uncovcring the murderer
Until they have found the man Of
the solitaire. at least, and have given
him opportunity to establish an alibi,
Inspector John Cray. of the Detective
Bureau, and Assistant District Attor-
rey John F. Joyce, Of the prosecutors
Homicide Bureau. are concentrating
their Investigations on the theory that
10 was he who met Mrs. Hillair Thurs
day, and that the large blond woman
was at the Martinique.
Plot Not Premeditated
Many detectives doubt whether the
person who killed Mrs. Hillair had
planned the murder. They think
man who had meant TO force her to
give up her jewels found himself forced
to silence her outcrics and so killed
her They doubt whether the man who
called her on the telephone is the same
one who committed the robbery. Still.
they want TO learn from the man whose
name was used at the time OF the tcle-
phone call whether he made 10, whether
he met Mrs. Hillair, and. if so. when
he parted from her. He may be able
to throw light on her later acquaint-
ances Of Thursday.
Mr.. Joyce found also maid who
looked into Room 726 at $3.50 O'Clock
Thursday afternoon nearly four hours
after il was engaged and found i
empty. Mrs. Hillairs furs. tossed or
q chair, were the only signs of occu-
pancy.
Detectives heard of another woman