Evening star., 1917-01-05

BY the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, January 5.-Detec-
tives at police headquarters here an
nounced today that the suicide of
Bernard W. Lewis of Pittsburgh in
Atlantic City last night when he was
trapped by the authorities of that city,
solved the mystery surrounding the
murder CT Maize Colbert. whose body.
clad in violet silk pajamas, was found
in her apartment here late last Satur-
day night. The only thing that re-
mains to be done. they said. was to
find the motive for the crime.
so far as the detective department
is concerned" said Captain of Detec-
tives Tate. 'the case is virtually over.
Lewis quick suicide fits in with all
the circumstances connected with the
case. and there is no question that
Lewis is the man who did the killing"
Capt. Tate said several letters were
found in Lewis effects in Atlantic City.
Torn scraps Of what appeared to have
been letter were also found. These
will be brought to this city. the cap
tain said. and an effort made to learn
der.
Among the papers was a list of tele-
phone numbers, one of which was that
Of the apartment house where the
al tiSt IiOuti fOSl ncT llIe. Il,
Tate said, was proof that Lewis was
known to Miss Colbert. The police dis
card the theory that third person was
present in the Colbert apartment when
the murder occurred. A theory was
that one man was in the Colbert apart
ment when another man came in unan-
nounced; that one of the men imme-
diately left and that the one who re-
mained quarreled with Miss Colbert
and the killing followed.
Think Crime Unpremeditated.
While the police say they are con-
WINGED that Lewis was the man respou-
sible for the death of the girl, they are
not ready to believe that the crime was
premeditated. 1t is their belief, they
say. the tragedy was the result of a
quarrel, either over jewelry or money,
or Jealousy aroused by the attentions Of
other men.
Misses Ethel and Mabel Kyle. the
public school teachers. who had known
Lewis for a year, and who furnished
his name to the police when they learn
the case. were still suffering from
shock today over the murder revela-
tions and the suicide of their friend.
They again told of their acquaintance
with Lewis. of his affability and his
gentlemanly conduct. They also told
in greater detail of his last visit to this
city; of how he took the sisters to tea
and afternoon dances at prominent
hotels Friday and Saturday and to
theaters on both nights. All this time
the Colbert girl lay dead in her home,
according to the police. Sunday night
Lewis. accompanied the Kyle sisters to
church. That was the last time they
saw him. but they talked with him
later over the telepone.
Several Men to Be Watched.
The authorities say they feel the
mystery virtually has been solved, 1t was
declared several men who were friends of
Miss Colbert and were suspected of hav-
ing knowledge of the crime will be kent
under surveillance until there is absolute.
ly no doubt regarding their connection
with tho case. In their efforts to solve
me mystery the police had questioned d
many young men prominent in the So
cial and business life of PhiladeIphia.
Several of them admitted that they
had known the girl and some said they
had been among her admirers The
explanations of ali except two or three
was satisfactory to the detectives and
their names were not made public
The Misses Kyle. through whom the
police learned of Lewis identity main
tain that he is innocent of the murder
and that he committed suicide because
he believed his reputation had been
ruined
Mr. Lewis was the victim of n p,has
" biunder, said one of the school
teachers. 81 still believe he was ipno-
cent. ] know that he was an honorable
man He read that he had been drawn
INTO the mystery and ended his life he
cause he had lost hope of extricating
himself and because he thought bis
reputation had been ruined He had
telephoned us every day since the mur-
der occurred, but it was not until late
Yesterday that he showed any signs of
! being worried about the affair VI
"He called us three times vestara
and at r O'Clock, the hour OF his la 3,
call, he seemed excited but profeetad
his innocence. Isn't this horrible. he
sara. don't know what to do to stop
this notoriety.' He said that he h.d
placed the matter in the hands az a
lawyer and that everything would be
all right" "