Evening journal., 1917-01-05
Believe Le,Uis Suicide Clears up Colbert Murder
continued From Page ID


nurdcror's head Ia the girls terrible
strurrlc for life seemed identical with
Lewis blacl, hair.
Events leading up TO the suicide or
Lewis broke fast yesterday. war
rant was issued for the arrest or
Lewis on the technical charge OF haV-
ing dofrauded Elwood Powell a taxi
chauffeur OF S19 Atlantic City police
were told thst The Lewis family occu-
MED a luxurious home In exclusive
States avenue during The summer.
4hcy we're asked as early as Wednos
day to watch for Lewis at the states
Avenue villa an exclusive hotel.
Lewis did not arrive there until late
Yesterday afternoon When hotel Of
ncials informed the waiting police
that their man had arrived. two O.
them knocked at his door
"Who Is there" asked a nervous
voice
1--WE want 20 see you a-minute.' an'
sRerod The detectives.
IN another second the detectives
heard a door close. Believing Lewis
was trying 10 escape they smashed
ga the door as a shot was heard in the
bathroom. Propped Up in the bath
tub was Lewis-a bullet wound In his
temple Death had been instantaneous
He-had killed himself with a small
calibre rifle. new ly-purchased The
cend t0n cf-the room Indicated that
the man had prepared TO XII himself
by gas but bought the rife Ina the
event he was captured too soon TO &C.
complish his original Intentions.
A towel had been hung over the
fransom Of his bedroom door and The
bathroom door Keyholes had been
stuffed with paper as well as cracks
around the window Many editions OF
Philadelphia and New York papers
telling Of the issuance OF q warrant
for his arrest and latest developments
10 The Colbert murder, Uttered the
floor.
lelo tives attach much significance
90 several scratches on Lewis fingers
10 Ringing upon him blame for the
death of the stunning stocking and
corset model who had held men of
Netil and prominence virtually i'm the
ralm Of her hand In a bureau drawer
was c handkerchief containing what
appeared 10 be blood stains
Practically without money and
driven to frenzy hy the finger OF sus-
picion that had been pointed at him
Lewis apparently was ia hopeless
condition His clothes were terribly
mussed and he wore a shirt OF a cheap
make-a direct contrast To the neat
society man Of several years ago.
While detectives say they believe
Lewis killed the cafe butterfly. friends
are emphatic in their belief that he Is
the victim OF q mistake and his own
conscience Miss Mabel Kyle. one of
the girls who aided the police In iden-
tifving Che man in the taxi. made this
statement:
- believe Mr., Lewis is the victim
OF o CHASTITY bmnder. know ne was
an honorable man and stll believe
him innocent. He read that he had
been drawn in the mystery and had nc
hope of exfricating himself"
Lewis called " SIS May Kyle. an.
other sister. on the telephone just be-
fore he left for Atlantic City yester-
day.
'What shall do?f he asked after
explaining he had been implicated.
Miss Kyle told him 20 give himsel'
up. which she declared he prom sed
10 do Immediately, Instead, however
he took the first train TO the Jersey
resort
Two Headquarters detectives were
on the wire the entire time Lewis was
talking For several days the line "a
The Kyle home had been tapped. De.
tcctiye Hodge called Miss Kyle h.m-
self as soon as Lewis had hung up
and asked II the man had called. She
acknowledged he had &c is under
stood that Lewis was with one OF the
KYLE sisters as early as o'clock Fri