The sun., 1917-03-18
WOMAN SLAIN
ATMAR7INIQUE
Mrs. Elsie L. Hilair of
Brooklyn Strangled and
Robbed of Jewels.
VICTIM OF THE GARROTE
She Was Lured From Her
Home to Hotel by Tele-
phone Message.
VICTIM OF THE GARROTE

ton street, Brooklyn. shortly after 10
o'clock Thursday morning. She changed
her house dress for street suit. decked
herself In jewelry and departed gayly,
whispering TO Miss Irene Murray. niece
OF her husband, that she was going
to meet Il man whose acquaintance she
had formed casually at n matinee in
Brooklyn about week ago.
Less than twenty.four hours later she
was found strangled upon the bed In
room in the Hotel Martinique, Broad
way and Thirty-third street. She had
been garroted after the manner for
merly used in the execution Of criminals
in some of the Spanish countries. All
of her jewels--of an estimated value
of nearly s2,500--save her wedding ring
and a plain gold bracelet, were missing.
1t was the penalty, the police believe.
paid by woman who hirted with the
tempter once too often. Mrs Hilair.
Miss Murray said. was almost inordi-
nately fond Of dancing. She found ro-
nance in the music and the shaded
lights Men whom she met in ways
other than those prescribed by the Set
rules of a formal society attracted her.
Police Get Mems Nam~a.
Miss Murray gave the police the name
of the man Mrs. Hilair had met in
Brooklyn theatre and the names Of three
or four others whom she had come to
know at tango teas at expensive hotels
and restaurants in Manhattan and
Brooklyn. The niece. who is 81 years
old. admitted she had frequently ac-
companied her on these afternoon out
ings.
Acting on information given by a
girl usher in the Brooklyn vaudeville
house, the police were looking las; night
for a man who is said to have been
= familiar figure in certain sporting
circles He Is described as brunette.
almos: of an Italian cast. about ; feet
inches tall and heavy set. His fond
hess for diamonds is known by all his
aCruaintances.
The usher said she saw this man meet
two women she believes to have been
Mrs Hiiair and Miss Murray at the
theat'e about ten days ago. ---.--4.
All this time. during a period covering
several months at least, the husband.
Harry J. Hilair. suspected nothing He
was devotion Itself. a. neighbors took
occasion to recall last night. Some time
ago, when he was enjoying considerable
business prosperity, he lavishcd upon her
the jewels which were TO incite some
man t. murder.
No alteration IN his attitude toward
his wife came with the change in for-
tune which forced him to accept a po-
sition as salesman in the carpet de-
partment of a Brooklyn store Soon
after Mrs. Hi!air began to find inter-
ests outside her home. =
Mrs Hilair ia heliayeI 1T
rectly from the Clinton street house to
the Martinique. following the receipt OF
the telephone message Thursday morn
ing. She arrived there at r. 40 O'Clock
and registered as Mrs. Florence Grey,
Boston, Mass" She carried only a small
hand grip and paid the - for her room
in advance.
Emil Crakensiech. the bellboy who
accompanied her to room 126, was i'm
pressed by what he regarded as evi-
dences of her wealth. She gave him a
25 cent tip and as she drew the quarter
from her bag he observed that her fin
gers were Just covered" with diamonds
Mrs. Grey" was never seen outside the
room again ard the hotels telephone
records show that she sent no messages
and received none.
Conformation In Home.
j'ut there was CONSERVATION in the
Brooklyn homo when Mr. Hilair returned
from the store at 7 o'clock that evening.
For the first time In their married life
his wife was not there ready to serve
dinner Miss Murray. too was con-
cerned, but she concealed her anxiety.
She knew that it had been her aunt's In
variable rule to leave the dance or the
matinee in ample time to welcome her
husband with the kiss which he was so
ready TO receive.
iilair called at the homes OF several
neighbors, but no trace OF his wife was
to be found. He went to work as usual
Friday morning only to learn on his re-
turn at night that no word had come.
Then. thoroughly alarmed, he notified
the Brooklyn police, and description of
Mrs. Hilair was sent broadcast
At O'Clock Thursday night Marion
Hanley, chambermaid at the Mar
Unique. opened the door OF room 726
tc prepare the bed for the night. Mrs.
Grey was lying there apparently
asleep, and the servant withdrew. She
entered again at 10 O'Clock but again
left without disturbing the guest.
But when Mrs. Salomi Petit, another
chambermaid. entered at s o'clock FRI
day morning she advanced to the bed
and at a glance saw that Mrs. Grey"
was dead, She informed the house,
keeper, who in turn summoned Or.
Henry Lewis. the house physician.
DR.. Lewis found the woman entirely
stripped. save for her shoes and stock
ings This In itself would have been
regarded as suspicious circumstance
for the hotel provides night clothing
for guests without baggage. A night
dress, which had not been unfolded,
was still on the dresser.
signs of - struggle.
The body was In a sprawling position
as IL death mad come at the end of q
struggle. The left hand was under the
head while the right wrist was extended
across the face. as In an attitude OF de-
fence. Small clots of blood had formed
beneath the nose and the mouth.
81 saw at once that II was a case :or
the Coroner. and telephoned the police
without making an examination mysei II ~
said DR.. Lewis later. In notifying the
police told them to send coroner
The patrolman who was sent to the
hotel did not believe "A murder had been
committed, however, He had the body
removed to the West Thirtieth street
station. There 1t remained until late In
the afternoon, when, no relatives OF
| friends having appeared to claim It. n
| was taken to tho morgue. 1t was not