The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-05
BERNARD LEWIS KILLS
SELF At ATLANTIC CITY
WHEN OFFICERS TRY TO
PUT HIM UNDER ARREST
Barricaded Himself IN Bath
room and Shot Himself
With Small Rifle.

=. ATLANTIC CITY. y. j.. Jan. h,
With his feet braced against the head
Of the bath tub, Bernard Wesley Lew
Is, scion OF wealthy Pittsburgh FAM
lily, wanted In connection with the
murder Of Maize Colbert. the artist
model. in a Philadelphia apartment,
on Saturday night last. pulled the
trigger Of a 22-calibre rifle In the path
room adjoining his bedroom In the eN'
cluS!A:. oaa;ss Villa on States Avenue
tonight, at S:25 O'Clock. as Detectives
Farley and Totten of the local head
quarters staff raped for admittance
IN the door Of his room.
The shot entered the mans temple
and death is believed TO have been IN.
Simultaneous. That Lewis anticipated
arrest and made preparations to kill
himself is indicated by the fact that
the rifle was new.
Yesterday Captain Of Detectives
Malseed received communication
from Captain Of Detectives Tate at
Philadelphia. asking him to endea"or
to locate Lewis. Detectives Farley
and Totem were assigned to the case.
They succeeded in aScertainlng that
the father OF Lewis. Wenman Lewis.
a retired coal operator OF Pittsburgh
resided in house near the States
Villa, about four year ago. On inquiry
they learned that Bernard Lewis was
known at States Villa. but up to nine
o'clock last night he had not arrived
at the house and there was then n"
indication that he would do so.
Locked In Room
About S o'clock tonight word came
to Captain MaiseedS : office that man
answering the description Of Lewis
hau entered States Villa. Farley anu
Totten Immediately left headquarters
and rushed to the house on states
Avenue. Upon inquiry from maid at
the door they learned that Lewis hao
gone to his room on the tnird floor;
They hurried up the stairs and rappau
on the door Of the bedroom.
"Who is there Lewis called out.
I'VE have a message for you Far
ley answered. Let US in.
"All right was the reply.
A moment later the detectives heard
a door bang inside the room. Their
first thought was that Lewis was at
teupting to make his escape through
q window. They hurried 10 an al
Joining room, from which there was
communicating door TO the bath room
OF Lewis apartment. AS they tried
the door the rifle shot rang out.
{. They tried. to insert 4 key IN the
door, but found that the keyhole had
been plugged. They then hurried
around to the door leading to Lewis
bedroom. They finally effected an en-
,fsfkHeHsesF hey found the door to the
!. bath room locked. however. and were
forced to break it open.
Lewis was found half reclining IT
the bathtub. with his foot. oraceo
against the head. The trigger of the
; .22-calibre rife was still clasped In MS
hand, and the end Of the barrel rested
against his temple.
Death lnsta antancous.
Aphysician made an examination. oi
the man and expressed the opinion
that death vas instantaneous.
Lewis had removed his coat. tie
was att;red in blue striped shirt
black trousers and black shoes. HIS
fingers showed several scratches. as
though he had been in a struggle with
someone. On the bureau were sew
eral copies of to-day's Philadelphia
Atlantic City and New York newspa
pers. One contained The headline
across the front page Girl May Solve
Model Mystery" Underneath TINS
was large column cut OF Maize Col
bert.
Lewis was positively identified BY
the. owners of the hotel He was
tcoranued on Tasc Etght.)