Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-01-12
MURDER SUSPECT
KILLS HIMSELF
Was Sought in Philade| phia
Model Mystery,
WAS WEALTHY PITTSBURGHER
Police Rush to His Room in Atlantic
City, Demand Admission and Mo-
ment Later He Shoots Himself.

ment Later He ShoorS FimSelI.
About to be arrested in connection
with the murder of Grace Colbert
Roberts, artists model in Philadelphia
Bernard w. Lewis, aged about forty
and married, member Of a wealthy
Pittsburgh family, committed suicide
in a hotel on States avenue, Atlantic
City, by shooting himself in tle head
Lewis was the man claimed to have
been the last known person to haVe
entered the Wilton apartments, where
the model was slain, before her body
was discovered last Saturday night
Disclosure of the discovery to the
detective bureau and the consequent
search for him started by detectives
caused Lewis, the son Of wealthy
coal operator in Pittsburgh, to depart
from the city and go into hiding IN
Atlantic City.
The description of him furnished BY
Miss Ethel Kyle, of 1431 West Bring
hurst street, "was placed on the fly
ers," and sent broadcast by the detec
tive bureau, and word was received
from Atlantic City that he had arrived
there and taken apartments in a quiel
house on States avenue.
Detectives were despatched immedi
ately to the shore city and Captain
Tate and a group Of detectives work
ing on the murder mystery waited al
city hall for word of the arrest. The
warrant, which had been issued, was
on a technical charge Of not paying
the taxicab bill to the chauffeur who
drove him to the Wilson apartments
early last Friday morning.
The detectives to make the arrest
were sent to Atlantic City. With sev
eral Atlantic City policemen they went
at once to the house where Lewis had
taken apartments.
Notifying the person who admitted
them of the nature of their err9nd
the detectives hurried upstairs to his
room. They tried the door and found
it locked.
who's there" mans voice asked
agitatedly.
"Open the door, Lewis, we want tt
see you," one Of them said.
Apparently the man knew at once
that he hal been trailed to his hiding
place-and that his visitors were de
tectives. He didn't say anything more
but the detectives heard him walking
and heard a door open.
They feared at once that he would
kill himself, and tried to batter dowr
the door. Before they could force en-
trance, they heard the sound Of shot
followed by the crash of body fall
ing.
When finally they succeeded in en-
tering the room, they found the body
of Lewis lying on the bathroom floor
4 bullet wound in his temple. Deatt
had been virtually instantaneous.
Fear of prosecution on this charge
remorse for the uotoriety he hat
brought On Miss Ethel Kyle, and fear o.
the effect of the disclosures Of his ex
periences within the past week on his
wife, more than the fear that he coulc
not clear himself of any suspicion o.
having murdered the art model, are
believed to have prompted him to enc
his life as the detectives arrived.
The worried state of Lewis mind is
evidenced by the fact that he made
two telephone calls to the home Of
the Kyle girls within fifteen minute:
of each other. The first call was made
at four o'clock Wednesday Afternoon
and the second about quarter Of al
hour later. Both times Lewis talked
to May Kyle.
Don't worry, Miss Kyle" Lewis
said IN the first call. This is a horri
BILE mess, though. But don't you wor
ry."