Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-01-05
Wealthy Young Pittsburger Shoots Himself as Off
 cers Reach Room.
CONNECTED WITH
 MODELS MURDER
Bernard w. Lewis, Known to Have Been at Apartment of Maisie G0I- bert in Philadelphia on the Day
 She Was Killed.

Atlantic City, Jan. 4.-Bernard Wes-
 lev Lewis, son of retired coal deal
 CT, sought by the police in connec-
 ton with the killing of Maisie Col
 bert, an artists model, in her apart
 ments in Philadelphia last week, shot
 and killed himself in his apartment
 in the exclusive States Villa tonight while two detectives were trying to
 gain entrance to his rooms. The
 ball from a new 22-calibre rifle went into his temple, and death is believed to have been instantaneous. When the detectives knocked at the door of his room, Lewis went into the bathroom, braced his feet against the
 head of the tub, placed the rifle to his head and pulled the trigger. When the officers broke down the door a few minutes afterward they found the man dead.
 Careful search of Lewis room, clothing and effects failed to reveal any form of communication to shed light on the killing of Miss Colbert, nor was there anything to explain his suicide.
 Local detectives had been request ed by the Philadelphia police to en- deavor to locate Lewis. Detectives Harley and Tolton. who were assigned to the case, learned tonight that Lewis had gone to States Villa. When they reached the hotel, they were told he had gone to his room he had talk en but a short while before "Who is there?" Lewis called out when the detectives knocked on the door.
 We have a message for you,'' Far ley replied. "Let us in.'' "All right" was the reply A moment later the detectives heard door bang inside the room. They thought Lewis was attempting to es- cape by window, and ran into an other room where there is a door connecting with the bathroom of Lewis room. They found the key hole plugged. When finally they gained entrance Lewis was found re- clining in the bath-tub. still clutch ing the rifle. There was little blood save about the temple. His fingers showed scratches as though he had been in a struggle with some one. On bureau in the room were sev- eral copies of papers of today. con- taining articles relating to the Col bert murder. One, spread out, car ried headline Girl May Solve Mod el Murder Mystery"
 Was at Girls Apartments. Philadelphia, Jan. 1.-The death by his own hand at Atlantic City to- night of Bernard w. Lewis, wealthy young Pittsburger, as he was about to be arrested in connection with the Colbert girls murder, leads the po- lice to believe he knew something of the crime if he was not actually the slayer.
 warrant for Lewis arrest on the technical charge of defrauding taxi cab driver on Friday. the day the murder is believed to have been com mitted. was issued today. Lewis name had been furnished the authorities by Misses Ethel and Mabel Kyle, sister. who said they had been
 taken home by Lewis Friday after a
 dinner party down town. Elwood Powell. chauffeur, in an affidavit, stated he had later taken the man to
 the apartment house where Miss Col
 bert lived.
 Lewis twice this afternoon tele-
 phoned from Atlantic City to the
 nome of the Kyle sisters. The calls
 were answered by Miss May Kyle, a
 lnlrd sister. who said Lewis plunged
 at once into reference to the murder
 What shall I do?" he is reported to
 nave said. "Isn't this terrible?"
 Did you know the Colbert girl?"
 he was asked.
 "Of course. did not know her." he
 IS said to have replied.
 Then why haven't you called on
 the detectives and explained where
 you were Friday?" Miss Kyle asked.
 Why didn't you let them know before
 this?"
 T thought the easiest way was the
 best way" he said
 Lewis was silent for moment, and
 then said: ~NH%!
 Don't worry. I am going to
 stralghten this out. I am going to
 COnfinuo6 civ