The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
MORE EVIDENCE
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Colbert will be kept under surveillance
until there is no doubt regarding their
connection with the case. In their ef-3
forts to solve the mystery, the polices
had questioned many young men
prominent in the social and business
life of Philadelphia. The Misses Kyle,
school teachers thru whom the police
learned of Eewis's identity, maintain
that he is innocent of murder and that
he committed suicide because he be-
lieved his reputation had been ruined.
Try to Exonerate Lewis.
Mr. Lewis was the victim of a
CHASTITY blunder," said one of the
teachers Il know he was an honor
able man. He read that he had been.
life because he had lost hope of extri-
eating himself and because he thought,
his reputation had been ruined.
HE called us three times yesterday.
and at ID o. clock. the hour of his last
CALL he seemed excited but protested
his innocence. isn't this horrible, $
he said. L don't know what to do to.
stop this notoriety' He said that hal
had placed the matter in the hands of
a lawyer and that everything would be
all right"
Less than five hours after this con-
versation, Lewis had shot himself as
he was about to be arrested. That he
had anticipated arrest and had made.
preparations to end his life was indi-.
Gated by the fact that the 22-catihs i
rifle that he used for the deed was
new. The police declared today that
they had built up a remarkable cir
cumstantia1 case against Lewis. They
had issued a warrant against him
charging him with defrauding Powell,
the taxicab chauffeur, who waited
eight hours outside of the Colbert.
apartments. out of SO fare and had.
planned when they located him to ac-
cuse him of being the owner of the
wilted and bloodStained collar found
in the girls room. They believed they
had identified this collar as one worn
by Lewis the night before the murder
was discovered.
Find No Confession.
Atlantic City, Jan. beyond his
dramatic suicide, which in itself the
police say was a confession of guilt,
nothing has been found here to di-
rectly connect Bernard. w. Lewis, son
of wealthy retired coal operator of
Pittsburg, with the murder of Maize
Colbert, the Philadelphia artists
model. The police said they had
hoped to find written statement
from Lewis as to his connection with
the Philadelphia tragedy. Philadel-
phia detectives here said they have
found strong circumstantial evidence
and are convinced that he was the
man wanted for the murder.
Inc shirt and collar he wore were
new and were the same size as the
bloody shirt and collar found in the
| Colbert apartment after the girl was
found beaten and strangled to death.
His Hand Scratched.
The finding of the blood-stained
handkerchief in his pocket and the
fact that one of his hands was
scratched, is further evidence they
said, that Lewis was the man wanted
for the murder. Some of the detec-
tives believe that if they had not come
upon Lewis SO suddenly he might have
left a letter tel1ingaof his connection,
if any, with the murder. The police
believe he contemplated suicide by
asphyxiation A towel had been placed
over the transon1 of his room and the
keyhole of the door to his apartment
was found stuffed with paper
The police say they believe Lewis
was preparing to end his life and was
taking his own time about it and that
( he had purchased the 22-caliber rifle
to make a quick finish in the event he
was suddenly surprised. According to
word received here Lewis's father is
on his way here from Pittsburg
So far the county physician has or
| un