New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18

Of Miss Murray. From Hillair and Mrs.
llillair's mother the inspector had
learned that the victim. when she left
her home, at 2l1 Clinton Street.
Brooklyn, had worn many valuable
gems, which were missing from the
body. Hillair, now a salesman in the
furniture department of the Loeser
department store, in Brooklyn, ex-
planned they were gifts from him 10 his
wife in the more prosperous years of
their early married life.
With the jewelry gone, and the au-
topsy report establishing beyond doubt
that Mrs. Hillair had been murdered
garrotted in fashion indicating GER
tain physiological knowledge on the
part OF the murderer-Inspector Cray
turned his questioning Of the niece to
bring out the methods by which the
woman was lured from home.
Miss Murray had the answer, and
before long her questioners had it.
Telephone Call from Man
The niece had said, earlier, that Mrs.
Hillair had received a telephone call
before announcing her intention of
starting on a shopping trip to Manhat-
tan. This she amplified by admitting
the call came from a man whom she
and her aunt had met casually at a
vaudeville theatre in Brooklyn a week
ago
More admissions. concerning other
meetings as casual. followed swiftly
Miss Murray told of her aunts fond
ness for dancing and of her frequent
visits 10 restaurants where music ana
floors are provided and partners may
be brought by nod.
Sometimes Miss Murray went with
her aunt into the gay world. More
often she remained at home, and the
Hillair diamonds blazoned forth I'M
chaperoned.
Thursday was one Of the niece's days
in. Her aunt's explanation to her was
explicit. To Mrs. Hillair's mother an
other story was told. the story OF the
projected shopping tour The mother
recalled Yesterday that she had ques-
toned the good taste and good Judg-
ment Of wearing so much Jewelry on
such an expedition.
"I'm taking it for safety's sake" Mrs.
Hillair explained.
The telephone call came about 10
o'clock BY noon Mrs. Hillair was on
her way over the river. No more was
heard of her, by her niece, by her
mother or by her husband.
IL was as "Mss Gray, of Boston,
that she approached the desk at the
Martinique shortly after / O'Clock
Thursday afternoon. The formallties
at the desk were hrief. George Dow
den, the room clerk, suggested room
and bath at 81 a day. That was salts
factory. Wowden's next suggestion, as
he noted the new arrivals lack of bag
gage. concerned payment in advance
"Miss Gray" without question, passed
over S. bill.
A bell boy took "Miss Gray" to hel
room-No. 726, on the seventh floor
l The bell-hop took his tip, mumbled his
I thanks and departed. The door CLOSED
behind him. miss Gray" was seen M
/ more.
Maid Found Body
A S O'Clock on the evening Of the
same day, Marian Hanley, a chamber
maid. opened the door Of Room 72t
\ with a pass key and peeped in. She
/ glimpsed a woman lying on the bed
| apparently asleep, and hastily with
/ drew. The next routine call at Room
I 726 was made at S O'Clock the follow
I ing morning by Salome Petit. another
maid. Salome. seeing the bed still
occupied, got out When she came IN
/ again. an hour later, the maid took 9
| longer look at the figure on the bed
Her eyes caught a splotch of red, and
/ a minute later the Office had the alarm
On the surface it was a natural death
Dr. Henry Lewis, the physician, noted
a mark on the neck in his cursory e1
animation of the body.
Emil Crackensiech, the bellboy who
had "roomed 726," came forward with 8
story that the woman had displayed
considerable jewelry the day before
| He thought il was strange it SHOULD
have disappeared. Later he wasn't So
sure about the jewelry, but the Interest
Of detectives had already been excited
DR.. Otto II. Schultze, medical as
sistant to the District Attorney. went
uptown and decided that Mrs. Hillaii
( BY that time her identity was estsb-
1 lished) had been garroted.
Dr. Schultz was unable 10 place the
/ time of death definitely, but was sure
it had occurred prior to Friday morn
ing.
Mrs. Hillair had removed all hel
clothing except her shoes and stockings
and hung the various articles away III
the closet A nightdress, such as the
hotel provides for women guests arrlv
ing without luggage, lay folded on the
dresser.
Wedding Ring Left
All that was left to represent th'
valuables Mrs. Hillair had taken intC