Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-09
(By Associated Press.)

IL ponce headquarters mere duHOuuCSu
today that the suicide of Bernard w.
Lewis. OF Pittsburg, in Atlantic City,
last night, solved the mystery surround
ing the murder OF Maize Colbert, whose
body, clad in violet silk pajamas, was
found in her apartment here late Satur-
day night. The only thlns that remains
to be done, they said, was TO ind the
motive.
Lewis suicide fits in with all the
circumstances connected with the case
said Captain OF Detectives Tate, and
there is no question that Lewis is the
man who did the killing"
The police do not believe the crime
was premeditated. They say tragedy
Probably was the result of Il quarrel
either over jewelry or money, or jealousy
aroused by the attentions of other men.
Lewis was positively identified by Ell
wood Powell, the chauffeur who drove
him and the Misses Ethel and Mabel
Kyle to their home in Germantown last
Thursday night, as the man he later took
to Miss Colbert's apartment. Phila-
delphia detectives who went to Atlantic
City last night say that Lewis hair
matches that found clutched in the dead
girls hand and that Lewis was found to
be wearing a woman's undershirt which
by Miss Colbert. A blood-stained hand
kerchief was found in his pocket book.
Lewis left no written statement how
ever, as far as could be learned.
In view of these developments the au-
thorities say they feel the mystery vir-
tually has been solved. At the same time
it was declared, several men who were
friends of Miss Colbert and were sus-
pected of having knowledge Of the crime
will be kept under surveillance until there
is absolutely no doubt regarding their
connection with the case.
MANY QUESTIONED.
In their efforts to solve the mystery
the police had questioned many young
men prominent in the social and business
life of Philadelphia. Several of them
admitted they had known the girl ana
some said they had been among her ad-
mirers. The explanation of all except
two or three were satisfactory to the de-
tee ives and their names were not made
public.
The Misses Kyle, through whom the
police learned of Lewis identity, main
tain that he is innocent of the murder
and that he committed suicide because
he believed his reputation had been
ruined.
"Mr. Lewis was the victim of ghast-
" blunder," said one of the school teach
ers. II still believe he was innocent.
know that he was an honorable man. He
read that he had been drawn into the mys-
terry and ended his life because he had lost
hope of eXtricating himself and because
he thought his reputation had been ruin
ed. He had telephoned us every dar
since the murder occurred but 1t was not
until late yesterday that he showed any
signs Of being worried about the anair.
PHONED THREE TIMES.
'Ie called us three times yesterday
and at 4 o'clock, the hour of his last
call. he seemed excited but protested
his innocence. Isn't this HORRIBLE ne
said. Il don't know what to do to stop
this notoriety' He said that he had
placed the matter in the hands of law
year and that everything would be all
right"
Less than FIVE hours after this CONVEX
sation Lewis had shot himself as he
was about to be arrested. That he had
anticipated arrest and had made prep
arations to end his life was indicated
by the fact that the .22-caliber rifle that
he used for the deed was new. He had
pinned a towel over the tranSom OF ms
bedroom door and on the bureau was
box of cartridges and an extra cart
ridge lay on the window ledge WITHIN
his reach in the bath room. Several
Colbert murder were found in his room.
He had little luggage and only about Sc
in cash was found in his pockets. Ac-
cording to the owners of the hotel he
arrived there at 10 o'clock Wednesday
night and had appeared rather moIose
and uncommunicatiye. he visited At
lantic City frequently and was well
known at the cafes and beach front ho-
tells.
PLANNED TO ACCUSE LEWIS.
The police declared today that they
had built up a remarkable circumstan-
tial case against Lewis. They had is
sued a warrant against him charging
him with defrauding Powell, the taXlcao
chauffeur, who waited eight hours out
side of the Colbert apartment, out OF
Slg fare and mad planned when they To-
Gated him to accuse him of being the
owner of the wilted blood-stained col
lar found in the girls room. They be-
lieved they had identified this collar as
one worn by Lewis the night before the
murder.
With the dramatic announcement that
Lewis had committed suicide the ten
sion that existed at the detective bu-
reau seemed to relapse, and Captain
Tate said today he felt his work on the
case virtually was at an end.
HOW liz KILLED SELF.
When The detectives knocked on the
Ccor of his room. Lewis went into the
Lath ROOM braced his foot against the
head of the bath tub, placed the rifle
to his head and pulled the trigger.
When the officers broke down inter-
yening doors a few minutes after they
heard the shot. they found the man
dead.
Careful search of Lewis rooms,
clothing and effects failed to reveal
any communication from the dead man
as to the killing of Miss Colbert, the
police said, nor was there any writing
explaining his suicide.
The local department yesterday was
requested Dy the Philadelphia police
40 endeavor to locate Lewis. Detectives
Farley and Totten. who were assigned
to the ease. learned that the young
mans father some years ago lived in
a house near States Villa and they
went to that hotel but Lewis was not
here, nor had he made any reserva-
ton.
About o'clock last night word came
over the telephone TO Captain MalSeed's
office that man answering the desCrip-
ton of Lewis had entered States Villa
and was then eating dinner. Farley and
Totten Immediately left headquarters
and boarding a jitney were rushed to
the house on States avenue. Upon in
quiry from a maid at the door they
L., haf I lie haR N &c