The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-19
GAY LIFE LURE
OF MRS. HILAIR
Woman Slain in Hotel Was
Known in Many Broad
way Restaurants.
SHE USED MANY ALIASES
Search for Object Of Her Last
Filtration Proves Baf-
fling to Police.

Detectives failed to f,nc yesterday the
man who murdered Mrs. Elsie Lee
Hilair In the Hotel Martinique on Thurs
day afternoon. But as they worked,
tracing her friends. investigating her
habits. seeking every scrap Of informa-
ton which might lead them to q solution
Of the mystery. they were amased at the
story OF her career which gradually
came to light
Mrs. Hilalr, nineteen years married
10 devoted husband, mistress Of a neat
Brooklyn home, never neglecting house,
wifeiy duties and always home at night
this ostensibly commonplace woman
was familiar figure in gay restaurants
and hotels in Manhattan. 80 devoted
was she to the hectic pleasures Of the
dance floors that waters in three Of the
most prominent places Of the more ex-
psnslve sort recognized her photograph
promptly yesterday
Search for "TangO Pirates.',
Fortified with information given by
Miss Irene Murray, Mr.. Hilair's twenty
one-year-old niece. that Mrs. Hilair FIRE.
Vuently left her quiet Brooklyn neigh
borhood 10 pass afternoons at tea
dances. and acting on the theory that
the woman was slain by a tango pirate"
for the diamonds which she invariably
wore. detectives combed the uptown
dancing zone.
Walters in three restaurants readily
recognized he photograph Of the slain
woman The captain Of walters at one
hotel was certain that he had seen her
there within the last month. bell.
boy said he had observed her on more
than one afternoon seated in a corri-
dor near the entrance to a palm court.
Neither OF these persons ever had seen
her in the company Of men, however.
Attendants at two other places also
said that Mrs. Hilair had been in those
restaurants on more than one occasion
recently. Invariably, according to all
OF these witnesses, she appeared In the
afternoon. This Is in accordance with
Mrs. Hilair's habits. She always made
It particular point to return home in
time to prepare her husbands dinner.
Mrs. Hilalr attracted by her vivacity
and her love of gayety rather than by
any marked beauty. her friends say.
Her hair was medium blond and her
blue eyes were always sparkling. She
was about feet IN inches tall and had
an attractive figure. Her weight was
in the neighborhood OF las pounds.
Ovcrdressed with Jewelrv.
But 1t was neither her fondness for
gayety nor her 1gure which attracted
her murderer. assuming. of course, that
robbery was the sole motive for the
crime. She was In the habit Of be-
decking herself with diamonds almost
beyond the limits Of good taste. When
she left home Thursday in response to ?
teleDh0np ha In nj
brooch. both set with diamonds. over
the breast Of her gray tailored suit and
Ave diamond rings.
1t was this penchant .or wearing
gems which furnished one Of the fea-
lures OF interest In the quest for q dark
man OF Latin cast Of countenance who
Is badly wanted" The police for OBJ
V'ous reasons are concealing his sur
name. To intimates he seems to have
been known variously as johnnie" or
"Bennie' Johnnie or "Bennie' was
In the habit of wearing q five karat
diamond ring on the middle finger Of his
right hand
How Mrs. Hilair came to meet this
man was told TO the authorities first by
girl usher In a Brooklyn theatre, her
version afterward being confirmed by
Miss Murray. Two weeks ago to-day
Mrs. Hila!r and her niece attended the
house, occupying box seats. In the same
oox were the dark man-then stranger
TO them both-and the blond woman.
Lure of the DiamoaAs.
Johnnie" displayed his diamond os-
tentatously and Mrs. Hilair was at.
tracted by It. Apparently he was
attracted In turn by the precious stones
which Mrs. Hilair wore. At all events,
Following silent exchange OF signals
IN the eye language. one OF the two
arose and left the box. the other follow
ing almost Immediately. Back In the
corridor and chstted for moment or
two' after which they rejoined their
former companions.
Between that Monday and the Thurs
day eleven days later when the woman
met her death Mrs. Hila!r met
Johnnie" three times, according to In
formation given Assistant District At
torney John F. Joyce by Miss Murray.
When Mrs, Hilair left her home Thurs
day morning she told her niece that II
was to meet this man II It was indeed
he who had telephoned her he must
have been more successful In gaining her
confidence than any Of the other men
whom she had casually met. for to none
or these. the police believe, did she re-
veal her real name.
The police investigated last night a
report that a few minutes after Mrs
Hnair was assigned to room 726 at the
Martinique Thursday, large blond
woman" took a room on the same floor
almost directly opposite. Inspector Cray
!. who is in charge OF the case. insisted
y however. that he had been unable to es
tab'!sh the presence Of any such woman
in the hotel.
Among largo number of persons
whom Police Inspector Cray and Mr.
Joyce questioned yesterday there were
four men whom Miss Murray had men,
toned as acquaintances o. Mrs. Hilair
No two Of them, II developed. had known
Cowttsvsd On DtgtA Ya0s.