Evening journal., 1917-01-05
BeleUo Lc,Uis' Suicide Clears up Colbert Murder
tcontInued BON Page ID

rurdcrer's head in the girls terrible
struggle for life. seemed identical with
Lewis black hair.
Events leading up to the suicide OF
Lewis broke fast yesterday. A war
rant was issued for the arrest OF
Lewis on the technical charge of hay-
ing defrauded Elwood Powell, a taxi
chauffeur Of S19. Atlantic City police
were told that the Lewis family occu'
pied a luxurious home in exclusive
States avenue during the summer
They were asked as early as Wednes-
day TO watch for Lewis al the states
Avenue Villa, an exclusive hotel
Lewis did not arrive there until late
Yesterday afternoon When hotel Of
hcials informed the waiting police
that their man had arrived, two g
them knocked at his door.
'Who Is there?" asked q nervous
voice
"We want to see YOU a minute an.
swored the detectives.
Ia another second the detectives
heard a door close Believing Lewis
was trying to escape. they smashed
in the door as a shot was heard in the
bathroom propped up i'm the bath
tub was Lewis--a- bullet wound IN his
temple. Death had been instantaneous
He had killed himself with small
calibre rife. newly-purchased. The
condition Of the room indicated that
the man had prepared TO kill himself
bv gas but bought the rine In the
event he was captured too Soon to ac-
complish his original intentions.
A towel had been hung over the
transom Of his bedroom door and the
bathroom door. Keyholes had been
stuffed with paper as well as cracks
around the window. Many editions Of
Philadelphia and New York papers,
telling Of the issuance OF warrant
for his arrest and latest developments
IN the Colbert murder. Uttered the
floor
Detectives attach much significance
70 several scratches on Lewis fingers
Ia hinging upon him blame for the
death Of the stunning stocking and
corset model who had held men Of
wealth and prominence virtually in the
palm of her hand. In a bureau drawer
was a handkerchief containing whit
appeared 20 be blood stains.
pract cally without money and
driven 70 frenzy by the finger OF sus-
picion that had been pointed az him
Lewis apparently was In q hopeless
condition. His clothes were terribly
mussed and he wore a shirt OF chear
make-a direct contrast TO the neat
society man OF several years ago
while detectives say they believe
Lewis killed the cafe butterfly, friend.
are emphatic In their belief that he Is
the victim Of q mistake and his owr
conscience. Miss Mabel Kyle. one o
the girls who 7Tided the police I'm iden.
tilylng the man IA the taxi, made thi.
statement:
- believe Mr Lewis is the victim
Of q ghastly blun6er ] know he wa.
an honorable man and ] still believe
him innocent. He read that he haJ
been drawn in the mystery and had IA,
hope of eNiricating himself"
Lewis called Mss May Kyle, an
other sister, on the telephone just be
fore he left for Atlantic City yoster
day
'What shall I do?' he asked afte
explaining he had been implicated
Miss Kyle told him 20 give himsol
up. which she declared he promised
10 DO Immediately Instead, however
he took The first train to the Jerso
resort.
Two Headquarters detectives wer
on The wire tho entire time LOWS wa
talking For several days the line Z
Tie Kyle home had been tapped" nC
tective Hodge called Miss Kyle him
self as soon as Lewis had hung "a
and asked II the man had called. Sh
acknowledged he had. II Is under
stood that Lewis was with one OF IA
KYLE sisters as early as 3 O'Clock Fr