The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03

story. the man Grace Roberts really
loved and who came nearer to having
true affection for her than any OF hel
admirers, is q young Ph1ladelphian
who some years ago was star foot
ball player on University Of Pennsyl-
vania elevens.
Some weeks ago they had quar-
rel, ending in an estrangement. The
football man, who Is employed In
Philadelphia now, went to his sister
in-law q few days before New Year
and appealed to her to bring about g
reconciliation. He asked her to give
a New Years dinner party and invite
agreed, and last Wednesday or
Thursday she called up Miss Roberts
and asked herf to dinner on New
Years Day, promising turkey and q
pleasant surprise The model un-
derstood what 'fthe pleasant surprise
was to be, and, eager for a reconcilia-
ton, gladly accepted. So far this
story is borne out by investigation
made by reporters, but there is nc
firm foundation for the rest of the
story told the detectives.
Friday morning last, they say
another admirer of Miss Roberts
called at her apartment, and as he
was preparing to leave invited her to
New Year party which would have
lasted all that day, If not longer. She
declined. He pressed her for a rea-
son. She told him, and when she
I persisted in refusing to break her din
ner engagement, quarrel ensued, re-
sulting in her death.
This admirer is said to be brewer
Of this city who had, spent money
lavishly upon Miss Roberts. 1t was
also said that he had disappeared
from the city. That she had several
admirers in the brewery business in
Philadelphia is established by the POI
lice, but there is nothing yet to- show
that any of them was near her apart
ment last Friday.
Scene In Hotel Ballroom.
A story is being told yesterday OF
an exhibition Of ealousy on the part
of an exhibition Of ealousy on the
part of Miss Roberts. She was pass
ing a we'll known hotel here late one
night A dance of the younger set
was in progress. CHANGING through
a window, she saw her football friend
Waiting with young girl. She
rushed into the ballroom and boxed
his ears and almost tore off his
evening clothes. The guests at the
dance had influence enough tot pre-
vent thei Incident getting into the
newspapers.
Beside the football star. and Mag
istrate Harry ]. Imber, who. as has
been told, admitted his friendship for
the "girl with the form divine, !" there
were added yesterday to the list Of
prominent acquaintances the names
of several men we'll known in pro-
fessional baseball.
In clubs and business and political
circles here there are many who
tremblingly pick up. the extras to
read the latest bulletins on this
murder case. Attempts were
made at first to ridicule the idea that
the model really had friends who
amounted to much in the life of the
city These have ceased. It is an adj
mitted fact The important question
now for money men is, How can we
cover up?"
influence Deters Police.
= 1t 00YeIOpSOf' yesterday That one au-
mirer had for some time been pre-
senting the model her apartment of
$50 a month; that another had given
her 500 to pay. hospital expenses
when she was forced to go there for
treatment some time ago; that a
third was the giver Of jewelry, espe-
cially diamonds, which she pawned
at her pleasure to bestow gifts upon
still another. whom she admired still
more. These gifts did not go to the
former Pennsylvania football player.
The influence which could be massed
by certain Of her friends is reason
which prompts the police department
to proceed with extreme caution. Ew-
idence has been gathered which would
warrant the holding OF several men,
but 1t seems likely the police will wait
now until they have a clinched case
before they arrest.
Yesterday Eleanor Gary, the negress
formerly employed by Miss Roberts
as maid, was brought to the detective
bureau and grilled by Captain Ttate.
She is understood, to have given much
information concerning the visitors at
the apartment. Marie Collins, close
friend Of the model, was also queA-
toned. She has an apartment at tho
Wilton. Bessie Colbert, the models
lster, was again questioned. III
A shifting OF the evidence SO far has
about convinced the police that fear
Of exposure, jealousy, or fight fol-
lowing an unprecedented quarrel led
to the murder. Within these limita.
Al -