New-York tribune., 1919-01-19
Clln'iO Collector
Murdered With
Eastern Sabre
Blackjack Also Used by AS
sailant of Winfield $. Phil
hover i'll His Rooms

The police have another murder mys-
terry on their hands for solution. Some
time between early evening on Friday
and noon yesterday, Winfield Scott
Philhoner, a skilled electrical machin-
ist, tiftysix years old and bachelor,
was killed in his apartment on the
first floor of 14S East Thirtieth Street.
The crime had been committed with a
blackjack and an Oriental sabre, both
of which were part Of a collection OF
curios on which Philhower had spent
much care and money
Robbery is believed not to have been
the motive for the murder. Philhower
wore diamond ring nd carried a
considerable SUN of money, but neither
was disturbed. Nor was there any
thing n the apartment missing so far
a could be observed.
Although the police in their search
Of the apartment found the pictures
Of many women, there is nothing to in
dicate that woman was the cause Of
the tragedy. SO far as friends of the
murdered man knew, he had never
been involved in any affair which mi ght
have had such a denouement
Janitor Finds Body
Inc murder was discovered by the
lantor of the apartment house. He
n5ticed that the lights in the front
Of Phi!hQwer's apartment burned stead
iy throughout yesterday morning. At
noon he decided to investigate.
In d rear room Of the apartment the
ianitor came upon the body Of Phil
hover, fully dressed and lying face
upward on the floor. A heavy Oriental
sabre lay directly beneath the body,
It's fanatic markings hidden in spots
b. dark stains. The sabre's empty
scahbard still hung On the wall Of the
room where it and the blade it held
rad often been admired by Philhower's
guests.
A SHIRT distance away the janitor
found heavy, old fashioned blackjack
concealed in rug that had been
doubled over. II was also part Of the
Captain Carey and several men from
he homicide bureau Immediately set
10 work to unrayel The mystery. There
vas every evidence that the murdered
man had Tough. dcspcrately for his
life. Two lamps we're overturned, pic
turcs were awry on the wall rugs
we're out Of place, and portercs which
lad hung from a doorway were torn
down
Police Have Theory
The police believe Philhower knew
his assailant. They are also Of the
opinion that he had no desire to have
whoever was in his apartment known
o outsiders. In no other way can they
accouut for the fact that no one heard
an outcry.
Az they nave reconstructed the
crime in their efforts TO solve it, the
police believe The person guilty was
admitted b. Fnlhowcr and that q
quarrel started afterward. Philhower' 3
manner ~ living was such that he
aus, have been IN good physical con
dtor. despite his ycars, and the police
'ninX likely ne was having the better
of the strugale whcn has assalant, IN
desperation, seized the blackjack first
and tho sabre aftcrYarc
phlhowcI was employed By the
horse Watchman's Clock Company, at
I 233 Broadway. He had worked there
/ for neary twenty years and it was
! 1udcrgtoDd ~ his associates shat he
! had consAegGblc means.
In his apartment, Mr. Philhowcr cn.
tertained crtepsisciy. His guests, how
,cr. Wcrc usually mon, aud only Il
few days ago he gavc u stag dinner
NhIcn va attended bY fifteen Rucnlh.