New-York tribune., 1919-02-26
BoardinsHouse
Owner Killed.
Jewels Stolen
George III. Robec Slain by
Thief in Own Chamber
in Madison Ave. House
Rings Worth $l,O0OCone
Autopsy Reveals Cause of
Death Was Strangulation;
Many Scratches on Body

George H Robee, proprietor of
fashionable boarding house in the old
Weatherbee mansion, 22S Madison
Avenue, was found dead in his cham
ber yesterday morning by one of his
negro servants. Robee was fftynine
years old and unmarried. His assailant
escaped after taking three diamond
rings valued at $1,000 from the slain
man.
The tragedy adds another unsolyed
mystery to the conservative Murray
Hill section, the first being the uneX-
planned killing of Winfield Scott Phil
hover in his richly furnished apart
ment, at 14S East Thirtieth Street,
about two months ago. The two men
were said to be friends. Philhower was
slain with an East Indian dagger from
his own collection of trophies. In his
case. diamond ornaments of consid-
'erable value were stolen by the muir
derer.
An autopsy in a public mortuary on
Thirty ninth Street proved Robee had
met death by strangulation and not by
a blow over the eye, as was reported
The murderer had worked silently. None
of the boarders in the house had heard
sounds of a struggle. One of the board
ers said there were sounds of laughter
and talking in Robee's bedroom about
10 o'clock at night.
Body Found Partly Clothed
There were fewer than twenty-five
boarders in the house, including many
young women workers, a few married
couples and elderly persons who have
been with Robee during the five years
he has lived on Madison Avenue The
house is next door to a Y. w. C. A.
branch in Thirty Street. The
two brownstone mansions of j. P.
Morgan, occupying the entire east side
of the block, are opposite. The homes
of Anson Phelps Stokes, George F.
Baker and Captain De Lamar are
nearby.
When the news of the killing first
was announced by the negro kitchen
helper, George Mccain, of 248 West
Gath street, many boarders were at
breakfast. Robee was found lying on
the floor, partly clothed
The news was conveyed to Mrs. Ken
ton, sister of the slain man, who was
living in the house. Scores of persons
gathered outside when Patrolman
Patrick RYAN. of the West 3Oth Street
station arrived.
Captain Arthur A. Carey, of the
homicide bureau; Commissioner Lahey,
head of the Detective Bureau, and
Captain Willemse of the West both
Street station, with a detail of de-
tectives, searched Robes room and
questioned the dozen or more negro
servants.
Late last night there had been no
arrests.
Robee's room was furnished in good
taste, though not in extravagant fash
ion. Captain Carey said an old sword
of antique design which was tackled
on the wall had not been removed.
The police believe robbery was the
motive of the slayer or slayers. They
worked until q late hour questioning
persons in tie house as 20 visitors -
Kobee's chamber. Robee was said %
have been a generous entertainers Ne
gave frequent dances and parties to the
group OF young women in the y "
& A. next door, He was IN the habit
o. entertaining friends IL his room.
These came and went, and none of the
boarders had ever heard OF Quarrels
between Robec and his callers Cap
tain Carey said they were men friends
and many OF them were IN uniform.
Rings Attracted Notice
Before Robce entered the boarding
house business he was travelling com
panion and nurse to an elderly gentle
man of wealth. He had travelled
around the world several times and
had the bearing and personality of q
cosmopolite. The three diamond rings
he wore attracted notice because of
their unusual size. Robee usually sat
in the hall OF the house and checked
the tickets of those who came for
meals. Other than the Y. ". G. A.
members there were few guests who
came from the outside for meals.
The manner in which the murderer
escaped has puzzled the detectives. The
room was on the rear of the first
sleeping floor, directly over the kitchen.
Escape through window would mean
dangerous drop of two stories
Sounds of struggle might have gone
"h'ie ~ 90 INC l. W y. ~. DFdHch
next door was entertaining a party of
wounded soldiers from Grand Central
Palace until shortly after midnight.
The swiftness with which the as
sassin worked was evident in the or
deriy arrangement of the room. The
bed clothing was slightly in disarray,
and marks of severe personal violence
on Robee's body proved the murderer
10 be much the stronger man
The bru,se on Robee's forehead was
caused by falling against the rod CON