The Washington times., 1920-06-12

Shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday
morning a tall. slender man OF forty
nve. In evening clothes. bade adieu
to a party OF four seated in a limou-
sine on the south side of Forty-second
street, west OF seventh avenue.
The car rolled on toward a house
on upper Fifth avenue and the tall
slender man strolled toward Eighth
avenue.
SO far as known. this Is the last
time Elwell was seen alive.
Found Dead In Chair.
At $3.50 o'clock, less than seven
hours after Mr.. Elwell spoke his
jovial farewells at the Forty-second
street curb. he was discovered in a
dying condition. half sprawled in
small armchair, in the reception room
of his home.
A bullet from a .45-caliber auto
matte pistol had been fired into his
forehead. passed squarely through the
skull and embedded itself an inch
deep In the east wall OF the narrow
chamber. Rushed to Bellevue Hos
pital, he lived until l0:52-aimost a
medical marvel.
The manner of Elwelrs life, as well
as the circumstances OF his death.
served to extend the radius of the
Investigation into the two principal
social and financial circles In which
the dead man moved-the world OF
sport and the world of society.
.Hixh Roller with Women.
Not the least important phase Of
the inquiry lies in the identity OF Ell
wells numerous women friends in
both spheres. Gambling for high
stakes with some OF the best known
men in America almost invariably
winning large sums at the game OF
which he was a noted master, Elwell,
in speculation in Wall Street and on
the tracks OF this country. Cuba and
Mexico, and in gifts showered upon
women who knew him only as high
flyer"
A dozen detectives last night were
set to the task OF finding several
women who had keys to the house.
One Of more OF these women. the
police were told, frequently accom-
he Join one OF them after he left the
party OF friends on the Forty-second
street curb?
Before the mystery period" Ell
we'll spent several hours as guest
OF Walter Lewisohn. society sports
man and member of well-known
banking family. In the party were
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewisohn. the latter,s
sister. Viola Kraus Won Schlegell'
one Of the most beautiful young wom-
en- in New York society, and an "un-
known man." Z.
Lawyer Issues Statement.
The unknown man." it is believed.
was Victor Won Schlegell. husband OF
Mrs. Viola Won Schlegell. although
Lyttleton Fox. lawyer. spokesman for
the Lewisohns. and Mrs. Won Schle-
gell, would not identify the nfth
member of the party.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lewisohn have
known Mr.. Elwell for years. Fox
said, in a statement last night. They
knew, of course. of his business al
fairs.
THE party last night was a Jolly
one No one had anything to drink,
but all were in high spirits, notice.
ably Mr.. Elwell. >
"The dinner lasted until rather
late in the evening. Then the party
motored to the Midnight Follies' and
saw the performance. AS near as
Mr.. Lewisohn and the others can re-
call, the party left the New Amster-
dam Roof between 1 80 and o'clock
this morning.
"On the side " ak the Lewlsohn
family group parted from Mr. Eli
well. He bade all of them a pleasant
good-by, expressed his pleasure at the
enjoyable evening he had spent, and
strolled west on Forty second street
toward Eighth avenue.
The Interval OF Mystery.
where Elwell went is mystery
His thoughts were evidently Tar from
his quiet bedchamber up on west
SEVENTEEN street.
Edward r. Rhodes. the chauffeur.
| who looked after the dead mans
little yellow racing car and his tour
ING car. said his employer returned
| from FLORIDA three months ago. He
said E,lueIl had lost heavily on the
races recently and was practically
! ..hrolo" This story was partly
contradicted by Elwelfs father and
nrominent member of the Studio
Tho father. Il. l.. Elwell, a retired
business man safo'
| ..Ny son was wealthy. He was a
heavy and successful operator in
wall street. Recently he bought a
fpe house for MS motner ana me
at Ridgewood. n. j., and settled
| enough money on us to make us
comfortable for life. He was a
splendid son: wonderful man. He
had no reason to take his life and
| 7 agree with tho police a brutal
murder has been committed"
Separated FROM wife.
For years Elwell has mingled in
.orie,v He and his wife, Mrs
Florence Derby Elwell, have been
separated for several years. There
Is one son who lives with his mother.
Mrs. Elwell refused to discuss the
case.
Her suit for separation in 1916
brought in the Supreme Court New
York County. after sixteen years Of
married life, attracted wide atten-
tion.
Mrs. ElwelI. asking alimony for
the support Of herself and her son.
Richard n. Elwell. gave an account
OF her husbands large earnings. She
said he received royalties amount
n ya rinti