New-York tribune., 1920-06-30
u. S. Takes Up
Elwell $4,000
Bootleg Clew
Dry Enforcement Agent
Questions Saloonkeeper
and Valet TO Find Who
Were Parties to Deal
Nothing New, Says Swami
Letters From Cralnks to
Prosecutor Advance IL
Solutions of Mystery

The Federal authorities took hand
yesterday in the search for the muir
derer of Joseph Bovine Elwell.
AS result of disclosures tending to
suggest that the whist king may have
met his death as q result of S12.70O
bootlegging scheme, whereby he ex-
pected to recoup his shattered for
tunes, Prohibition Enforcement Agent
James E. Shevln set his men to work
investigating the story. While the
efforts of the Federal authorities will
be directed mainly to tracing the
liquor and the $12,700 check, which is
said to have passed between Elwell and
other participants in the deal, 1t is
associates and employees will be ques-
toned in the course of the search and
the whole case gone over again.
Arrests will be made, it was said. as
soon as any evidence of illicit traffic
is obtained, in which case 1T is pos
sibls that the entire circumstances
surrounding Elwell's murder at his
home, at 244 West SEVENTEEN Street, on
the morning of June IL. will be
brought to light. Early in the day
Special Agents Daniel J. Mangln and
William P Lord conferred with AS
sistant District Attorney Alfred j. Tai
ley on the matter.
Liquor Dealer Questioned
Later, it was learned. these agents
found liquor dealer who was thought
TO know something about the affair.
He was taken before Mr.. Shevlin and
questioned. William Barnes, secretary
and valet of Elwell, was also summoned
to the District Attorneys office and
asked If he had heard of any bootleg
ging scheme in which Elwell had been
involved.
Barnes, according to Mr.. Talley, said he
knew of no such deal and could throw
absolutely no light on the clew. Mr.. Tai
ley said he had questioned one other
man in connection with this trail and
that he expected to examine several
liquor dealers to-day.
At the office of the Federal enforce
ment agent it was said that fairly
good progress had already been made
in the investigation and that there
we're apparent grounds for believing
that such a deal had taken place. Fed
eral authorities, it was declared, will
keep in touch with the District At
torney's office and a harmonious effort
will be made to run the clew to the
ground. Race track acquaintances of
Elwell are of the firm belief that it is
the only true explanation of the Elwell
mystery and declare that, if the trail
is followed. it will eventually lead to
the criminal
Members of the District Attorneys
staff, while bending every effort in
following up the tip, are not so opti-
mistic about its significance. Pointing
out that Elwell's sole occupation in
life had been women and cards, they
believe it most probable that he lost
his life over woman or because Of a
gambling tiff.
District Attorney Swami declared at
thee enc of the day that no new in
formation ter witnesses had been un-
earthed and "Nhat the shooting of Ell
we'll was as deep a mystery as ever.
He said he haf not yet received suf
6cient information on which to base
an opinion of the bootlegging story,
and that not fnouch facts had been
disclosed upon| which an arrest could
be ordered.
II Different Theories
Mr.. Talley then made public batch
Of letters, some anonymous, others
rot. giving seventeen different theories
for the murder and naming scores Of
persons IS the real criminals. They
we're all so absurd or trivial that they
are y~garded as unlmportdnt. Her
ever names and addresses were men
ford, however, the suggestions, no
mater how wild, have been rundown.
The keys 10 the Elwell home seem
10 be the favorite basis Of deduction
or the part of the writer's. Some of
~ reasons advanced for the murder
! fe that certain persons owed him
large sums of money and that he was
lain when he demanded payment.
Others take the opposite angle. and
& declare he was slain because he re-
fused to meet obligations.
In dozens Of other letters the Dis
trict Attorney is advised Immediately
TO send detectives to cellars and roofs
of various dwellings and tenements
throughout the city. where, he is as
sured, conclusive evidence as to the
identity Of the murderer will be found.
The names Of several country clubs
are given as the real home of the
Criminal