The Washington times., 1920-07-03
QUIZ D|v0RCEE
ABOUT ELWELL
Mrs. WiImerding Summoned to
District Attorneys Office In
Probe of Tragedy.
VIOLA KRAUS TALKS FREELY
Denies Any Quarrel With Slain
Turfman, But Admits "A. N.
Telephone Call.

NEW YORK, July 3.-MrS.
Josephine Lewis Peet Wilmerding,
the handsome young divorcee Of
New York, Newport and Palm
Beach, who is one Of the latest
women to figure in the murder mys-
terry of Joseph Bovine Elwell, was
invited to the office of District At
torney Swami today for interroga-
tion.
The District Attorney believed that
Mrs. Wilmerding might be able to
throw light on the relations between
Elwell and certain other women.
Following the sixth examination of
Miss Wilson," who has now been
Identified as Miss Viola Kraus, di-
vorced wife of Victor Won Schlegell.
the Investigators admitted that they
were a. much in the dark as ever.
Miss Wilson denied the statement
| of Anna Kane, former housekeeper to
Elwell, that she had threatened to
shoot. Ehwell for his attentions TO
other women.
PROBE ANONYMOUS LETTER.
The authorities are still investi-
eating an anonymous letter which
said the slayer of Elwell is hiding in
New Haven, Conn. This letter said
that Elwell was connected with a
"bootlegging ring" and linked his
name with that Of Dominic Perrotti.
Perrotti, who was indicted on the
charge OF manslaughter in connection
with the sale Of poisonous whiskey at
Chicopee, Mass, was shot and serious
ly wounded several days ago. The
writer of the anonymous letter said
the same person who killed Elwell
shot Perrotti.
Miss Krauss, who came to New
York from Long Branch, N. J., with
out subpoena and frankly told Of her
friendship for and association with
Joseph Browne Elwell.
DUE TO N. Y. AMERICANS FEAT.
This astonishing denouement in
New York's most impenetrable mur-
der mystery was a direct result of
the New York Americans great in
lternational news beat in securing the
now famous exclusive interview with
Anna Kane. the dead turfman's for
mer housekeeper.
Found in her home in County Ar
magh, Ireland. Anna Kane told a
newspaper man that a certain miss
wilson had threatened to shoot Ell
we'll because of her feeling Of rivalry
for "a woman who lived near Mar
ragansett Pier" Mrs. Josephine
Lewis Peet Wilmerding, beautiful
young divorcee, has identified her
self as the latter. Her smiling denial
hot Ch pd
rivals was reported yesterday
DENIAL BY MISS KRAUs.
Admitting casual and friendly ac-
quaintance with the dead turfman
Miss Kraus also denied this statement
Of Anna Kane, saying:
That Is utterly absurd. Why, 7 have
only seen Anna Kane twice in my
lifev
Almbst since the day the Elwell
murde n "broke," the mysterious Miss
Wilson" has been a leading and
fascinating figure. Questioned half
a dozen times by the police and the
District Attorney, the beautiful young
woman finally admitted she had talk
ed with Elwell on the telephone at
2:30 o'clock on the morning of June
11-six hours before he was discov-
cred, fatally wounded. in the reception
room Of his "House OF Mystery" at
no. 244 West Seventeen street.
This was some forty-five minutes
after Elwell had parted from a dinner
and theater party consisting OF Mr..
and Mrs. Walter Lewinsohn, the lat
ter's sister, Miss Kraus, and Octavio
Figueroa, an Argentinian, in front OF
the New Amsterdam theater building
on West Forty-second street.