New-York tribune., 1920-06-29
Scheme by
I Dead Man to Recoup
. His Depleted Finances
g Hinted At by Officials
pa'tner in Scheme
Believed Slayer
Tried to Borrow From
friends, Is Report, to
Cover Uncashed Check

The investigation into the mvste-
!ious murder of Joseph Bovine Elwel]
.uck new twist yesterday with fresh
Information placed before the District
Attorney.
II the facts as presented to the au-
horities are confirmed the gallery of
'lovely ladies who have stopped to
guay" fades completely out of the
brams and reveals Elwell as a partici-
ssat in big bootlegging scheme. His
failure to carry out his end of the
bargain is declared to have ended in
bio murder.
The story, as presented to the Dis
,riet Attorney, for the first time gives
4 rational explanation of Elwell's
deiDgs and transactions on the davs
immediately preceding the murder on
the morning Of Friday. June II.
Bought $1,000 Worth
The tale has it that when Elwell re-
!srned from Kentucky last May he was
/ 10 financial straits and badly in need
! f ready cash. In an effort to recoun
DIS fortune he decided upon a gigantic
aoaegglng deal, the finishing touches
Yelen were TO be put on at Sara
pgs durlng the present racing season.
nsN said TO have taken several per-
nas INTO his confidence as partners
na alter connecting with those in A
sillon 10 supply the liquor purcha sed
sE,iW worth. He hadn't the money to
Ny TOR 1t at the time, but advanced
lsnesk for the s12,700, with the stipu-
saoa That those from whom he pur
Nssea the liquor hold off cashing it
's.li ne was able to meet it.
Ine 'iansaction is declared to have
HAeI place during the week Of his
an and the liquor is said to have
..a duly delivered to a place un-
.-gsn. Inc extreme nervousness of FL
.sll seticed by Mrs. Marie Larsen. his
oaseseeper, at this time is believed to
se eeen due to his worriment over
as question Of how he was going to
asef the obligation. In an effort to
saM coed ne had hastily sold one of
n 9ess racers. Pastoral Swain, to
n. n0ss Ientry. his racing trainer, for
soW Of which S400 was deducted for
saaey owing to Gentry. He had sold
ars yaen. to Jack Rutherfurd, of the
sloefoilt family, for $4,000, a check
asrs his death. VIZ uaS '
ann however, only brought the total
ssount Of ready money to So. 200. He
ppsars then to have called upon sew
ill oi nis friends for loans, and it is
snssed that the two uncompleted
'syIs calls between i: AS and 2 o'clock.
- 70 have issued from the ElwelI
.ls Tor Far Rockawav 1841. the home
william H. Pendleton. at Cedar
Long Island, on the morning Of
N. Iaroer were due to the desire of
3.r-' I'm -; whist king to borrow money
VI n Ms former racing partner.
a,.I aAsa mrs. Larsen found him dying
k,som. pistol wound in his head at
- I. o:lo o'clock that Friday morning
reasoned he couldn't sleep that
~ Seeause Of the financial difficulty
s,.si.. gotten himself into and was
sNy waiting for the morning mail
n,pe aspe that 1t would bring check
~ xnu"se o. assistance to tide him
'"e srieig.
Dispute About Money
9. tnis point the story has i, that
"a involved in the Illicit liouor deal
n, h.. we mouse, and is beiieved to
L,y. c,ose enough to the turfman
.stl, a&a key, or been on suffi-
la;,,.i. SIMILAR terms with him to be
s1r.,.a and received in the state of
,... ~ which Elwell was found in
reception room. ~ -
sssss. s'ga'e ' about the money is
ss.sr 70 nave followed, with the
~, xsa INSISTING that the check be
ssIS 80 s; a. once Eiwell attempted
g g.saA ..'A on Tor time, pointing out
4a n. might be something in the
sk Ii. AiM ard opened first the letter
W4d /. Il .tainer, Gentry, which was
Mss sa,,s h's left hand at the time Of
s2l.;as shd which told Of the good
as 49,. u several Of his horses.
gs apparently was not salts
sssd Isn ne vas being double
ssssd - .aa tnat he might yet land
assx ~ -, oars az result of the deal.
ssr ~ ~ .sgai recourse TO recover the
5s,ss. rtcane desparate and fired
N.s. iah Elwell's head.
kns .,ssfssses - of several persona de-
-. i. AaYe been involved in this
vas learned. have been in
N. i. Of the District Attorney
sssssaasday While the check Elweil
A fssNod fs 70 have offered in pay
gsH = the liquor stocks was Sor
NNns s stuff is said to be worth
~ ,ae, !, The story has it that the
III >. a. !. asrosi.ed IN an unidentified
sssss ms Day Of Eiweils death. and
III ~ - after bis murder II was with.
4ssII ~ Effort TO cover up the en-
~ !: Attorney Swami. when asked
MI. Ma nsw information. declared
AZ re mater is being locke
II authorities are not Lning
,jasM M famsrous other clews that
NJ ~ IT,. .ss.Iewed I. by his Office and the
NJ ssyysa.,r'msns. In thia connsstion
sks gssIls t.,L the IDENTITY Of the per,
sssissss ~ r.ss s.y.s,
%23 a txf1. -.r.---.-...--.-s-
sfsasss ,mseiss,ae
~ t5,aw k'ssB 10 er,2DI.ysrs and ~n1.
~ ~ tn.h@H Tribune fAtn Na arteA