The Washington times., 1920-01-18

to have been the most joyous Christmas
Of her life?
What man or woman could have nursed
hate SO bitter that 1t could be satisfied
only with the murder, OF the girl who
was about to become a gallant army cap
)tain's bride?
And what was the reason for this over
powering hate-a hate that reached It's
wicked climax while the Christmas bells
were ringing out their message or peace
and good will?
Was 1t jealousy. greed. fear OF exposure
or some entirely different motive that Inn
PEELED the mysterious assassin to steal into
the doctors Office where Elizabeth Griffith
was employed and relentlessly shoot down
the brideto-be while she begged on her
knees for mercy?
These are the questions which are puz-
zling the police of Louisville, Ky. On
them depends the clearing up OF one OF the
strangest murder mysteries OF recent
years. II the police are able to answer
them-if they succeed In bringing this
girls slayer to justice-there Is every
promise that the real life drama which will
be revealed will be as amazing as any
thing that novelist or playwright ever
imagined.
Il was the day before Christmas. The
streets of Louisville were gay with holiday
cheer and thronged with last-minute shop
pers. The crowds hurried on, little dream
ing that only few steps away-in the
Office of DR.. Christopher G. Schott, at No.
2103 West Walnut street-a grim tragedy
was being enacted.
There an hour or so later Elizabeth
Ford Griffith, who had been employed as
an office assistant by DR.. Schott, was
found lying dead in q pool OF blood. BY
revolver. bullet from enc Of its cham
bers had gone straight through her heart.
Elizabeth Griffith shot-a suicide-mur.
dered! AS the news spread through the
holiday throngs none Of the dead girls
wide circle of friends and acquaintances
could quite credit the news. She was the
last person they would have thought likely
to meet such fate.
Only seventeen years old, we'll educated,
refined and of unusually winsome appear
ance, she was a girl who apparently had
everything to live for. That she should
have killed herself seemed incredible.
And It seemed still more incredible that
anybody could have had any reason for
thus shooting her in cold blood.
Since leaving school eighteen months
ago she had been employed by Dr. Schott
as office assistant. Her Intelligence and
willingness to oblige, her pretty face and
charming manner quickly made everybody
who visited the doctors office her friend.
"It's impossible!" said Elizabeth's girl
friends when they heard the shocking
news. "Why. tomorrow is her wedding
day!"
And It is true that Christmas morning
was the time set for the dead girls mar
Seventh Field Artillery, First Division, sta
toned at Camp Zachary Taylor. At the
last minute, however, the Captains army
duties had necessitated a change in the
plans.
Captain Jordan had visited Louisville
the night before the tragedy and arranged
with his flancee to postpone the wedding
until New Years Day. She was, he says,
in the best OF spirits, and II she had then
any intimation of impending disaster she
gave her lover no hint Of her fears.
Many others who saw her during her
last hours Of life--even as late as the
morning Of the tragedy-bear out Captain
Jordans testimony that so far as any one
could see she was quite her normal light
hearted self. She was apparently delight
ed with the gifts her lover had brought
her, and was all wrapped up in joyful prep
arations for her wedding day.
But there is contradictory, evidence on
this point, as there is on almost every
feature Of this truly remarkable case. A
woman patient of Dr. Schotts swears that
she talked with Elizabeth Griffith over the
telephone about an hour before the gin
was found dead. Miss Griffith said, &C
cording to this witness. that she was feel
ing unutterably sad-"too sad to live"
What was this shadow which so sud-
denly enveloped the bride-to-be, and few
minutes later swept her over the brink OF
the grave? This the detectives have thus
far been unable to establish. but they have
what they expect will prove an important
clue In a newspaper clipping found In the
dead girls pocket.
u -t..G~ Ill