The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-31
MYSTERY
DEATH Of
BROKER
Diamond Merchant Found
Dead in His Flat When
Coroner is Hastily
Called.
sHAYNE WAS PRESENT
s.A.-.s-.-
Explains That Lofts Fell Dead When
He Called to Protect Ruth
Woods, His
.sHAYNE WAS PRESENT

| limited Press Leased Wire Service.]
CHICAGO, July 31.-Two members
tof Chicago's mercantile aristocracy
were involved in the mysterious death
here last night of Samuel t. a..
Lofts.
Lofts, president of widely known
diamond brokerage firm, was found
dead in his fat There were Slight
marks on his head and chest, but
none to indicate a fatal wound.
Roy T. Shayne, son OF the late
/ John T. Shayne, former nationally
known furrier., was another principal.
He and Ruth Woods, whom ne
lclairned as a fiancee, were held ny
police today. They were with the
hot tempered LOFTS when he died.
He insulted Ruth and she tete-
phoned me. / went to the fat at once
and Lofts opened the door to admit
ME. Right then he slipped to the
floor uncon scious and a physician was
called. He pronounced him dead
Miss Woods disappeared from
the luxurious fat shortly after the
physician had left. Shayne caiieo
the coroner's office, asking the OH
Icial to visit the fat at once
"I'm in hell Of a hole" he toll
the officer, urging speed.
Questioned by officers, Shayne re-
lfrsad to give Miss Woods" name,
asserting she was in no way guilty
and that publicity would disgrace
her. ,:eo
A sidelight on LOFTS bachelor LIE
was a note from Miss Josephine M:
Hassell. 81. his secretary. She had
a room in the LOFTS fiat, but left IT
when the housekeeper went on her
vacation. The note was wall that
iI ,oftis had insulted her publicly ana
nrivate,y. She said she would not
be back :.,,
az might even have gone on wlth
Won If Won hadn't started to drink
again." the note said
r oftis' divorce was obtained by his
ufPe on grounds of extreme cruelty.
His friends commented on the fact
tb.t Toftis' temper always had been
shor+ and that even his business lie
h.d heen a series of hot and OFTEN
,-;olant nuarrels with his brother ana
otbar associates. In late months ne
Nod NOT made his usual trips to offices
IN other cities. but had remained at
home and friends noted cnanse IA
h It's n
Sbayne held by the police, is an ao,
r.rt;s;ng solicitor. He was forced
ont of the business founded by MS
father about a year ago. His wlfe
died six months ago.
Killed by Fall.
ru,rAcO July 31.-Samuel T. A.
II ,oftis. millionaire jeweler, VINO was
found dead in his bachelor apar.ln.ht
10 ct night. was killed by an accfdentai
fall while intoxicated, ofnciais OF 'iie
coroner's Office intimated tooay,
Following an autopsy, Dr. Wlihau,
Simonds. coroner's physician, sala
Fl oftis died from cerebral nemnlo, :,
hage caused by external Vroience.
Coroner Peter Hoffman, VINO aiso
examined the body, said the pruise
on Lofts head. because OF lts NATURE
and large area, probaply resu,teu
from his head striking the noor WHEN
he fell.
Miss Ruth Woods, who had spent
the evening in Lofts apartment, aiia
her fiance, Roy M. Shayne, VINO Wei,'
10 the house in response 10 teie-
nhoned appeal from her, were
held today as witnesses. Both cluhg
to their original declaration that Lof
tis met Shayne at the door, invited
him to "come in and have drink
and then pitched over on the moor.
According TO the police. Miss WOODS
admitted today that some time before
she called Shayne she and Lofts had
n friendly tussle.' but maintained
tbat neither "got rough" The coro-
Iner's inquest was continued 1ndefi-
,nitely.
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