The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-06-11
Marks on Throat Where
Murderer Had Clicked Her
Police Arrest John s. Nelson, a Clerk,
Out Of Work, in Whose Rooms
They Found a Revolver.


rimonial affairs recently brought her
much notoriety, was found last night
murdered in her apartment in the
Granddeck. She had been instantly
killed by bullet wound through the
heart, and there were marks on her
throat where her assailant had tried
to choke her. John s. Nelson, a clerk
out Of work, who had been acting as
caretaker for one Of the tenants in
the building, was arrested.
There was blood on his coat when
Detectives Cullen and Edwards took
him prisoner, and they found in his
room a revolver with one chamber
empty hidden under a pile of shirts
In the dresser.
The apartment Nelson Is occupying
is directly above that of Miss Lutan.
The police theory is that Nelson let
himself into the apartment by swing
ing down from his window, and that
Miss Lutan, returning unexpectedly,
found him ransacking her rooms.
The crime was discovered by James
Wick, superintendent of the apart
ment house, who was in the elevator
when he heard screams followed by a
shot. Getting out of the elevator to
investigate he found Nelson at the
door of the Lutan apartment.
Nelson glibly explained that he had
heard a shot and was trying to see
where 1t had come from. Mr.. Wick's
suspicious were aroused by his man.
ner, and he made Nelson come with
MIN into the apartment and kept him
there until the arrival of the police.
Little is known at the Granddeck
about young Nelson, and he stubborn
ly refuses to make any statement
about himself. He was employed only
few days ago by Rufus CASTOR as
caretaker for his apartment. AS Mr..
Gaston is absent from the city it cam
not be learned how he happened to
give Nelson employment. The police
believe he may have obtained the Do
sition through false references in or
DER to gain an opportunity to loot the
apartments In the building.
Superintendent Wick had ascer-
tanned that Nelson was once employed
by shipping firm in the Wall street
district but had been discreditably
discharged. His former employer con-
nrmed this, but would say nothing
about Nelson beyond stating that he
had been discharged for cause.
Although Nelson was not over well
supplied with money he had been seen
recently ordering elaborate meals In
some OF the most expensive restau-
rants. Miss Nellie Kelly, the telephone
girl at the Granddeck, reported that
only the night before Nelson had taken
her to dinner, ordering champagne and
hiring taxicabs, and had tried to pump
her about the tenants in the building.
The one fact that stuck out in the
whole article that seemed of vast Inn
portance to me was the fact that Wick
had Informed the police that had
been discreditably discharged from my
last place OF employment How did
he know thatf Certainly l had not
told him. had told no one of the
occurrence except Barbara Bradford,
and ! was sure she had not revealed
1t to anyone.
1t was indubitable proof to me that
Wick, or someone with whom he was
conniving, had been having me shad-
owed. Even my great-uncle Rufus
did not know where my place of en-
ployment was. Evidently the plot to
discredit me had begun the day ar
rived at the Granddeck. had been
discharged on account of some mystic
rious note my employer had received.
began now to believe that Wick
must have had me followed to nv
place of business and to have sent
that note s0r the express purpose of
bringing about my discharge. But
whyI That was the puzzle.
CTo BE CoNTINuED)
-old style" Time Still In Use.
Il II To- 4.