New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-14
Letters Found
lii Elweu Home
Involve w oman
Girl Who Welded ex-Army
Man Shortly After Receiv-
ing Check From Turfman
Was Addressee Of Notes
Police Case Is Stronger
Slayer May Have Been;Salne
Person Who Assaulted the
Whist Wizard ON Street

Out Of the mystery surrounding the
murder Of Joseph Bovine Elwell there
is gradually emerging new set Of cir
cumstances that many lead to the
eventual solution of the crime.
On the heels Of the discovery that
Eiwe1l had been involved in an alter
cation outside the theater he attended
six hours before the murder, it was
said yesterday that the police had
some time ago found a packet Of let
ters Of an discriminating nature ad-
dressed to a woman whose name has
been mentioned in the case.
These letters were in: the possession
of Elwell at the time he'was murdered.
They were addressed to young woman
to whom Elwell had given substantial
check, which also has been traced.
Shortly after she had cashed this check
the young woman was married to q
college man who had just returned
from distinguished service in France
with the A. E. F.
Motive for Murder Seen
These two circumstances, coupled
with the reported alteration outside
the theater, has led the police to make
q thorough investigation into the pos
sibilities offered by them. They point
out the importance of the position of
Elwell, with the letters in his posses
sion, to threaten the good name of the
young woman as we'll as her domestic
happiness. This, they believe, would
be sufficient motive to impel the young
husband to visit the home of Elwell
as soon as he heard Of the existence of
the letters.
The possibilities Of the situation
we voiced by a detective working on
the case yesterday in the following
mnnaer: Suppose that this former
soldier after his marriage learned of
his wife's former relations with Ell
well. Suppose she admitted Elwell
had given her check which must
bank with her maiden name Endorsed
en- the back.
Suppose that she had told him she
had inadvertently left in Elwell's
house on one Of her former visits
nr~ber of letters. What would be
the natural impulses of the husband?
One simple impulse might be to kill
the man. Another, less rash, might be
to go to Elwell's house with grim de-
termination to get the damaging evil
dence-and that impulse might lead
to the killing If Elwell's attitude was
defiant"
1t was said yesterday that both
husband and his young wife were at
present beyond the reach Of the Dis
trict Attorneys subpoena.
Police Busy Investigating
The police are of the opinion that
the husband may be the man who was
taken from the midnight Frolic" by
the taxi-driver Walters Immediately
after Elwell left the theater. They are
busily engaged in Investigating the
possibility.
At the District Attorneys Office, Mr..
Swami said last night that there was
not single new development in the
investigation. His assistants refused
to confirm or deny this. preferring to
remain silent.
d. Hobart Porter, the wealthy
president of the American Water
works Company. appeared before Fed
eral Judge Harlan B. Howe yesterday
and pleaded guilty to having liquor in
his possession unlawfully. The
pleading grows out Of a side investi-
cation connected with. the murder Of
Elwell and is connected with alleged
bootlegging operations Of the turf
man shortly before he was murdered.
Porter was fined $3.50, which was
PAID in court. The Federal authorities
are still investigating this phase Of
tho rooo