The evening world., 1920-06-12

uoOt any III iOINuuef WHICH NllenuA ln'
For twenty years Joseph Elwell ap-
peared 10 be. riding on tho crest OF
life. According 10 a friend who has
known him for that length OF time he
was Brooklyn boy. educated in
Brooklyn, who first went into the in
surance business as a clerk. Then,
through the other famous whist au-
thority, r.. +. Foster, he was intro
duced TO the Brooklyn Whist club,
which had regular sessions on tho
Heights lie showed an especial aptl-
tude from the beginning and made
many friends, through his cleVerhess
al the cards, his daring game and hts
genial personal charm.
Tips ON the market, presumably
from grateful "partners, his mar
tIaFe 10 another clever whist player
and the sudden craze for br' lRe whist
in fashionable society all combined to
make the fortunes OF Joseph Elwell.
In tho winter OF 1901 he and his wife
we're the instructors or the -Four
Hundred" in the allurtng game winch
first owed its popularity In the smart
sets or London and New York to the
approval of King Edward VII, which
became as much OF madness as the
turkey trot was destined TO be a doz-
on years later, and through which TO
this day, IL Is said, more money 'ls
lost and won In this city than at
poker.
How much Helen Elwell. from
whom the murdered man was "cpn-
rated at the time OF his death had
TO do with his ascendant fortunes
only she and the dead maV know.
Although he Is the accredited anthor
OF Auction Bridge" practical
bridge" and several other books. It
is whispered that his gifted widow
nj least "collaborated" in the prepa-
ration OF these volumes, and she GER
tainly wrote and signed an article
for The World on Just How To Play
Bridge Whist" at the beginning OF
the games great popularity
But lucky at cards, unlucky at
love" the old saw, had 10 come true
for the Elwells.
II was Mrs. Elwell's lead" and she
had plenty Of trumps in 1915 she
filed suit for separation from her hus-
band and the father VI her eleveD-
year-old son, Richard.
She asserted that her husband sim
ply walked out Of their apartment,
saying thatshe intended 70 live his
own life in the future. He had been
absent, she said. without cause Tor
three and n half years, allowed her
but 81 500 a year for their son and
gave her $3.50 a month for time.
She asked for alimony Of 10000 year
she had. az ] remarked. plenty
" trump cards in her htlnd' Ihey
were her sworn statements as 90 the
amount Of money to be made by
wizard at whist in New YORK. She
declared that Elwell was worth hair
million in realty and had personal
propcrty valued at 100000. II he had
stayed an Insurance clerk what pro-
portion Of that fortune would he have
accumulated IN less than twenty
years?
He divided his summers, she in
timated. between Europe ana nus
country places at Newport ana
Gouthamptou, where he entertained
lovishIy and had a $1,000 automobile
His books brought him in royalty
OF from $4,000 to $1,000 year, sh
asserted, he had earned az much AK
$4,000 in year by teaching bridge,
and he speCulated in stocks and
bonds, according to her affidavit
81 have known him" she declared,
"to win $1,000 to $4,000 a night, and
sven larger sums on occasion. have
known him 20 win $4,000 in one
night at the card table. He con
tinues 10 play heavily"
AZ the time OF his death Mr., FL
well was living apart from his wife
at No. 22t West 10th Street At the
Whist club, No. l3 West 36th sire T.
of which he was a member II was
said that he had returned recently
froa the South. He built three years
ago one Of the most b beautitul homes
at Palm Beach, which he called Vista
de LRgo. He was a member or the
Travellers club OF Paris. of the Apa-
wants Club, the New York Whist
Club and the Studio Club. He own ID
interested in racing
And the victim OF New York's most
startlina murder mystery OF the SEA-
ann h Ihla rnmial hon ViNalr. lhln