New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-23
w. M. asllbur1f
IL
Gives Up Pistol
I'm Elwell Case
Turns Over Weapon and
Cartridges to Dooling to
Examine Owner ofSecond
Automatic Not Revealed
Turfman Got 5000 Back
Conference Brings Out That
the Wedding Gift Was Re-
turned After Two Months


East Seventy ninth Street, turned over
his .45-caliber army automatic pistol
yesterday to John 7. Dooling, Assist
ant District Attorney, in charge of the
investigation into the murder of Joseph
Bovine Elwell. He also gave the prose-
cutor some cartridges of the same cali
bre. These and the pistol were sent
to the Police Department for examina-
ton by an expert. At the same time
Mr.. Dooling came into possession of
another .45-calibre pistol, but he would
not reveal the name of it's owner.
Mr.. Washburn was a lieutenant in
the army during the war and as such
got the pistol. Earlier in the week in
conference with Mr.. Dooling, he
volunteered to deliver it to the authorir
ties for examination. Taking ad-
vantage of the offer Mr.. Dooling, &C
companied by detectives, went to the
Seventyninth Street address yes
terday.
Pistol Handed Over
Mr.. Washburn and his wife, Mrs.
Elizabeth Clarkson Washburn, have
been living there with the mother of
Mr.. Washburn. The house is closed
for the summer, but Mr.. Washburn and
his friend, Harold Content, former AS
sistant United States Attorney, were
on hand to meet Mr. Doolng and hand
over the pistol and cartridges.
The recent conference between Mr..
Dooling and Mr.. and Mrs. William
Mayhem Washburn brought out that
after lapse Of about two months Mr..
Washburn returned to Mr.. Elwell the
$500 he had sent Mrs. Washburn as
a wedding gift. The check, drawn bv
the bridge expert and turfman to the
order of Mrs. Washburn, had been
endorsed by the drawee and deposited
IN the bank account of her husband.
They were married in October. and
spent their honeymoon in Asheville
IN. =. On their return to New York
they inspected the wedding presents,
and the Elwell check again came to the
attention of Mr.. Washburn. He was
not acquainted with the murdered man
and under the circumstances did not
think he should accept the present
Therefore he drew his own check for
$2OO, payable to Elwell, which, ac-
cordlng to information gathered by
Mr.. Dooling, WAS sent with a letter ia
the turfman
Information Found Accurate
All that information Mrs. Washhn,n
gave the Assistant District ATTORNEY
who found it to be accurate. althouob
he has been unable TO find the can
celled voucher of the money sent TO
M. Elwell. Mr.. Washburn was not
able to find his check stubs or cam
celled checks.
NJ. Dooling also repeated TO report
ers the story to Id him by, Mr.. Wash
Durh regarding his whereab bouts on the
evening of June 10 and the morning Of
June II. The Assistant District A.
torney expressed his satisfaction as to
the accuracy of the Washburn state
ment; Thele was birthday party at
the home of the Washburns on the
evening of June 10. At a time after
the dinner, while Mr.. Washburn was
not in the house, theater party was
decided upon, and Mrs Washburn, who
at first was not to have zone, changed
her plans and accompanied Frank A. r
Washburn, brother of Mr.. Washburn:
MIS-. f. A. B. Washburn and another
man to the New Amsterdam Roof.
Before leaving her home Mrs. Will
lam Mayhem Washburn left a note for
ner husband telling him she had de-
cided to go to the theater. IJnon bar
return home, Mr.. Washburn told Mr.
Doo.lng, he was in his room. He silent
until 3 o'clock the next morning,
June II. to-