The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-05
Initials wv. III. A. Deci-
phcred on Underclothes
Left by Youth.
SEARCH IN RESORTS
Man With Criminal Record
Wanted-Lost Cane Puz-
zles Police.
TWO VERSIONS OF ESCAPE
Police Believe Murderer Used
Shoe as Weapon--R0b-
berry a Motive.
SEARCH IN RESORTS
TWO VERSIONS OF ESCAPE

Investigation into the murder Of
Leeds Vaughan Waters, Columbia
graduate, globe srotter and clubman,
who was beaten to death Wednesday
morning In room at the Hotel Plyrn-
outb. IN West Thirty eight, street.
yielded It's first clue yesterday.
The initials wv. II. A." have been
deciphered on underclothing left be-
hind in the hotel room by the man
with whom Waters registered an hour
before HIS death and who fed to the
street after sounds OF a struggle had
been heard coming from Waters's
room. This urderclothing was traced
to & laundry In Frfty-ninth street.
With information received there de-
tectives were searching last. Light in
various Tenderloin resorts fo- q man
with criminal record.
Conflicting versions developed as 70
the manner In which Watcrs's assailant
made hia escape. II was at FIRST re-
ported that he dashed past the room
clerk and bcIlboy who were coming to
ask abog. tho noise In Waters's room
and ran down the back stairs OF the
hotel from the eighth floor to the street
But Inspector John u. Coushlin. Chief
OF Detectives said yesterday that the
elevator boy told him he took the mar
down IN the car The boy. according to
Inspector. coughlin. said he noticed his
passenger was carrying a shoe In ona
hand. and that he put II on as the car
started down. The inspector has ad-
vanced the theory that the murderer
used ono II his shoes to kill watcrr
rsss n'.n.s.s vsf@ie;y;, '-sess,
carnsy. the room CLERK At ths Ply
mouth. who registered Waters ami his
companion. denied last night that the
boy had carried the fugitive down 20 the
street. He said he saw the man come
out from watcrs's room and as he
dashed by tried TO stop him. wate-s's
assailant rushed down the stairs. re IN
sisted.
John II Hennis. assistant District At
tcrney, who is handling the case for tho
Homicide Bureau. was inclined Last night
70 regard robbery ms the motive for the
crime, despite the fact that several
pieces Of jeweiry. including a diamond
ring valued at $4,000. were found about
the dead man.
Mr.. Henn!s contended that the MUIR
derer had no time to 80 through Wat
ers's clothing. The struggle that oc-
CURED between Waters and his assGil-
ant was heard by guests on the same
floor, who complained to the office. A
bcilboy came Up TO ask for more quiet,
and the noise ceased for q few minutes.
II began again. and then Carney and
the beilboy came up and were walking
down the corridor toward the room when
tho man who had registered with Wat
ers an James Dunn" and who had EVIL
IDENTIFY heard their approach, dashed
past them and disappeared.
Nor WAS the clothing OF the murdered
man SO arranged that his assailant could
have gone through II quickly. II was
piled IN big heap on table beside the
door, with the overcoat. shoes and hat
on top.
DtbtClAt<t lEOJaIl oi6 ttaAas Whp WNt .
assigned TO the case. are trying TO ac-
count for the manner in which Waters
pasGed his time between o'clock In the
morning, when no left the Delta Kappa
Epsilon house. In West Forty-fourth
street. In a taxi. and 6 o'clock. when he
appeared at the hotel accompanied by a
shabbily dressed young man who had a
cap pulled down over his ears and who
plainly was not an ordinary associate Of
Waters They are trying also 10 find
the taxi driver.
Mystery Of Canes Dissppearance.
The police stiIi are puzzled over the
exact manner IN which Waters was
killed The room showed signs Of a vio-
lent struggle There were numerous
crimson stains upon the bed. In addi-
tion to the blows upon his head. which
caused waterss death. there were fresh
abrasions on both his legs. lie carried a
silver headed walking stick when he en-
tered the hotel but Il was not found In
the room after tho murder. and those
who saw Dunn" an he went out said
that ne didn't carry u.
This matter Of the sticks disappear
ance hss led some OF those working on
the case to believe that the murderer
used tho stick TO crush waters's skull
and break 'Gs jaw and then threw II
out of the window down into the street.
As the fugitive left the lobby he was
seen 20 walk toward Eighth avenue on
Thirty-cighth street and then 70 turn
(Continuet on Lost Paoo.)