The Washington times., 1920-06-22
But viii murder out?

but VIII HlurCbF OUT
Elwells slayer has not yet given
him or herself up to the authorities.
Nor has there been left behind a clue
sufficiently telling to establish the
identity of the person who killed the
gambler in the early morning hour.
Joseph Bovine Elwcll had many love
affairs. numerous friends. acquaint-
ances. and no known enemies.
viii his mysterious slayer ever be
found? None can say.
Frederick 4. Rueckert. wealthy
manufacturer. was killed some months
ago in his bachelor apartments in
Hoboken. His assailsnt has not yet
been found. Rueckert had been en-
gagged to two young women simultane
ously, and had numerous other affairs
of the heart. Absence of motive was
as characteristic OF that crime as IT
is of the Elwcll case.
BOTH WE'RE LADIES' MEN.
Several comcly young women
found themselves in the unpleasant
position OF being interviewed by in
vestigators of the crime, in quest of
motive, and concerning past habits
and associations OF the dead man.
Interest in the Rueckert death has
as a matter of course died down.
Alike in the mystery that surrounds
them, the Elwell and Rueckert cases
are similar. in that both men were
sharpshooters ss regards the heart
of woman. Both lived alone in some
what elaborate surroundings. made
and spent fortunes, and entertained
various young women in their homes.
1t is doubtful If the men or women
who brought these gay lives to
sudden close will ever be discovered
Two more OF that type commonly
described as "men about town" were
killed last year. These particular
two men were friends. and ones
death sntedated the other by a few
weeks.
CASE OF W. s. PHILHOwER.
Winfield Scott Philhower. a middle
aged bachelor, art connoisseur, and
collector OF jewels and weapons, was
found stabbed to death in January,
1919. The case interested many peo-
pie because of the romantic setting
in the victims home, where his art
treasures and tastefully chosen fur
nishings gave hint that the man was
not an ordinary type.
Like Elwell. he feared invasion OF
his home, and had an deliberately
rigged out system OF electric wiring
so that an intruder would Instantly
give alarm to the occupant. II was
believed that the slayer had not
forced entrance to Philhower's home,
but had been a guest who, after ar
gument, had snatched down from the
wall where weapons were hung, n
sharp knife and killed his host. 1t
IL also ono theory of Investigators
OF tho Elwell case that the gambler
was killed by n guest, who after call
ing in the early morning. wrathfully
shot his chance-taking vis-a-vIs.
MURDER or GEORGE II. ROBEE.
Similar also to Blwelrs death was
that OF George II. Robec. killed TWEEN
ty-nino days after PhiIhower, his
close friend. Robee lived on Madison
kavenue, opposite the J. T.. Morgan
home. The scene OF his end was like
that OF his associate, In that both
wcre killed In deliberately furni sh ed
"dcns- Robee's slayer had also been
his guest in the hours of dawn.
Robee and Philhower were the
same stamp OF men. Both bachelors,
art collectors, with women friends,
their lives were strikingly similar. II
Ia believed they were killed by the
same man.
Here are. then, four men Of the
world. Elwell, Rueskert. Philhower
and Robee. whose associations entered
their victims hor~es without being
sesa-- soesv.resasa AsaAsy OAssseNna