New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-26
Suspect Long Trailed by
Detectives Is To Be
Seized at Once Should
He Try to Leave City
Said to Have Been
Friend of Victim
Latest Clew Eliminates
Women as Cause of the
Whist Experts Murder

There were indications last night
that the authorities have hit upon a
fresh trail which is expected to
lad to the early arrest of a person
suspected of the murder of Joseph
Bovine Elwell.
For the first time since the shoot
jpg Of the whist expert in his nome,
At PA West Seventieth Street, the
uolice and District Attorneys office
seemed hopeful Of solving the mys-
,sry and there were evidences that
action in the case is not very far off.
The investigation. 1t appears, has
rarrowed down to one man. He is
snown as a friend of the slain turf
nan and has been questioned by the
Authorities in connection with the case.
While the stories he has told ap-
uared Satisfactory at the time, the
wIice felt they could obtain greater
Stisfaction by doing little checking
% on their own account. 1t is as q
hsult Of this that new leads were de-
ysloped and further attention directed
70 him.
To Be Kept in Sight
Il was said thar he will not be per-
aitted out of the sight Of the police
until he is either arrested or the au-
horities are convinced he is not the
man who shot the turfman. 1t Is
thought that if the murder is laid to
this man it practically eliminates
somen from the case as furnishing a
possible motive for the crime. Losses
at cards or on the racetrack then sug-
gest themselves as the moving element
in the murder.
.r!et Attorney Swami, earlier in the
lay, when questioned about the latest
isvslopments. II do know, however,
hat Assistant District Attorkey Dool-
ng Informed me he had something
witch might have an important bear
ag on the murder, but that he could
ut be certain of it until he had gone
'urther into it. l have giv@ Mr.. Dool-
lrg carte blanche to do ANYTHING he
sishes or go where he likes in his
assstigation."
A letter which Elwell is said to have
s':,,! ,sssiyed was made public yesterday by
william Gibbs Whaley, attorney for
U.s. Helen Derby Elweu, widow Of
he slain man. The letter, said Mr..
snaiey, was written by his brother,
Sharles c. Whaley, about ten years
go.
In explanation of the latter Mr..
Ehaley said: "There is no doubt
nat this is the letter referred to. NV
s'other knew. Mrs. Elwell, and during
ne separation proceedings Elwell
aade affidavit that he had received a
.areatening letter from Mr.. Whaley.
mere was nothing threatening in the
stter at ali.
The Threatening Letter
One day Elwell called my brother on
lae telephone and said some nasty
aings to him. He then wrote a letter
. him dated December 25, 1911. Nv
sfother responded, telling him he was
ass afraid of him and would meet him
anywhere."
The letter reads:
=. ,. Elwell, Esq, 784 Park Avenue,
New York.
Dear Sir: beg to acknowledge the
seelpt Of your letter of December 25.
.'af letter requires no answer other
@aa to say that it is both untruthful
sao impertinent. Your suggestion as
= Hhere you can be found, namely, at
.etormlck Brothers, appears to me to
SIMPLY the expression of a desire
sos 70 meet me, as you are we'll aware
.sss 1t is suggestion that l meet you
mere you could hide behind the backs
afriends.
\ will be pleased to meet you at any
ame at any neutral place, and If you
sh notify me when and where l will
seet you then and there. Any com
sahlcation from you must come
.s,,eugh third party, or by letter.
s'A decline to discuss any matter over
- phone with you. Vituperation or
.sase over the telephone is simply
'as aet Of coward.
Yours, etc,
CHARLES C. wHALEY."
The existence of the letter was first
ace known by David c. Hirsch, 141
ssseaaway, at one time attorney for
s.ssI. In the separation proceedings
asugnt against Elwell by his wife he
Asiged that threats had been made
91'hst his life by his wife's friends.
alsea said the man met the Elwells
asf his marriage and frequently
'sss@a their home on Park Avenue.
~. aaSe.l never accepted the challenge,
~ hIrsch, because he wasn't the
oi man to engage in honor
~ Why, he was mortally afraid
.he man. TO begin with" Mr.. Hirsch
~ ne had heard nothing further of
~. Elwell's alleged friend, whose
me ne himself has refused to
,Hnge, since the incident when the
nsssa threats came up during Mrs.
So ''as separation suit four years
Y. Gibbs whaley, however, was sure
a. Ms brother is the man referred
ss,,: me writer Of the letter made
+yv,'e, II was said, had Joined the A.
4. ~ Commissioned officer during
~. var. He has since returned and
70 Knoxville, Tenn, on January
~ this year, where he is now in
a,.,aaess with brother manufacturing
enhg machinery.
~ ,sSp'a1n u Detectives Arthur Carey
- as would look into the letter, add
- - aowever, that the affair was so
&, s~ps that there was little chance Of
'sx any bearing on the crime.
~. as mystery Of the keys was again
s,,sghs 70 light last night, when their
zsz..s and present whereabouts were
sseiy established. Detectives have
s44hsd that a set of keys 70 the outer
Inner doors TO the Elwell home
So cess.sssd en- psss Avs)
gyD NOkws~r,