The Washington times., 1920-06-15
VIEWS WHIST KING
AS HOME INVADER
Assistant District Attorney Be-
lieves Father or Husband
Killed Turfman.

NEW YORK. June 15.--Out OF the
maze of mystery cloaking the murder
OF Joseph Bovine Elweil. Jphr +.
Joyce, assistant district attorney In
charge OF the homocide bureau, has
CLEANED facts that convince him
that Elwell had been sent to his death
for invading the sanctity OF another
mans home.
After spending all day inter
rogating intimate friends OF the
bridge whist expert in a position to
shed light on his mode OF living. Mr.
Joyce frankly admitted that he and
the detectives had arrived at only one
conclusion-Elwell was murdered by
an irate husband or a father seeking
revenge.
Mr.. Joyce said that as far as he can
Judge, all other theories have been
completely eliminated. The detectives
are now attempting to learn all they
possibly can about Elwelrs associa-
tions with the women of his set to
whom he paid particular attention.
BY a process of elimination they hope
to narrow his heart affairs down to
one woman, and then center their en-
ergies on either a father or husband,
or possibly a brother.
COUNTESS IS QUIZZED.
Joyce secuted all theories that FL
we'll might have been slain because
Of unpleasant affairs growing out OF
his whist games or race track gam
bling.
Among those who have been ques-
toned were Countess S. de Szinawska,
a statuesque blonde of noble Polish
birth, and her sister. Mrs. l. Hardy,
a divorcee, both of whom had known
Elwell since 1913. They had become
cd
Germany. that year. and were num-
bered among the closest friends he
had.
A picture of the countess was found
in Elwelrs pocket when he was dis
covered lying unconscious in his
home Friday morning. There were
photographs of many other women in
his home, but inquiry as to who the
Countess might be led to request
that she appear before Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Joyce.
Accompanied by her sister, Mrs.
Hardy, she drove up to the Elwell
home at noon, and for nearly six
hours was questioned by Mr.. Joyce.
Both she and her sister were per-
fectly frank in explaining their rela-
tions with the turfman, but were un-
able to shed any light on the battling
mystery.
WE'RE FRIENDS IN EUROPE.
The countess, whose first husband,
named Sikoskie, was killed early in
the war, serving as an officer in the
Russian army, told Mr.. Joyce that
she and her sister were introduced to
Elwen by friends in Carlsbad. They
became friendly and were in Elwell's
company a great deal while at the
German resort
Ill
TO New York. and a few days later
the Countess and her sister arrived.
The sisters resumed their friendship
In 1918 the countess was detained by
the Federal authorities on suspicion
of being an alien enemy.
The countess denied that she had
ever visited Elwell at his home. Mrs.
Hardy said that she had been there
on one occasion. When Mr.. Joyce
asked them II either had ever had a
key TO his home, they both waxed in
dIgnant and declared angrily that
such a suggestion was preposterous.
SEEN WITH WOMAN.
Although the detectives had been
unable to trace Elwelrs movements
from the time he left the "Follies'
at o'clock Friday morning. IL was
reported yesterday that he had been
seen after that hour at either the
Cascades in the Biltmore or the
Golden Glades at Healy's. According
to the report, he was in company of
a woman, but the detectives were
unable last night to confirm the re-
port.
while Elwelrs friends were being
,nterrogated at the Seventeen street
home yesterday, his brother. Walter.
%. nresent an attentive listener TO
all that was told. Later he said to
the reporters:
IL and all the members OF my fam
ily want n1ls crime cleared up. We
are glad for all the help that can be
given to unravel this crime. II is
case OF an eye for an eye. a tooth for
a tooth every time. We stand ready
to do everything in our power to solve
this murder. no matter what comes