Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-01
SAYS GEM DEALER
KEPT GIRL TRAP
Housekeeper of Lofts De.
scribes His Apartment to
Police.

CHICAGO, July 31.-Police tonight
were working on two theories in con-
nection with the death of Samuel T..
found dead in his apartment last night
with Miss Ruth Woods. a hotel book
keeper. who first declared thte mil
lionaire had suddenly fallen dead aft
er she had called for help when he
insulted her." but later admitted that
his death came after a friendly tus-
sic with her
One theory was that a cerebral hem
orrhage. which the coroner'S physi-
clans declared caused Mr.. Lofts
death. was the result of fall, pos
s,bly accidental The other was that
he had been hit over the head with
broken whisky bottle found near
his pajama-clad figure.
Girl Re-Enacts Ride.
In their efforts to check up the
statements made by Miss Woods and
her fiance. Roy Shayne. who told the
police he rushed to the apartment fol-
lowing a te lephone message from Miss
police today had Miss Woods re-enect
the taXicaL ride she said she took
after leaving Shayne with the body.
Miss Woods version of this ride
was that a taxi was called by Shayne
and that after she had ridden short
time the chauffeur's brother got into
the car and attempted to attack her.
The chauffeur says he drove her to
many cafes, at each of which she
took a drink, and finally took her
home. He denies his brother was
ever in the car.
"A
reached her home she had watch
and several articles of jewelry be-
longing to Lofts. which she gave
to her mother with the remark: Keep
them, mother. for awhile. Lofts is
dead"
viii Release Companion.
Police tonight expressed the opinion
that Shayne had told everything he
knew of the case" and declared he
would be released on his own recog-
nizance.
Stories told police today by Miss
Hulda Johnson, housekeeper for Lof-
tbs for nine years, indicated that the
party which resulted in the dia no nd
merchants death was only one of
many held in his apartment. Broken
whisky and beer bottles and other
signs of hiiarity and debauchery fire.
quently were found in the apartment
by her the morning after" she said.
She termed the apartment a girl
trap" and declared Lofts had enter
tanned fifty different girls there since
the first of January. One bedroom in
the apartment was fitted up as a
boudoir for women, she said, and was
always kept equipped with rouge.
powder and other feminine requisites.
The coronerS inquest will be held
Monday or Tuesday, it was said to-
night.
CHICAGO. July 31.-Police tonight
were bending every effort toward
clearing up the details of the taxicab
ride taken by Miss Woods after she
fed from the Lofts apartment. They
said that full information concerning
the ride might bring out the exact
details of the diamond dealers death.
Attempts to shake the conflicting
stories of Miss Woods and Herman
Wexler, the taxicab driver, by taking
them over the route failed to change
the statement of either.
Money Was Missing.
Shayne late tonight was being ques-
toned further concerning his state.
ment of Lofts dead, apparently
tripping" just as he entered the
apartment in response to Miss Woods
telephone call for help.
Police said they were satisfied that
Miss Woods was alone with Lofts al
the time of his death and that the
body was cold. apparently dead for
some time, when the doctor summon e6
by Shayne arrived.
They also say they are puzzled over
the fact that only $3.50 was found ir
, Lofts clothes, declaring he was
known always to have around $1,000
with him.