New-York tribune., 1920-07-01
New Witnesses
Questioned in
Elwell Murder
District Attorney Keeps Sc
cret Their Identity as
Well as the Nature of
the Testimo ony Given
U. S. After Liquor Trail
Swami and Talley Doubt
Bootlegging Story, But
Promise Cooperation

Two persons not heretofore men
toned in connection with the investi-
CATION into the murder Of Joseph
tion yesterday at the District Attor-
rey's Office. They were questioned by
John T. DoolinC, Assistant District At
torney. but neither their identify nor
what was learned from them was made
public.
More than ordinary significance, how
ever, attaches to the circumstances, be-
cause two days ago District Attorney
Swami had said that no new witnesses
rad been found and that nobody was
being questioned who had not already
been examined by members of the
prosecutors staff. Mr.. Swami declared
he probably would make a statement
regarding the two new witnesses to-
day.
Bootlcgging Story Doubted
The Federal and city authorities con-
tinued their efforts TO run down the
clew suggesting that Elwell met his
death IN a quarrel over $12,700 boot
logging scheme. During the afternoon
two agents OF the Federal Prohibition
Enforcement Bureau, William T. Lord
and Daniel J. Mangn, conferred with
Assistant District Attorney Alfred J.
Talley and cooperative plan for fol-
lowing up the trail was mapped out.
Later in the day Mr.. Talley examined
two persons regarding the story, one
of them being a saloonkeeper.
Nothing material to the murder, it
VAS said. was CLEANED from these wit
nesses. Mr.. Swami and Mr.. Talley place
little credence in the bootlegging story
James Z. Shevlin, prohibition en-
iorccment agent, is taking a keen in
terest III the alleged illicit whisky
transaction and has assigned four men
30 the case. Reports that a trail lead
ny to :. warehouse in the lower west
err section OF the city had been picked
"a serted tina; not one fact had yet been
earned TO bear out the bootlegging.
He declared that the suggestion that
the scheme may have originated in
Lexington, KY. during Elwell's stay
there last May would be looked into.
In connection with the questioning
Of saloonkceper, Mr.. Shevln said
hat this man denies knowing any
thing about such a deal. He said he
never heard of Elwell until the stories
of his murder appeared in the papers
any whisky transaction since January
l6. 1920.
Regarding the sl27oo check said to
have passed between Elwell and his
alleged associates in the scheme, he
declared he knew nothing. He added
that he had deposited less than $1,000
in bank since January and that this
money was realized from an automo-
bile sale.
I'VE are not seeking to discover the
murderer of Elwell,S concluded Mr.
Shevln I'VE are looking for the
whisky in which, we are informed
the murdered man and others were
trafficking. Of course, any iNforma-
,ion respecting the murder which we
might come upon in our investigation
we would turn over to the proper
authorities"
The Key Puzzle
Some light was cast by Barnes yes
terday on how the key, found on a
mantelpiece in the Flwell home, came tc
be there. This kcy. says Barnes, was
made for the private watchman, John
Bohan, but when the locks in the house
were changed last February the key be-
came useless and was taken from Bo-
nan. 1t was placed in a vase some
where in the house, said Barnes. and
later was found by Walter F. Elwell
the turfman's brother, who placed it
on the mantel elpiece.
The question Of what became of the
third set of keys to the new locks which
Edward Rhodes, the chauffeur, says he
placed on table in the presence OF
Mrs. Marie Larsen, Elwelps house
KEEPER has not vet been answered.