The Washington times., 1920-07-04
Diuorcee Says ElueN,z
cold and Calculating,
Would Lead Girls On


NEW YORK, July AIRS. jose
phine Lewis Peet wilmerding, the di-
vorcee whose name is now conspicu-
Gus in the Eiwell tragedy, advanced
startling theory yesterday TO the
authorities to account for the mys-
terious murder of the whist wizard.
the crime or the incidents leading to
1t. Mrs. Wilmerding said:
Joe Elwell was cold, calculating
kind Of a man, but withal attractive
and pleasant companion. But there
was tantalizinG way about him He
was inclined to lead girls on. so to
speak.
III woman killed him. she was
provoked to 10 IL by EiweII himself,
He was that Kind Of n man. II you
understand me-. A hiRh-strun2. emo
tionai girl might be excited In n cnse
Ifkc that and do almost anything.
But really am only eOnjecturing.
Yet Z don't think Miss - -,
whose name Inns been mentioned.
would faIt for Joe ElwclI to that ex-
tent.
''Shc knew him. but she was not
nearly so intimate with him as Miss
Wilson is said to have been. Miss
------ knew him at Palm Beach, but
her parents were very strict. and |
don't think she would go to ElwelIs
house unchaperoned.
ELwELL NO COWARD.
1T is not difficult to think how Joe
Elwell would act in extreme danger.
say. in fight for his life. He was
very very cool-headed and would
weigh the chances carefully but
quickly That was the way Of his
mind. He was not a craven. Joe Ell
well was not a coward. though. as
have said. he was sensitive to fear"
Mrs. Wilmerdlng could not recall
Marjorie" or Clara" whose names
have figured in the investiga tion con-
Quoted by District Attorney Swami.
She pondered over them. but said:
NO, | can't recall either. But. oh
dear. there were so many women in
his life
She mentioned the bride OF few
months now living in WAtchester
county as one who knew Elweli
quite WELL. and, she added, with
smile:
He told me he was in love with
her. That was before she was MAJ
ried. Of course or course, the Ren
was incapable OF real affection.
AS for Miss Wilson. | cannot
Judge her. She always went out OF
her way to be nice to me. She has
invited me to tea and all that at the
Ritz. But truly. | did not even know
that she and Joe Elwen were ac-
ouainted. ! never saw them together.
He never spoke of her to me. ] never
saw her in his house here or at Palm
Beach"
Mrs. Wilmerding named the young
daughter Of distinguished French
official as one of dinner party at
Elwell's home in Palm Beach, adding:
"He liked her quite well. She was
young"
Mrs. wilmerdne mentioned anoth"r
girl. who was debutante at Palm
Beach and friendly with Elwell. or
their relationship she said:
"If Elwell ever promised to get
divorce and marry her, ii would have
been for money"
TENNIS EXPERT HIS GUEST.
\ noted tennis player spent several
weeks at Palm Beach with Elwell. &C.
cording to Mrs. Wilmcrding. The
whist wizards racing partner, she
added. was frequently seen with them.
Mrs. Wilmerding's statements were
made without hesitation in the main.
Several statements made by Mrs.
Wilnerding may be checked up. She
insisted that she never saw or knew
the housekeeper. Anna Kane. who
named the divorcee as Miss Wilson's"
rival She contended that she ncvec
saw the housekcepcr and that tho
latter could not have seen her unless
possibly. at Palm Beach, and then not
later than 1918.
Mrs. wimerding affirmed that she
never wrote to Elwell after Christ
mas OF 1918, that she never spoke
to him after that, though she may
have seen him at restaurants or on
the street. The man who would know
most about her friendship. she said,
was the chauffeur who used to drive
her with Elwoll In tho gamblers
Limousine. PrcsumablyNthis is Rhodes,
who has already been under interro-
CATION.
TELLS OF PARTING.
Concerning her parting with Elwell
she said.
There was no open rupture no
quarrel no sharp break. He called
on mc In Miss Allstons sanitsrium
about Christrnas ot 1918 and said ho
Was going away lie had only a'snort