New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-02
ElWell Case
Whisky Ring
Will Be Barred
Shcvlin Asserts That Wide
spread Conspiracy Is
Proved: Names to Cause
Sensation. He Declares
Miss wilson Summoned
Former Housekeeper Gives
portant Evidence;
Later Will Is Disclosed

\ whisky ring of farreaching pro-
portions was discovered by the Federal
authorities yesterday in the course of
their investigation into Joseph Bovine
Elwels alleged connection with boot
Logging operations Immediately preced-
i1g his mysterious murder.
While no evidence directly linking
these operations with his death has
been discovered so far. it was init
mated that the latest developments
tend TO corroborate the suggestion that
the whist king may have been muir
dered as a result Of an illicit liquor
deal
James E Shevlin. Federel Prohibit
ton Enforcement Agent, announced
of the slain ,urtman's Bookkeeping
operations. A man who, he said pre-
vIousiy had been Examined, recanted
certain statements he had made, and,
III q confession, revealed full details of
various transactions. Several men in
volved with Elwell in these deals, ac-
cording to this witness, are said to be
members of al organization to which
me slain turfman belonged Others are
prominent in the business and sport
ing world.
Names to Cause Sensation
Their names are being withheld for
the present, but Mr. Shevlin says they
will be disclosed in due time. Their
publication, he added, will cause a SEN
satlon.
Ny. Shevlin conferred with United
States Attorney Francis F. Caffey upon
the revelations, and, it was intimated,
viii shortly submit the evidence to the
Federal grand jury for action.
On the heels of these disclosures
came fresh Developments in the Dis
trict Attorneys investigation into the
card experts shooting AS the result
Of declarations made by Anna Kane,
former housekeeper for Elwell, District
Attorney Swami announced he has
summoned Miss Wilson" to his office
for questioning at II o'clock this
morning. Two other women referred
to by Anna Kane in a newspaper inter
view published yesterday also are be-
ing sought for examination in conncc-
ton with the murder.
Made Later Will
1t also developed from information
furnished by the Kane woman that
Elwell had made another and later will
than the one filed in the Surrogate's
Court on June 16, leaving all mis- prop
erty to his parents. The new will re-
ferred to is said to leave his estate to
his sixteen-yea son, Richard. but
hIwell's valet. is reported to have said
ne knew OF a will, in which he was one
of the bencficiaries.
The latest facts concerning the boot
Logging operations were unearthed in
the course of an inquiry into report
that klwell, after his return from Ken
lucky on June l, was broke" and had
decided to recoup his fortunes through
gigantic Illicit whisky deal. Two days
before MS death, the story has it, he
gave check for S12,700 as payment for
large quantity of liquor, which he
expected to dispose of at Saratoga dur
ing the present racing season for more
than $4,000 Not having sufficient
funds to cover the check then, he asked
those from whom he purchased the
liquor to hold off cashing it for few
days until he could get enough money
together.
His inability or refusal to meet the
check after the liquor is declared to
have been delivered is said to have re-
suited in a quarrel, and finally his
death.
That there has been illicit traffic in
whisky on u large scale in which Ewell
participated, and involving many per
sons close to Elwell," said Mr. Shev-
in. "can noW be considered positive
;act Through statements made to me
.o-day by man close to the slain turf
IAN we have obtained knowledge Of
Shisky ring of gigantic proportions.
Ne are unable for the moment to make
crown the names of those involved, but
shall do so in due time. am sure
their publication will produce a sensa-
ton.
Trails in New York
THE trails which our agents have
been following are in New York City
and do not, so far as this office is
concerned. point to any source of sup
ply. Whether or not whisky was OBJ
tanned by this ring in Lexington or
Pennsylvania is immaterial"
Mr.. Shevlin said he would continue
his investigation of the matter and
would either subpoena those he wants
to question, either as Federal Grand
Jury witnesses, or summon them to his
office 1t is expected that when the
matter is placed before the grand jury
many facts concerning ElwellN life and
associates not heretofore generally
known will be disclosed and the affair
turned practically into a murder in
curry
While the Bookkeeping clews were
hene followed out by the Federal au-
thcrites, District Attorney Swami
made a close examination of the state
ments made by the Kane woman in a
cablegram from Ireland, where she now
is Anne Kane was ElwelIs house
seeper for two years. preceding Mrs
Marie Larsen in that capacity She
left ElwelNs employ about five months
ago and obtained position with a
family on the upper West Side. She
left for Ireland on April H.
lhe Kane woman is quoted as saying
mat Miss Wilson" on one occasion
made threatening remarks about
Fiwcll, and that she had a bitter feud
With Mrs. -" from a town near
Narragansett Pier over the slain whist
king. She further described his rcla-
lions with another Mrs. - with
whom Eilwel, she says, made a money
settlement
The names Of these two women are
known 10 the District Attorney and
5 are being sought by him for question
irg. Miss Wilson" is the "slim, dark
mi" referred to by Mrs. Marie Lar
sen as the woman who owned the pink,
sill. NIGHT robes, boudoir cap and pink
six slippers found in Elwell's bed
room or the day of the murder and
which Mr.. Larsen concealed in bath
Tub in che cellar OF the Elwell home
TO save woman's reputation Her
Identity Is known to the District At
rcrrcV who has so far refused IN max q