New-York tribune., 1920-06-27
Authorities Are Anxious
to Question Woman Be-
fore Moving Against
Man Under Suspicion
Detectives Rip Up
Slain Mans Rooms
Partitions Destroyed, Coal
Sifted in New Search
for .45-Caliber Pistol

the murder of Joseph Bovine Elwell is
being put off pending the gathering Of
more conclusive evidence.
II was intimated at the District At
torneys Office last night that the in
yestigators are particularly anxious to
question a woman before proceeding
further. While they know the where
abouts of this woman. the authorities
saw she is unavailable at the moment
They expect to got in touch with her
in day or two She is believed to
be able to furnish the missing link
in the chain of evidence the police have
forged about the man they have in
mind. Captain Of Detectives Arthur
Carey said last night: eve will not
make an arrest until we have sufficient
evidence to warrant holding a prisoner
This does not mean that before moving
we must have evidence enough to guar
antee conviction. 1t means that we
must be able to satisfy a magistrate
that the suspect had some connection
with the crime. At present we lack
enough of this evidence,
Woman's Identity Concealed
1t could not be learned whether "Miss
Wilson" whose lingerie Mrs. Marie
Larsen, the housekeeper, found in
Elwel's home and attempted to conceal
on the day of the murder, is concerned
in the latest developments. The fact
fO
municate with a woman in the light
Of the latest turn of events would seem
to indicate that the numerous women
with whom Elwell had affairs have not
been entirely eliminated as furnishing
motive for the crime
The police are anxious to find the
.45-caliber pistol with which the turf
man was shot and are sparing no
pains to get hold of it,, A squad of
detectives under the direction of Cap
tain Carey visited Elwells home, at
morning, and went through the place
from top to bottom Their efforts
seemed to have raised great stir
among the neighbors, who complained
Of terrible noises" issuing from the
house all through the morning and
afternoon.
The roof was torn up, partitions
ripped open and flooring demolished in
the hope that the weapon might be
turned up. Many detectives were put
to work sitting tons of coal in the
cellar on the supposition that the
pistol might have been secreted there
by the murderer. After going through
every room in the house with pick
axes and hammers it was announced
that the pistol had certainly not been
hidden there. This would seem to dis
pose once and fer all of the suicide
theory. 1t is still held by some who
know the details of the case that the
gun might have been hidden by some
one one Interested in having it appear that
ElweN did not take his own life.
The police were also bending efforts
TO learn more about report that an
attempt on Elwelps life had been made
once before. The story runs that
week before his murder some one had
tampered with Elwell's automobile and
that while he was returning from the
races with his chauffeur wheel came
on OF the car. They were travelling
at fast clip and had a narrow escape
from death.
Elwell Was Suspicious
Eiwell is said to have looked upon
me circumstance as suspicious, and
sent his Chauffeur on to d garage in
rushing while he himself stayed with
tne car 20 be sure there was no further
tampering with it. The automobile
was returned to the garage in wreck
Ing ear.
This is rather strange" Elwell is
reported TO have said. 81 had just
tsen the roadster out of the shop
alter it had been thoroughly over
hanled, and that wheel did not become
detached accidentally"
District Attorney Swami was in touch
AGAIN yesterday with the person who
came forward soon after the murder
ana informed the authorities that he
hao Deen IN communication with Ell
zen at 2:30 o'clock on the morning Of
ssae murder. No intimation has yet
zen gwen whether the person is a man
" woman, Assistant District Attorney
uooiing merely declaring yesterday
aat tne person was connected with
sae administration OF Justice" This
hss been taken TO mean that it is
.sme one occupying some official posi-
s'n IN the local Federal government.
Not Embarrassed for Funds
;, Little Importance is now attached to
ae sale ot the murdered mans
!aers Or horse Pastoral Swain, as far
- Ineir bearing on the crime is con-
ess1ned. No liei.s were on the Beach
..snies owned BY Elwell, and the
i,Dhes OF hig financial embarrassment
,,s'e been declared without foundation.
= <'dision, ii was stated that he had
ssc no quarrels with any one in the
s'otn and that the only reason for his
,i.aorted hurried departure from
ssssington was to get mis- horses to
'asa'oga for the August meet
.. iesterday's issue of variety" a
.a.ssssrica @'ss weekly, had a story tast vi
ven mad one-third interost in the
wSue-'on Oh "The Bonehead," which
"ssaer Lewisohn wag booking. The
s.'S II said TO nave lost $4,000 while
" 'as road and a. the Fulton Theater,
~, ~ ~hen Eiwell was called upon to
~s ~aks good his share Of the loss he
= unable 70 produce This apparent
naa h,t!e effect on the friendship
I.Ns'n the two nen, Eiwell having
II II member nf the party with the
.s.1sonns, Miss Viola Krans and Oc-
49, 80 fiXueroa On the Ritz Roof on the
''s'I preceding the murder