Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-01
KILLING Of COUPLE
ON MEMPHIS ROAD
MYST|F|ESOFF|CERS

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Jan. 31.-City
and county detectives still have be-
fore the mtoday the task of estab-
fishing the motive and identity of the
slayer of Mrs. Ruth McElwain Tuck
err, twenty, estranged wife Of Ellis
Tucker. of Franklin, Tenn, and Dun
can Waller, nineteen, travelling sales
man of Mayfield, KY, whose bodies
that of Waller crumpled in the seat
Of an automobile, and the young
woman in a nearby field-were found
on Sunday near the village of
Berclair, suburb of this city.
Both had been killed by pistol bull
lets which entered their heads from
the rear.
The theory upon which the police
now are said to be working is that
the slayer first shot Waller-the bull
let entering the automobile from the
rear and shattering a glass observa-
ton window-then pursued the
young woman, overpowered her and
shot her to stifle her outcries..
The ground in the field where her
body was found about 20 feet from
the automobile were tracked with a
number of footprints, it was stated.
Robbery and jealousy are among
the theories advanced. Thus far,
the oplice have not indicated which,
| if either, Of these their investigation
has tended to confirm. Disappear
ance of $50 in money which the
young man is reported to have had
and two diamond rings worn by Mrs.
Tucker is taken, however, as estab-
Iishing that robbery was at least an
after thought, if not the impeding
motive for the staying.
The shooting is believed to nave
occurred between 10 o'clock Satur-
day night and midnight, when they
had planned to meet at her place OF
employment and escort home an
other younger woman, fiance of Wal
Ter and friend of Mrs. Tucker, with
whom she was to, have spent the
night According to information OBJ
tanned by the police, Waller and Mrs.
Tucker had called at the suburban
confectionery where the fiancee OF
Waller was employed at 10 o'clock
Saturday night and arranged to re-
| turn for her at midnight when she
would be off duty. The bodies OF
Waller and Mrs. Tucker were found
early yesterday by a milk man on
| MS Way 10 MEMPHIS
| Mrs Tucker came to Memphis
with her mother about two months
ago from Bowling Green, KY, and
is said to have been introduced to
Waller Friday by the young woman
whom he was to have married.
| Tucker, husband of the young
woman, now is in Franklin and, &C
cording to dispatches from that
town, had not heard from his wife
in some months. They were married
about four years ago but are said
to have become estranged a short
time later.
Walters father was in Memphis
Saturday night and was to have left
with his son yesterday for a business
trip through Arkansas. He accom-.
panied the body of the younger man
to Mayfield last night.
| Persons who reached the scene
soon after the bodies were found
reported that the earth about the
spot where the young woman was
| lying indicated there had been a
struggle. An automatic pistol. with
one discharged cartridge, was found
| in the tonneau of the car. The mo-
| tor was not running when the dis
| covery of the bodies was made, and
| the lights were not burning.
1t has been learned that earlier
in the evening, Miss Peggy Wright,
| who is said to have been engaged
to marry Waller, accompanied him
and Mrs. Tucker on an automobile
ride. leaving them to report at her
| place of employment with the under
| standing that she was to meet them
! again when she was relieved from
duty. Miss Wright accompanied
| Walters body to Mayfield, where fu-
neral services were to be held late
| today.
Several love letters were found
among Walters effects. A search
of the possessions of Mrs. Tucker
| also revealed love letters signed by
| Dick" and "Dog."
MRS. TUCKER RAN AWAY
FROM COLLEGE TO WED
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Jan. 81
| Mrs. Ruth McElwain Tucker, whose
| dead body was found with that OF
Duncan Waller on a road near Mem
| phis Sunday morning, was a native
of Bowling Green, KY. Her mar.
riage to Ellis Tucker, of Franklin
Tenn, in November, 1919, was the
| VI q IOIlIdI1CC wLLICAl
ended in her elopement from the
Tennessee College for Girls in MUIR
freesboro. After six weeKs of mar
ried life the couple became estrang-
ed. For a period Mrs. Tucker Wo1 k
ed in Nashville department store,
and recently, it is said, went to
Memphis to visit relatives. Her
mother, Mrs. Pearl Duval McElwain,
Bowling Green, KY. recentlyt Joined
her there, it is said.
Ellis Tucker who is now III Flank.
lin, was advised of his wife's death
He had not communicated with her
for months, he said. Though sepa'
rated for three years, neither party
| ha dtaken steps to secure a divorce