The Washington times., 1929-04-15

lCouInuSa AEOAu 3APs
suite in the Hotel Barclay Friday,
after the fntoxication charge had
been dismissed by q magistrate.
Friends of Smith, declaring he
was not a drinking man. asked
police investigation. An official
autopsy revealed fracture OF the
skull.
Further investigation revealed that
Bell and Smith had engaged In an
alteration in front Of the Hotel
Marguery after the party az Bell
wac entering taxicab with Mrs.
Brown to accompany her home.
Semi.HystericaI
Ben Is alleged to have knocked
or pushed Smith to the curb when
the latter tried to force himself into
the taxicab. Bell was' arrested,
arraiened and held without bail. He
was in q eeni.hysterical condition
In his cell last night.
While Bell admitted to detectives
that he pushed Smith he denied
that he had struck him. At any
rate. Smith staggered across the
sidewalk. feIl--and lay still. Sub
seuuently. he was picked up as in-
toxicated but this charge was drop
ped when, in court, it seemed he
was Ill.
Mrs. Brown, who had entered the
taxicab during the discussion be-
tween Bell and Smith, said today
that she did not witness the strug-
gle.
Il did not know anything about
what happened to Mr.. Smith. The
last time I saw him I was coming
down the elevator. left In tf9
company OF Mr.. Bell. He escorteti
me home to the Hotel Plaza, where
| was living"
The party that preceded the
tragedy was held on the tenth
floor OF the Hotel Marguery, in
Mrs. Schuette's apartment. There
were about 10 guests present.
Attentive to Mrs. Brown
Bell escorted Mrs. Brown to the
party. Smith came alone. 40
cording to one OF the members Of
the party Smith did not play
bridge, but he did take several
drinks and was quite attentive to
MfS. Br0Wu.
Smith was married. His wife,
Mrs. Lois Rucker Smith, Of Cleve
land, has been an invalid since
the birth Of her daughter. Smith
came to New York on q pleasure
trip and was accompanied by hiE
S-year-old daughter. Suzanne. He
was secretary and treasurer OF the
Gas Machinery Company Of cieve,
land.
Bell is married but has been
separated from his wife for sew
eraI years. She lives in Baltimore.
Bell, according to dispatches. was
once an unsuccessful candidate for
the State Legislature in Pennsyl-
vania.
Mrs. Brown is married. Her hus.
band, stock broker Of Lexington.
Ky.., has stated that he win stand
by her. He is in Kentucky. Mrs.
Brown is a dininutive brunette and
quite attractive.
Mrs. Schuette, at whose apart
ments the party was held, was the
widow of Harry s. Harkness, mil
lionaire sportsman, who left one of
the great Standard Oil fortunes.
In 1922 she was married to
Schuette.
BALTIMORE. April Is Q.N.S.).-
Mrs. Elizabeth Bell, estranged wife
of Samuel E. BELL held in New York
in connection with the death of
Arthur M. Smith, does not want her
named dragged into this escapade,"
she said, when located here today.
Bell will have to take his medi-
cine" she said.
Mrs. Bell learned her husband was
in difficulty through a telephone
call received by Miss Martha Brown,
student at Goucher College here,
frola her mother, Mrs. r bert M.
Brown, of Lexington, KY. ggest-
ing that she inform Bells family.
Morrison d. Bell and Mortimer r.
Bell, his sons, both of whom are in
the banking business, also were in
formed.
Bell has been cstranged from his
family for several years, Mrs. Bell
said. About a year ago he severed
all connection with them and six
weeks ago he gave up his apart
ment. He has sent his family no
word of th3 present affair.
"FIe has gone his way for several
years and we have gone ours,
said Mrs. Bell. "All that hope
and pray for is that now he is
in trouble he will not drag his
sons into it. They have no desire
to be mixed up with his trouble.
For many years put up with
things which do not choose to
discuss, now that we are separated.
Mr.. Bell will have to look out for
himself.
"Mrs. Brown. as far as am
concerned, is mystery woman to
me-"
Mortimer e. Bell said he did not
believe his father would ask his
family for aid.
Bell was connected with the
Coastal Oil and Royalty Company
here until short time ago.
About two years ago he was In.
volved in $4,000 forgery case
here. Although the indictment was
returned in June, 1927, the charge
was not dismissed until a few
weeks ago, following q guilty plea
from two other participants In th6
transaction, who exonerated Bell.
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