The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-20

Tn the long list of unsolved New York murder mysteries, there is one where I, perhaps, could have given an essential clew--and would have done 50 for n promise made to an inno- cent woman, in dire distress and danger of her own life.
 Until now, l have never re- yealed this which came to my knowledge by mere chance. My silence may have saved q murderer from punishment, but it may also have prevented an- other murder. However, at this late date there can be no harm in the telling.
 one Saturday morning early in the goth century America and England were shocked by the news of c most unaccountable midnight murder on Broadway of q middle-agcd Englishman of prominence, who, in touring the world, had arrived in New York from the West, homeWard bound, and WaB Q guest at the Waldorf awaiting the sailing of his ship of the Cunard Line.
 He had been struck down on Broadway while the theater aud- fences were on their way home. The fatal blow was by q blunt instrument on the back of the head. No outcry was heard, and aB far as known, there were no witnesses to the assault, though passers-by found the body q moment later.
 He had not been robbed. His money, watch, Identification pa pers, were undisturbed. No mos tive appeared, and no clew could be found. At the Waldorf the only unexplained circumstance waB a telephone call for him on the morning Of the day ne was killed, which he received in one of the booths on the office floor. The source of this message could not be traced, and its import was unknown.
 For days the tragedy was q front-page story on both sides of the Atlantic. Exchange of cable grams between New York police department and Scotland Yard, and between high English per- sonages and Washington, brought no light to the case, Rewards of- fered, and appeal to the public to report to the authorities any information that might be known brought no response.
 The mystery was complcte--and has remained DO to this day.
 l was then a resident of New York and couple of weeks bee fore the murder a business friend asked me to go to a certain house in q formerly fashionable resi- dental section of Adams Street, Brooklyn, for him. He explained that he owned one of e block of houses there, and that he wanted to buy the adjoining house, which was oWend by one of the great New York life insurance com- panies (the Equitable), and was rented to q respectable woman who let rooms.
 "If I go directly to the com- pany," he said, they may jack up the price. What I want you to do Is to go over to the house, talk to the tenant, and get her to ask the insurance company what they will sell 1t to her for. Tell her." he continued, that If the price is reasonable, I will arrange for her to buy 1t for me, pay her for her trouble, and continue her lease as long as she wants"
 The next morning ] walked up the flight of steps to the entrance Of the Adams Street house. and rang the bell. 1 was admitted by a handsome. well dressed young woman of 27 or 28. Assuming that she was roomer, inquired for the landlady.
 70 I'm the landlady--colne right in," she replied. pleasantly. and led the way from the vestibule. across the hall, into the reception room t0 seats near windows look ing out on Adams Street.
 The room was clean and well furnished, and there were several pictures of English country scenes on easels and on the walis-which attracted my attention. Noticing this, she asked. Have you been in England?"
 My reply that ! had been over there several times led t0 animat- ad conversation spout IJ.Gces we both knew. And she told me that asa