Murder without a killer: the mystery of the death of Joe Elwell (7 photos)

If a body is found in a locked room, and there are no signs of suicide no, the murder was definitely committed by aliens or ghosts, leaked inside.





Joseph Bone Elwell (1873 - 1920) - American insurance agent and professional bridge player. But he went down in history as a victim classic unsolved murder. It's in the locked room.



Joseph Bone Elwell

On that June morning in 1920, housekeeper Marie Larsen, as usual, arrived at work. But Mr. Elwell did not come out this time. greet the worker. But she stumbled upon the corpse of an unknown men. Later it turned out that this is Joe. Just without false hair and dentures, which he wore in public for greater attractiveness befitting its celebrity status.

Joseph was shot in the head. But a pistol in his New York apartment was not found. Against the version of suicide spoke out and conclusion of experts who confirmed that they fired from a distance of about 2 meters, when the owner was sitting in a chair and studying his mail.

Crime scene



When the police arrived, they were surprised to find a bullet on the table. It pierced the skull and apparently ricocheted off the wall. But it looked like the sophisticated mockery of the criminal is too theatrical and staged.

Nothing was missing from the house, that is, the version with the robbery too turned out to be untenable. No signs of break-in, no struggle, no signs some violent action.

That is, the owner let the guest killer in himself, which confirms fact of acquaintance. And behaved at ease, not expecting a dirty trick.

Investigation and versions



Helen Derby, wife of Joseph Elwell

During the investigation, the police found out that the day before death, the man met at the Ritz-Carlton with a woman named Viola Kraus. After the divorce, he began a close relationship with Kraus.

Suspicion, of course, fell on Derby's wife. Officially they until they were divorced, but lived separately for several years. Derby tired of her husband's endless romantic hobbies, and she left, taking son of Richard.

The wife turned out to have an ironclad alibi. Checked others Joseph's lovers. But no evidence of involvement was found. Besides the .45 colt that Elwell was shot with was too heavy for weak ladies' hands.



The house where the murder took place

The analysis of the documents did not help either: everything was in order, no debts, no loans, no litigation. Ideal life millionaire pedant and perfect documentation.

True, a year later a certain citizen showed up, declaring that he killed Joseph. Superficial interrogation revealed that he had not even been familiar with Elwell. And the reason for the "recognition" was a mental illness. The man hoped that he would be sentenced to death, and he would stop be a burden to family.



Poster for The Benson Murder Case (1930)

The case received wide publicity. The press competed in the number of articles about the mysterious case. And the classic theme of "murder in locked room” inspired S.S. Van Dyne to write the detective "The Case About the Benson Murder" about the adventures of amateur detective Philo Vance.



Just solve this flawless classic murder which gave rise to a lot of versions, conjectures and literary works, apparently no one will ever be able to.