Gentleman, Cad, Card Shark: The Mysterious Death of Joe Bowne Elwell

Kinda Murdery

Pushing the door open, Marie's eyes were met with a scene she would never forget. There, slumped in his chair, was Joseph Bowne Elwell. His usually composed demeanor was replaced by a haunting stillness. A single bullet wound, precise and deadly, marred the center of his forehead. Blood had pooled around the wound, seeping into the intricate patterns of the Persian rug below. The room was eerily quiet, the silence only broken by the faint tick of the grandfather clock in the corner. The ornate decorations and lavish furnishings seemed out of place with the stark reality of the violent act that had taken place. Marie Larsen stood frozen, her mind racing to comprehend the horror before her. Joseph Bowne Elwell was no ordinary man. At forty-four, he had climbed the social ladder, amassing a fortune that would make most men green with envy. With just his sharp mind, impeccable taste, and the gentlemanly manners his mother instilled in him, he built an empire. By the time the bullet found its mark, Elwell owned $500,000 in real estate, $100,000 in personal property, a stable of twenty thoroughbreds racing at Latonia, a yacht in Palm Beach for the winter, five automobiles, and a swanky house on 70th Street. So who killed the famous bridge expert and playboy? Did anyone?
Find out on today's episode of Kinda Murdery!
Sources:
https://classic.esquire.com/article/1950/10/1/who-killed-joe-elwell
https://www.bridgebum.com/joseph_bowne_elwell.php
https://mru.ink/the-unsolved-locked-room-murder-of-joe-elwell-1920/
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