NgoJuni 11, 1920, kamsinya nje emva kokuphuma kwelanga, uElwell wadutyulwa entloko ngompu ozenzekelayo oyi-.45 kwindlu yakhe etshixwayo kwisiXeko saseNew York. Ngaloo ntsasa, umgcini-ndlu uMarie Larsen wafika njengoko wayeqhele ukwenza kwindawo entle ka-Elwell. Noko ke, ngesi sihlandlo wabona umbono owoyikekayo owamothusa okomzuzwana.
Wakhawuleza wakhwaza esithi kukho umntu angamaziyo kwigumbi likaMnumzana Elwell, nokuba ufile. Ekuhlolweni ngakumbi, kwafunyaniswa ukuba umntu wasemzini yayinguJoe Elwell, ngaphandle kwee-wigs zakhe zomyili kunye namazinyo okufakelwa akhazimlayo, awayewasebenzisa ekuphuculeni inkangeleko yakhe esidlangalaleni.
U-Elwell ukholelwa ukuba udutyulwe entloko, kodwa ukuzibulala akuyona ingcaciso enokwenzeka. Kwakungekho mqondiso wesixhobo kwigumbi, kodwa isixhobo sokubulala sibonakala sidutyulwe kumgama weemitha ezi-1-2 (3-5 ft) kude.
Indawo yokwenzakala
Amapolisa akhwankqiswa kukubona ulwaphulo-mthetho. Akukho mpu ufunyenwe kwindawo yolwaphulo-mthetho, kodwa imbumbulu eyambulala yafunyanwa ibekwe kakuhle etafileni. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba imbumbulu yagqabhuka eludongeni yaya phezu kwetafile, kodwa indawo eyayibekwe kuyo yayijongeka ngokweqonga. Ikhatriji yembumbulu ilele phantsi.
Umbulali wayegobile phambi kuka-Elwell xa ekhupha intambo, ukuze abone i-angle yenxeba. Akukho nto ibiweyo, kwaye akukho minwe yangaphandle ifunyenwe kwindawo yexhwayelo. Kwakungekho mqondiso womzabalazo okanye ukungena ngenkani endlwini. Yonke into yayitshixiwe, kuquka igumbi nendlu.
U-Elwell umele ukuba wayemazi umbulali wakhe kwaye wamvumela ngokukhululekileyo ukuba angene endlwini. Wahlala phantsi engahoyanga undwendwe ngelixa evula iposi yakhe. Ngaba wancokola kamnandi nondwendwe lwakhe ngoxa esenza lo msebenzi uqhelekileyo? Kwakungekho nto ibonisa ulwaphulo-mthetho kwezo leta okanye phantsi.
Imikhondo?
U-Elwell watya kunye noViola Kraus, umfazi osandul' ukuqhawula umtshato, eRitz-Carlton Hotel ngobusuku obudlulileyo. U-Elwell wayethandana nabasetyhini abaninzi, kuquka noKraus. UHelen Derby, owatshata noElwell ngowe-1904, wamazisa kubahlobo bakhe ababesondelelene nabantu awayebaqhelile.
Nangona u-Elwell waba ngusozigidi kwimidlalo yebhulorho, inkosikazi yakhe yamnceda ukuba anxibelelane nabahlobo bakhe abanxibelelene kakuhle nabaqhelana nabo. Baqhawula umtshato ngowe-1920. Nangona uDerby wayengumrhanelwa ophambili ekuqaleni, ialibi yakhe yayingangeni moya, yaye wayengabandakanyeki ekufeni kowayesakuba ngumyeni wakhe.
Ngokutsho kweGqwetha leSithili u-Edward Swann, u-Elwell wayencokola kwindlu yakhe ngaphambi nje kokuba adutyulwe, kwaye ke mhlawumbi wayemazi umbulali wakhe. Eyona njongo yombulali yayikukumbulala. Akukho mpahla yexabiso yabiwayo. Enyanisweni, izinto ezixabisekileyo zazithe saa kwisidumbu sika-Elwell.
Nangona bonke ubungqina buqokelelwe ngabaphandi, kodwa abazange bakwazi ukufumanisa ukuba ngubani owadubula uJoe Elwell, kwaye ityala lihlala liyimfihlakalo engasonjululwanga.
