Solution—The Color of Murder

As the murderer had been in the city only a short time, we know (3) that Gig Putnam is not the killer, as he had lived there for at least two years.

As Dave Rubin (2) had lived at the Dresden Arms for three years, he is eliminated as the murderer.

Roy Young also had lived in the city for some time (3), so he, too, was eliminated, leaving Joe Maxon as the brutal murderer.