Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-15
MASONS ARE MOVING,
They Will Investigate the
Death of Superintendent
of Police Weir.
THIEVES AND MURDERERS
Are Working Together to Cover the
Tracks of the Poisoners.
MYSTERIOUS SAFE BURGLARY.
Looking for Private Papers Belonging to
the Dead Man.
THIEVES AND MURDERERS
A MYSTERIOUS SAFE BURGLARY.
EVIDENCE THAT CAN'T BE DESTROYED

the murder of Chief of Police Gamble
Weir continues to be the most interesting
tonic of discussion on the streets and In
public places generally. On all sides there
is a demand that the authorities take
prompt action in the matter and bring the
guilty persons TO justice, whoever they may
be. and that the rumors current affecting
various persons should be sifted to the
bottom.
1t appears now that the only work being
done in the case is being done in semi
official way by County Commissioner Weir,
District Attorney Burleigh and other
friends of the deceased. Mr.. Burlelgh
seems to be handling the case and the
others are following his instructions.
Whatever progress they are making is kept
secret, and the only thing known about
their work is that they are following up
same apparently important clews.
The most interesting development yester-
dav was that the Free Masons, OF which
Gamble Weir was a prominent member,
have decided to make an investigation into
his death. How they intend to proceed
they refuse to state.
A Powerful Influence at Work.
1t is generally understood that the in
fuence of this organization had much to do
with his appointment to his responsible
position at the head of the police depart
ment, and it is not strange that they should
take an active interest in finding
those responsible for his DEATH Several
members of that organization protessed
ignorance of the movement when asked
about it yesterday, but this was only natural
under the circumstances and was not uneI-
pected. AT tie same time, the powerful In
fuence that can be brought to bear on the
investigation by this order is expected to
bear fruit in short time. 1t was also posi-
tively suggested yesterday by the dead
mans friends that other organizations to
which be belonged will follow the example
of the Masons in bringing the guilty per-
sons to justice.
Although comparatively little has been
said in regard to the burglarizing of James
G. Weir's safe a few nights ago, there is
undoubtedly a strong connection between
that affair and the hunt for Gamble Weir's
murderers. 1t was found Yesterday that
besides the S75 in cash taken from the safe
the only other thing taken was paper and
the only one in which Gamble Weir's name
was mentioned.
Looking for Private Papers.
The bungling manner in which the safe
WIS broken open shows that The persons who
did the work were totally inexperienced,
but the most singular feature Of the rob-
berry was thai all the'pTivate papers in Mr..
Weir's desk as well as those in his safe,
were found lying opened and scattered
about, showing that their contents had been
hastily but thoroughly examined. Even
file-cabinet in which were kept Mr.. Weir's
business letters was forced open, and every
pigeon-hole cleared of its contents. That
the letters had been carefully scanned was
evident from the condition in which they
were found.
The papers were not sorted out and re-
turned to their proper places until yester-
dav, when it was found that but one paper
bearing Gamble Weir's signature had been
taken. The document was an unimportant
one and it is not known what the thief ex-
poets to do with it, unless it can be turned
to account by his murderers There are
several other points in connection with the
robbery that have been learned and which
go to clinch the theory that the thief and the
murderer are closely associated.
Cannot Destroy Evidences of Poison.
H. Samson, the funeral director, who
mas tne reputation OF Delng tne pioneer In
this section OF the art of embalming the
dead, and who has had large experience
with embalming fluids and their effects,
takes issue with other undertakers and ply
sicians who have claimed that after the
fluid has been injected into body it is i'm
possible to asc rtain whether they were
poisoned to death or not. He says he has
experimental with many bodies and knows
that the process of embalming does not de-
stroy the evidence of poisoning on an aualy-
sis He says he has taken stonachs out and
inflated them and in other ways expert
mented. but invariably found that the fluid
goes into the veins and not into the stom-
ach.
Harry Marsh, whose wife has been given
more or less prominence in the discussion of
this case, is talking of consulting a lawyer,
and, if certain things are not undone, of
bringing suit against certain persons whom
he did not name. He says things are going
too far; that he proposes taking a hand in
the case. Gamble Weir, he said, was his
best friend and he would have sacrificed his
right arm to have saved his life.
Mercantile Appraiser Fehl, who has been
deeply interested in the case, SAYS the case
will be thoroughly probed, and he hopes to
secure the arrest and conviction of the guilty
parties