New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20
GAGGED AND TIED SELF.
GILBERT CONFESSES.
Did 1t to Break off Engagement
The Drug" Vas Whiskey.

The mystery surrounding the of Otto
Gilbert, who was found in a buggy at Irvington
Friday evening. bound hand foot, and appar-
emily under the influence of drug, was cleared
away yesterday when the young man confessed
that he had planned the whole affair with the
object of breaking off his engagement with the
young woman whom he to marry to-day. His
plot successful so far the engagement
was concerned, for the wedding was declared
off, although his fancee. Miss Nellie Curry, OF
South Est, Irvington, had already received
many wedding gifts, and alI preparations for
the ceremony had been maze.
Gilbert was found with his hands and feet
bound together with piece of rope and in his
mouth gag made of his own handkerchief.
His watch was missing and the chain dangling.
He was taken to the police station in the Town
Han. He remained semi conscious for several
hours. According TO his confes sion too free
indulgence in whskey was the sole cause Of his
stupor.
Yesterday morninP he told Judge Irving H
Taylor remarkable story about meeting three
men in Yonkers drinking with them, and being
taken by them in closed carriage, with a hand
kerchief saturated with some drug over his face.
1t had made him unconscious. When he awoke
he found himself in dark room The three men,
all OF whom were armed. with him, and
from that time until he left the room there was
always one man on guard over him He said
they tried to induce him to give them a check
for S1.5O0 that he had on deposit in the Dry
Dock Savings Bank in this city but he refused
though he did give them an order for S25 on a
Harlem man.
Then, Gilbert said, they took him to Tarry-
town and made him hire the horse and buggy,
threatening him with death if he told ANYBODY
what happened Then there was another trip to
YOnkerS and further affOrts 70 Jr5,,oo H..
give them the check. Then. accompanied by one
of them, he declared. he started for Irvington
but after passing Hastings he didn't remember
anything that occurred until he was restored TO
consciousness in the police station at Irvington
The story was told so plausiby that the police
officials decided to take him to Yonkers. Before
starting, however Judge Taylor examined him
rigidly, with the result that he broke down and
confessed that the whole story was a fake"
He found that he could not support a wife and
thought if he made up the kidnapping story he
would be released from his engagement to Miss
Curry.
After he had made his confession Gilbert was
arraigned in court and fined SIS for drunken
ness in the street" He could not pay and was
locked in a cell. Ii it is not paid by tomorrow
morning Gilbert will be taken to the White
Plains jail to serve one day for every dollar
In his confession Gilbert declared that he came
to this city Tuesday and pawned his watch and
with this money went to New Hampshire, where
he had wealthy relatives. expecting to borrow
enough money to pay for his wedding trip.
When he arrived there his courage failed him
and he returned to Irviugton without asking
for a loan on Thursday he wrote Miss Curry
that his body would be found on the aqueduct.
On Friday he went to Tarrytown, hired the
horse, drove to Yonkers and bought bottle Of
whiskey. He then started back for Irvington,
frequently slipping the whiskey from the bottle
When he neared the town of Greensburg he
slowed the horse up. stuffed the rag into his
mouth then took his handkerchief and folding
It into a bandage. tied it his mouth, the
knots being back of his head. He then took a
rope, tied his legs together. and made a slip
moose on each end of the rope. Through this
moose he put his hands. and. doubling up his
feet drew the moose taut each wrist cut
ting into the flesh, and thus causing the bleed
iug Finally he became drowsy from the LIQUOR
Miss Curry's mother is said to have been strong
ly opposed TO the match. Yesterday she de-
clared that when Miss Curry showed Gilbert a
$40 gold piece which had been sent by her uncle
as a wedding present, Gilbert remarked that he
didn't think his landlady had ever seen a SO
gold piece and he would like TO show her one
According to Mrs. Curry, he took the coin and
that was the last the Curry family has seen
OF 1t. 1t IS also declared that a few months
ago he gave Miss Curry an engagement ring
The last time he saw her he asked TO look at
It. and as she took ii of her finger II dropped
and he accidentally stepped on it, crushing il
He took It, saying he would have it repaired
Last Sunday night, in company with Miss
Curry Gilbert went to Father Early to
sign the anti-nuptial papers. for which he had
To pay "A fee. He did not have the money and
the papers were not signed. Father Early is
the pastor of the Church OF the Immaculate
ConceDtion at Irvington, who was in controversy
with Miss Helen Gould
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