The Washington times., 1908-10-13
Police Think Women Used
Poison Before Shot
Was Fired.
CHEMICAL EXPERTS
TO INVESTIGATE
Police Have Theory That Failure of
Original Murder Plans Dis
concerted Women.

PHILADELPHIA. oct. IA secret
autopsy has revealed that Capt. j.
Clayton Fro. Who was shot and killed
in his home. Red Gables. was poisoned
before the bullets which ended his life
were fired at him. The poison was ad-
ministered in a highball, which was
handed to Erb before he was shot.
To confirm their belief in the poison
theory, the police turned over TO Dr.
NIeeker, of the Medico Chirurgical Col
lege. the stomach and intestines Of the
dead man for chemical analysis. They
now are convinced thai sufficient of a
deadly drug was administered To have
killed Erb even if no shots had been
fired.
First Plans Fail.
Il IS she theory of the police that
after the poison was administered Il
failed TO take effect as rapidly as had
been anticipated and that, seeing that
Erb had become suspicious. it was
necessary to Kill him in order that he
might not disclose his suspicion. Ii
this was The intent OF the murderers,
their plan went astray. because Cap
tain Erb told his cOachman and body
guard, Eugene PCulson. that he had
been poisoned, ana that his wife and
his slster-in-laW were trying to kill him.
Both women, who are in cells in the
jai. at Media, refuse TO add 10 their
statement that the shots were fired al
Captain Erb in self-defense and because
Mrs. Katherine BeiseI had been threat
ened by Ed with a pistol.
Escaped Shooting Before,
Last Tuesday night" said Poulson's
wife, " 8 not the first time CAPTAIN
Erb was shot at in his own home. Mrs
Erb slept with revolver under heT
pillow and often threatened to use #
She pointed ii at ny husband one DAY
and threatened TO kill him. She threat
ened to kill him again the day Captain
Erb said he was poisoned ~ the high
bail his wife prepared Captain Fri
begged my husband not TO leave him
that day and Poulson stayed, althOugi
Mrs. Erb ordered him from the house
The captain was grooming in agony
on couch while his wife was trying tC
get rid OF my husband. Mrs Erb made
things so hot for us finally that my
husband left the house. He was takiuE
lessons in automobile driving and was
10 have been chauffeur for Captain Ell
this week
Captain Erb expected to have a new
machine by this time and to have nj!
Wife out Of Red Gables for good"
Blood Stains Discovered.
Additional evidence has been discov,
cred in Red Gables Il consists OF blood
stains in the hall near the door Of his
private bathroom. The stairs are eight
feet from the spot where. last TUESDAY
night, the body was found. II is tho
opinion OF the detectives that ETb was
not killed by his sister-in-law, Mrs
Catherine Beisel in the place described
10y her and her sister
They hope to show the man was shO
down without having chance lor M
life and that the shooting was dom
Immediately on his appearance from
his own suite, instead of -IJc- q TuSi
by him toward Mrs. Beisel with a pisrn
IN his hand. as the women assert TIL
politicians sister-in-law and widow sa
Mrs Beisel wrested from Erb the weap
on with which she shot him. Self-pres
cryation is the defense, the womel
alleging Erb tried 10 murder Mrs
BeiSel