New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-08-11

BY GEORGE A. PARKER.

By GEORGE A. PARKER.
Copyright. 1903, by American Press Asso-
clation.]
We detectives have opportunities tc
see further into human nature than
any class of men, except physicians,
and am not sure but that our op.
portunities are superior to theirs. One
OF the strangest insights that were
ever accorded me came through the
Gilbert case. I was called one day
to the house Of Joseph Gilbert, whose
son Edgar had been taken suddenly
i'll after smoking cigar. It was one
Of small package received anony-
mously. An analysis showed that the
cigars had been STEPPED in a deadly
poison.
The young man was unconscious OF
having an enemy. questioned him
closely, asking him to mention any
one who might have the slightest mo-
tive to injure him. inquired as to
his relations with the softer sex, and
he told me that he had had several
mild affairs of the heart, but none Of
them, at least on his part or SO far
as he could judge Of the girls either,
had ever amounted to anything Sc
rious.
I left the remaining cigars on a ia.
BILE in the smoking room, esta blishing
q watch upon them, thinking that if
the enemy was a member of the house
hold he or she would attempt to re.
move them. But after they had been
there week took them away. I
compared the handwriting on the
package With that of every CORE.
spondent Edgar Gilbert furnished me,
and those be did not have he procured
on some pretext l could see no re-
semblance in any Of them to that of
the address. None Of the expedients
tried afforded me the slightest clew.
At last gave up the case, acknowl-
edging myself beaten.
A year later received note from
Mr.. Gilbert, ST., informing me that
his son was about to be married; that
the young mans mother had all sorts
Of vague apprehensions that some wo-
man had tried to poison him through
jealousy and she desired l would keep
watch over him until the ceremony
had been performed and his safety
seemed to be assured.
called at the house and was ac-
corded an interview. with Edgar Gill
bert and his fancee, Miss Withers,
both happening to be there together.
The moment the girl looked me in the
eye a suspicion came over me that I
had found the person who had tried
to poison Edgar Gilbert. How or why
I OWNED this ! cannot explain, even
to myself. She knew what I was
there for and seemed interested in my
protecting her lover. There was no
betrayal Of emotion, no shrinking to-
ward me, no disposition to avoid my
gaze. ~. 'zas's'f 70
But what position l was in-my
client about to marry a girl who
felt sure had tried to poison him and
I not having shadow Of proof by
which to prevent him! The wedding
was to take place in three days. /
must make haste.
Learning that a sewing woman was
employed in the house OF Miss With
ers, paid her well to secure me q
specimen Of the handwriting OF every
woman in the house and those who
were the brides bosom friends. There
were three Of the former and two Of
the latter. In the handwriting Of the
bride expectant's most intimate friend
I found chirography identical with
the address on the package. Making
the lady's acquaintance, I satisfied
myself that she had only addressed
the package as favor and had no re.
membrance Of having done so. From
her ! learned that young Gilberts
ffancee had at the time the cigars were
sent received his attention, and he had
Tilted her, causing her great unhap-
piness. At that period, too, she was
i'll.
| learned all this without giving up
any knowledge whatever. I was puz-
zled whether to stop the marriage or
let it go on. After reflection l decided
to shift the responsibility. Learning
the name Of Miss Withers' physician,
told him the story. He was greatly
astonished, but soon recalled the fact
that during the period Of the attempt
ed murder he had attended Miss With
ers and had observed certain indica-
lions of temporary alteration Of
mind. Indeed, for a brief season he
had kept her under a strict watch.
When the physical cause Of the trou-
BILE passed away the tendency to insan-
fty passed with it.
The doctor transmitted my report to
the father of the groom, and so late as
the day before the wedding was to
come off a consultation was held be-
tween the parent and the physician,