Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-09-30
Rx c-cr-r \. EKER.

Clltiou
We dct,,'lycS hsye opportunities to
see furlhct into humaH nature i'lah
any elias, of mra, eXcert physicians.
and ain not sure but that our OPP
portuniticS are superior to theirs Oile
of the sirangrsi insights that were
ever accorded me came through tue
Gilbert Cause. WIS called one DAY
60 the house of Joseph Gilbert. whose
son Edgar had been taken suddenly
i'll after smoking cigar il was one
of II small package received anoh!-
mously. An analysis showed that the
cigars had been STEPPED IN n 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 10
his relations with the softer sex, ana
he told me that be had had several
mild affairs of the heart. but none OF
them. ut least on his part or so tar
as he could judge of the girls either
had ever amounted TO anything Sc
rious.
left the remaining cigars on tn
bic in the smoking room. establishing
watch upon them. thinking that II
the enemy was member OF the house
hold he or she would attempt TO re-
move them. But after they had been
there a week | took them away |
COMPARED the handwriting on the
nackace with that Of every core
spondent Edgar Gilbert furnished me-
and those he did not have he procured
on some prcteXt. | could see no re-
semblance In any OF them to that or
the address. None Of the eXpedients l
tried afforded me the slightest cleW'
At last ] gave up the case, ackhoWt
edging myself beaten.
A year later | received note from
Mr.. Gilbert Sr.. 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 ! 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 Gil
bert and his fancee, Miss Withers.
both happening to be there together.
The moment the girl looked me in the
eye n suspicion came over me that |
bad found the person who had tried
to poison Edgar Gilbert How or why
I OWNED this | cannot explain, even
to myself She knew what ] 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.
But what position | was in-my
client about to marry a girl who |
felt sure had tried to poison him and
/ not having a shadow Of proof by
which to prevent him! The wedding
was to take place In three days,
must make haste
Learning that sewing woman was
employed In the house of Miss With
ers, | paid her we'll to secure me
specimen of the handwriting Of every
woman in the house and those who
were the brides bosom friends. There
We're three of the former ana two Of
the latter In the handwriting Of the
bride eXpectants most intimate friend
| found a chirography identical with
the address on the package. Making
the lady's acquaintance, l 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
fianeee had at the time the cigars were
sent received his attention. and he had
Tilted her, causing her great uuhap-
piness. At that period, too. she was
i'll.
l learned all this without giving IN
any knowledge whatever. was NM
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 attemnt.
ed murder he had attended Miss Win.
ers aud had observed certain ipdico.
tons Of temporary alteration of
mind. Indeed. for brief season no
had kept her under n strict watch
When the physical cause Of the from
bic passed away the tendency TO inso,,.
ity passed with It.
The doctor transmitted my report e.,
the father of the groom, ana SO late ms
the day before the wedding was ~
come off consultation was held no
tween the parent and the physiai,,,
M which It was decided to cari I'm tha
young man aud mpurt TO him the sIt
uatiun
He suffered q terrible shock rro
was about TO rush away to corfr,r+
the girl BE was to marry t+o noye
morning with the accusation whom ti.
father stopped him ANA the doctor cv
planned that SHE might passillv i,
unconscious If ever having committed
the crime An accusation. ,su.rf,l...
OF such % time might be attended viii,
serious effects. Before the -a.r.,..,,..,,
Il