Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-08-04
THE REAL MYSTERY
Of THE CASE,
By GEORGE A. PARKER.


copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.J
We detectives have opportunities to
Bee further into human nature than
any class of men. except physicians.
and l 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. l was called one day
to the house Of Joseph Gilbert, whose
son Edgar had been taken suddenly
Ill after smoking cigar. 1t was one
Of small package received anony-
mously. An analysis showed that the
cigars had been STEPPED in 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.
l left the remaining cigars on ia
BILE in the smoking room. establishing
a 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 l took them away. |
compared the handwriting on the
package with that of every CORE
spondent Edgar Gilbert furnished me.
and those he did not have he procured
on some preteXt. I 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 I 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.
l called at the house and was ac-
corded an interview with Edgar Gil
bert and his fiancee, Miss Withers
both happening to be there together
The moment the girl looked me in the
eye suspicion came over me that
had found the person who had tried
to poison Edgar Gilbert. How or why
I OWNED this l cannot explain. even
to myself. She knew what l was
there for and seemed interested in my
protecting her lover. There was nc
betrayal of emotion, no shrinking to-
ward me, no disposition to avoid my
gaze.
But what Il position l was in-my
client about to marry a girl who
felt sure had tried to poison him and
I 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, l paid her we'll 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 thu
bride expectants most intimate frien(
I found a chirography identical will
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 Gilbert:
fancee had at the time the cigars were
sent received his attention, and he ha(
Tilted her, causing her great unhap
piness. At that period. too. she wa:
Ill.
learned all this without giving W
any knowledge whatever was puz
Zled whether to stop the marriage o.
let it 60 on. After reflection l decided
to shift the responsibility. Learnin:
the name Of Miss Withers' physician
told him the story. He was great,
astonished. but soon recalled the fac
that during the period Of the attempt
ed murder he had attended Miss With
ers and had observed certain indica
tons of temporary alteration o
mind. Indeed. for brief season h
had kept her under strict watch
When the physical cause Of the trou
BILE passed away the tendency to insan
1ty passed with it.
The doctor transmitted my report t
the father Of the groom. and so late a
the day before the wedding was t