Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-09-02
THE REAL MYSTERY
OF THE CASE,
j.. By GEORGE A. PARKER.

any class Of men, except physicians.
and | am not sure but that our OPP
portunities are superior to theirs. one
Of the strangest insights that were
ever accorded me came through the
: Gilbert case. / was called one DAY
to the house Of Joseph Gilbert, whose
son Edgar had been taken suddenly
Ill after smoking cigar. 1t was
of a 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. l questioned MIN
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. ana
he told me that he had had several
mild affairs of the heart, but none or
them. at least on his part or so far
as he could judge of the girls either,
had ever amounted to anything Sc
riotS 80
I left the remaining cigars on ia
BILE in the smoking room, establishing
watch upon them. thinking that II
the enemy was a member OF the house
hold he or she would attempt to re-
move them. But after they had been
there q week ! took them away. l
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. l could see no re-
semblance in any Of them to that or
the address. None Of the expedients
tried afforded me the slightest clew.
AT last l gave up the case, acknowi-
edging myself beaten.
A wear 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 ! would keep
watch over him until the ceremony
had been performed and his safety
seemed to tie assured.
called at the house and was ac-
corded an interview with Edgar Gil
bert and his fancee, Miss Wlthers,
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 trleu
TO poison Edgar Gilbert. How or why
! 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 girl who
felt sure had tried to poison him ana
/ not having 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 well to secure me
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
found a photography identical with
the address on the package Making
the lady's acquaintance. | satisfied
myself that she had only addressed
the package as a favor and had no re.
membrance Of having done so. From
her learned that young Gilbert's
fiancee had at the time the cigars were
sent received his attention, and he had
fitted her. causing her great unhap-
piness. At that period. too. she was
I'll.
II learned all this without giving mp
any knowledge whatever | was puZ-
Zcd whether to stop the marriage or
let it 20 on. After reflection decided
to SHIFT the responsibility Learning
the name OF Miss Withcrs' physician.
] told him the story. He WAS greatly
astonished. but soon recalled the f.,
that during the period Of the attempt
ed murder he had attended Miss With
ers and had observed certain indica-
lions of Il temporary alteration OF
mind. Indeed. for a brief season he
had kept her under strict watch.
When the physical cause OF the trou-
bic passed away the tendency to insan-
fly passed with It,
The doctor transmitted my report u
the father Of the groom. ard so late as
the day before the wedding was to
come off consultation was held be-
tween the parent and the physician.
at which II WAS decided To call in the
young man and lmpart to him the sit
uation
He suffered terrible shock. He
was about to rush away to confront
the girl he was to marry the next
morning with the accusation when hi;
father stopped him. and the doctor "X-
planned that she might possibly he
unconscious OF ever having committed
the crime. An accusation, especially
at such n time. mi"ht he attended with
serious effects. Before the conference
was ended the young man decided.
with his fathers consent that the mar
rage should take place without any
poStponcment
The doctor was to discover whether
the bride was conscious Of her act and
promised to inform me of the result
OF his investigation. His report was
that she had no consciousness of It
whatever.
What was 1t that conveyed the In
formation Of II to me? That Is a mys-
terry | have never solved.
His Provisions.
Rootmaker ito arctic explorer just