Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-01-06
Mysterious Deaths At Cumberland

A tragedy that has astounded the Who'll,
OF Alleeany county and the country there
about was enacted at the home of Loui:
r. CLOSER, merchant. 116 Taylor street
Cumberland, Md, last Saturday afternoon
His daughter, M. Grace CLOSER. and her
husband-to-be, Charles Twigg, a prominent
merchant and horticulturalist of Keyser
W. Va, 23 miles west of Cumberland, were
found dead seated on the sofa in the par
Tor. They were to have been married
Sunday.
The coroner was unable to determine
whether it was suicide or murder and sui
eide.
Miss ElOsser was the divorced wife of
Maurice F. Wilson. Mr.. Twigg was a
widower. He telephoned his fiancee from
Keyser that he would be down on the noon
train. He went to the Elosser home with
the wedding ring, 1t did not fit and the
couple had arranged to 90 to jeweler to
have it fitted
The couple were in the parlor alone from
until about 245 o'clock Saturday after
noon. Members of the family heard them
chatting merrily. At about 2 O'Clock Miss
CLOSER telephoned girl friend about the
coming wedding. Soon after this all was
still, but nothing was suspected. At length
the girls mother, who first called at the
door, got no response and entered the room.
She. found her daughter and Twigg seated
on the sofa. The mans head was hang
Ing to one side. Mrs. Elosser took hold of
the girl and found she was dead.
Tho bodies were removed to the under
taking rooms Of Louis Stein. where post
mortem revealed death by cyanide poison
ing. The stomach of the girl was terribly
congested. The poison was in liquid form,
but the bottle has not been located. The
authorities are completely at sea over the
tragedy.
Miss Elosser was % years of age and
was the divorced wife of Maurice F. Will
son, son of John B. Wilson, of Flintstone.
Her married life had not been happy and
three years ago she obtained divorce. re-
Stunning her maiden name. Since then Mr..
Wilson married Miss Hilda German. Miss
CLOSER was noted for her vivacious. piquant
spirit and was social favorite. She was
known all over Cumberland for the white
and sorrel spotted pony which she drove.
She was a born horsewoman and treated her
pony in such a way that the animal SEEM
ed to respond to her attention almost like
a human being.
Her friends boot the idea of suicide. Her
conversation over the telephone an hour
before she was found dead Saturday be-
trayed her happiness over the near ap-
proach OF the wedding. She had arranged
for final visit to the dressmaker that
afternoon for some unfinished finery. Mrs
Elosser says about 2:30 O'Clock she went
into the room and observed her daughter
and Mr.. Twigg seated on the sofa together
Neither one spoke to her and she did not
speak. She quickly went out, but having
become concerned because of the pro-
lOnged quiet following the cherry CONVEX
sation that had come from the room. she
returned and spoke to her daughter. Re-
ceiving no response, she placed her hand
on the girls head. Then she saw that
both we're dead.
Mr. Twigg was about 33 years old. His
wife died about year after their mar
rage, which occurred four years ago. Twigg
is said to have been worth about $50, 900.
He owned a large general store at Keyser
fine concrete dwelling at the same place,
into which he intended to take his bride
after Southern tour. and a large peach
orchard from which he yielded large reve-
nue. the season just closed. 1t is stated
that at one time Mr.. Twigg paid attention
to May Elosser, a sister of the dead woman,
who is teacher in the Chapel Hill school,
South Cumberland.
II is also stated that while Mr.. Twigg
was calling on his intended at Cumberland,
he was also paying attention to a young
lady in Parkersburg.
David A. RObb. States Attorney. says
Il am satisfied the case is not one of sui
eide. Every incident so far disclosed indi-
Gates that neither Twigg nor Miss Elosser
sought their own death"
Henry Irvine. Chief of Police, says !:
There will be developments before week
has ended. So far the police department
has bent every energy to learn where the
cyanide was obtained, and believe that
their search will be successful
May Elosser, sister Of the dead girl, says !:
IF poison was administered to Grace, 1t
was administered by Twigg. No one else
could have given 1t to her.
DIR. F. f. Harrington. who made the
autopsy of the two bodies, says 1T is
hardly possible that the cyanide was adj
ministered either in chewing gum or candy.
The problem is to learn how it was ad-
ministered"