Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-02
Hinted That Chewing Gum May
Have Held the Poison.
WEDDING GOWN TO BE sHROUD
No Indications of Intent at Self
Destruction Given by Either
of the Victims.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

soning case. put the ElOsser family
through the third degree" today without
| result Mr.. and Mrs. Louis F. Elosser
the parents of the girl, are indignant
| that insinuations are abroad rejecting or
their daughter, May Elosser, a teacher
in the Chapel Hill School, South Cumber-
land, and sister of the dead girl. The
report Is that Twigg first paid attention
to May Elosser, then shifted to Grace,
to the formers pique. Since then, it is
| stated. Grace and May had been at
daggers' points and had not spoken fol
| some weeks. The family denies that ill
feeling existed between the sisters.
The courtships were short, Twigg
having met the girls only last October
at the Cumberland fair. May and
almost as much so as if they might
have been twins. Coroner Franklin B.
Beall, who is holding the coroner s
jury, already selected, in readiness fol
the call Of States Attorney Robb, said
the persistent reports about May Elos-
ser's relations with Grace may result
in her arrest.
Working on Murder Clue.
States Attorney Robb went to Key
ser. W. Va, the home of Twigg, last
night. in the hope of tracing a source
from which the poison might have been
procured. He is reticent about the re-
suit of his visit, saying that he thinks
he has a clue, but nothing more.
States Attorney Robb is working on
| murder theory and practically so ad-
mits. 1t developed today that Twigg
made will May Is. 1908. leaving his
tiers. This will precludes his father S
participation in the estate, which would
have gone to him in its entirety had not
Twigg made a will.
The authorities are trying to attach
some significance to the fact that Twigg
did not procure a marriage license. How
ever, he could have done so later in the
day, but 1t is thought he would likely
have had the document to show the girl
on his last visit to her before the time
set for the wedding. He would be
obliged to secure the license Saturday, as
no such papers are issued Sunday.
Alleged Unexpected Visit.
1t is claimed that Twigg had no busi-
ness in Cumberland Saturday, that he
came at a time when the girl was busy
with her wedding preparations and could
not well spare the time to see him. She
phened him that, as he knew, she was
very busy, but he should come. This un-
expected visit on. the part of Twigg, 1t is
suggested may have been one Oi design.
The poison that ended the careers of the
pair is so deadly that a drop or two on
a piece of chewing gum would do the
work. Twigg had chewing gum in his
mouth. and the doctors say his condi-
ton indicated that he got the biggest
dose Of the poison.
Suicide Theory Not Accepted.
1t is the general opinion that it was
not suicide. Miss Elossers father and
mother and other members of the family
declare that it could not be case Of
suicide with Miss Elosser She was far
too happy for anything of that nature
to enter her mind Every arrangement
had been made for the marriage that
was to have taken place last night at Z
o'clock at the EfOsser residence and when
Mr.. Twigg arrived at the ElOSSer home
Saturday afternoon, about an hour before
the tragedy occurred, he greeted the fam
lily in his usual hearty manner and en-
braced Miss Elosser, shortly after which
they went into the parlor, where they
were seated together on settee.
Wedding Preparations.
Miss Grace had been employed as book
keeper in department store and quit
last week for the purpose Of arranging
for her approaching wedding. She had sold
small piece Of property to complete her
purchases for the wedding, and every
thing was in readiness for the event with
the exception of the ring and the dress
in which she was to have been married.
The ring was to have been fitted on at
the jewelry store uptown Saturday night
when she and Mr.. Twigg were to go to
the store together, and the dress was re-
ceiving the finishing touches by the dress
N,1IrA hoC eivD4 haA 1At1 4
she will be buried in the dress in which
she had expected to appear as a happy
bride last night. On her bed she had
arranged her other wedding and travelling
garments. and part Of her suit case had
already been packed. That she had any
premonition of her approaching death ap-
pears impossible.
Twigg Happier Than Usual.
Mr.. Twigg. too. had made all arrange
ments except to secure the marriage
license. which it is also presumed he
would have secured on the trip uptown
in the evening.
None OF his friends. either those at Key
ser. or those who came dawn OH the train
with him, or those with whom he came
I'm contact on the way to the house
or at the Elosser home, think that he
committed suicide, and all say that lie
was in his usual happy vein. and.if any
different In manner 1t was because he ap-
peared even happier than usual.
Death by Cyanide Poisoning.
DIR. Thomas w. koon, one of the ply
| sicians who made the autopsy, stated last
night that death was caused by cyanide
poisoning. likely potassium, cyanide; that
death must have followed very rapidly
after the taking of the poison into their
systems, and that although they had been
found dead at about $50 o clock the blood
showed bright red and was still thin
| enough to flow at $50 O'Clock, when he
saw them at the morgue. Bright red
| spots showed on the lips and tongues
| Of both Mr.. Twigg and Miss Elosser. due,
| 1t Is thought. to biting the lips and ton
| que during the commissions that followed
| the swallowing of the poison and before
| death ensued.
Poison in Chewing Gum.
| How was the poison taken is the ques-
tion that every one is asking. Chewing
gum has been suggested. Mr.. Elosser