Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-26

WEDNESDAY,, JUNE 70, I9Iz.
sinF still lower. "1f It wis c7c:apls
of ladies looking at the room,
wouldn't be telling it, but know you
gentlemen wont mind. 1t was III this
room yesterday Mr.. Elser killed HIM
self. not on the bed. but right here on
the floor. 1t was poison he took-cya-
nice of mercury, the doctor said"
You don't say!' exclaimed the in
spector. as if he had heard the news
for the first time. Why did he do it?:''
It's more than I can say" said Mrs.
Trask. evidently we'll pleased to talk
about the tragedy. II did everything
i could to keep him comfortable and
happy. He spent all his time here
since he gave I'd his office down
town. He read the papers every
morning in the parlor. Every after
noon he took walk He was always
on time to his meals and there never
was complaint out of him. On Sat
urdays he used to go up to Westches-
ter to see a boy that he was guardian
for. Every Saturday night regular he
paid his board. that is, up 70 last week
that's still owing"
Did he have any yisitors?'
"No. I don't recollect that there was
ever any one here 10 see him. though
occasionally he used to bring the boy
down here to lunch on Saturday or
Sunday. He hasn't had him here,
though, for the last three years"
Did he receive any mail?'
Amt it queer, now, that you
speak of that The first letter he had
in months came only last week. The
police found part Of the envelope on
the floor beside him. Them and me
both looked through all his things, but
never 4 trace OF the letter could we
find. | can't for the life of me think
what he could have done with it. |
know the letter must have had some
sort OF good news for him, for after
ne received it. for several days he
was rs bright and clipper as could be,
more like himself than he had been
for years. Then yesterday somebody
telcphoned to him-I don't know who
il was, for | was out marketing-anC
he never had any phone calls before
that | know of. Right after lunch he
went out and was gone until after
three. Soon after he came in nc
killed himself in this very room"
To my mind things were beginning
to lool; blacker and blacker fer Gran
dali The parallel between the cases
of Katharine and Elser was entirely
too strong for it TO have been mere
coincidence. We knew it vas Gran
dali who had telephoned Katharine. It
must have been he who had called
Elser. There was much 10 be eX-
planned. What it was that had driv-
mystery TO me- My mind reverted
70 my original theory that there was
I child, whose existence had been
kept from the world, that was in some
way connected with the Parrish FAM
lily. Old Elser was the guardian Of Il
boy. Suppose this boy was the child.
1t would establish possible connec-
ton between the two suicides. II
would explain why Katharine might
have known old Elscr yet never have
mentioned the man TO Louise.
took it for granted that Davis
would ask the landlady further about
the child OF course, he would want
to know the boys name and the
name of the school where Elser
kept him, but he made no further
inquiries. Telling the landlady he
would let her know in day or
two abou; the room, he turned to me
with:
Come on, Kent. it is time We had
some luncheon
I'VE must find Crandall," I said as
we left the house.
I'VE must find who wrote the vel.
low letters" Davis responded.
TT must have been CrandalI," l as
serted with conviction.
1T may have been Crandall," the
inspector replied. Was Crandall left
haNded?"