"POISON BY POST."

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2794, 24 May 1911, Page 3

"POISON BY POST."

COVERS' DEATH DUE TO

GAS POISONING

The alleged " pbison by post" crime in Cumberland, Maryland, has now been declared due to gas poisoning, and not to murder. It will be remembered that Charles Twigg and Miss f Grace Elosser were iound dead in the drawing room of the girl's parents. They were to have been married on the following day.

The case caused an immense sensation, because Miss Elosser's sister was suspected of having sent the couple poisoned chewing gum, which the two had used during the evening, and which was believed to be charged with cyanide ot potassium. She was arrested, and subjected to severe examination, but was released because there was no ade-

qaate evidence against her

Dr Littlefield, a specialist, who was called in, found that there was no poison whatever in the chewing gum, and on searching for a cause ot the tragedy discovered that the gas stove used in the room for heating purposes was defective. Prompted by this discovery he tried an experiment.

The doctor put a cat on the sofa, which was in the same position as it was when used by the couple on the

fatal evening, and after lighting the stove shut the door. Upon opening the :oom after 90 minutes the cat was discovered to be dead, and on examination Dr Littlefield found that the respiratory organs of the cat were affected in precisely the same way as were those of the

dead man and woman

, A second test was made for the bone->, fit of the State authorities, who were present at the house, and now the latter are convinced that Dr Littlefield: has found the true cause of the tragedy.