THE POISONED KISS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3150, 21 February 1911, Page 3

THE POISONED KISS.

WEDDING EVE TRAGEDY.

DEADLY DRUG IN CHEWING GUM

Pathos and tragedy are mingled in an extraordinary manner in the mysterious circumstances' of the death of a< young couple at Cumberland, Maryland, U.S.A. On the eve of their marriage they were loft in each other’s company in a drawing-room, exchanging lovers’ vows, but' when shortly afterwards the prospective bride’s mother entered the room, both were foil nd dead, apparently poisoned. The victims were Miss Grace Looser and Mr. Charles Twigg, who were amongst the most popular members of the Maryland society. Both were young handsome, and wealthy. At the time of their mysterious deaths they were seated on a sofa in the house of the bride’s mother, chatting gaily, ancl apparently in the seventh heaven of Mi'S. Loesor, who had heard the pair laughing and chatting with each other, left them to enjoy themselves in the drawing-room. Then the conversation suddenly ceaSed, and, being impressed ov the silence, Mrs Loeser re-entered ithe room. She spoke to her daughter, hut received no response. In a spirit of fun, thinking perhaus the pair had fallen asleep in each other’s arms, she. playfully touched the girl’s head. Her head fell to the floor, and it took but a. moment for the horrified mother to discover that both were dead. There was nothing to indicate' the cause of death, and the bereaved mother protests that the theory of suicide is too absurd even to contemplate. Both the younf couple, she says, were absolutely devoted to each other, and never quarrelled. The post-mortem examination showed traces of cyanide of potassium in the stomachs of the youn.or people, hut how, when, and where the poison was given there is nothing to indicate. It is true that the tongues of both were burned, and Twiggs’ stomach indicated that he bad taken a large quantity of the poison. In Maryland, as elsewhere in the United States, the chewing of <mm is just as prevalent a habit as the smoking of cigarettes in England, and a package of gum, with one stick missing and the wrapper on the floor, was found in the room occupied bv the voung couple. Now the question ai ises whether the gum was the instrument ot death and such pieces as are left are brimr analysed. The theory is advanced that the pair had been kissing each other while Mr. Twigg was munching the <nim, which, it is believed, contained cyanide. Mr. Twigg met Grace Looser 'last October, when he went to the Cumberland Fair in his automobile. He mot a. sister, Miss May Looser, at the same time, but later transferred Ins aTfoctions to Grace. Half an houi before her death Grace telephoned to a girl friend and told her of her wedding, bhc had the. bridal garments arranged m her room, and her dressing-case was partly packed. Mr. Twigg had just ordered a new motor touring car. > the police are convinced that the poisoned (rum had been sent through the post by an enemy, and are at present diligently pursuing inquiries with the view to discovering the sender. The State Attorney made a flying trF to Keyser, the Virginia home of Mr. Jwigo - but on his return lie refused to discuss an important clue which he said he had discovered. He intimated, honcvei, that some person was under strict surveillance. *lt is expected that the State Attorney will have sensational and important evidence to lay before the coroner’s jury.