THAT FATAL KISS

Evening Star, Issue 14497, 23 February 1911, Page 7

THAT FATAL KISS

CURIOUS SUSPICIONS. Last week we made very brief reference to the case of the death under extraordinary circumstances in Maryland (U.S.) of two lovers who were on the eve of being married—Grace Loeser and Charles Tvyigg—who were found dead in the act of kissing, hydrocyanic acid being discovered on their lips. The proceedings in connection .with the tragedy are exciting great interest in America. The coroner's jury returned a verdict to the effect that the sweethearts died of "hydrocyanic poison, administered in an unknown manner "; and it was intimated that the authorities believed a further investigation to be necessary. May Loeser, sister of Grace, and first courted by Twigg, was severely crossexamined, with the object of showing that on the day the couple died she had also exhibited symptoms of hydrocyanic poisoning. May Loeser, a pretty brownhaired, dimpled girl—a typical Southerner, with a flush color —protested that 6he knew nothing about the mysterious deaths. —Under Cross-examination.— I was bathing upstairs when Twigg called to soe Grace, and the first I knew was when mamma screamed. I was just about dressing. Did you faint before ?—Yes, when I was vaccinated. What were you doing this time when you fainted'!' —helping mamma. Is not it true that you were away from the others for a time and then returned and fainted?—No, I was not away from them at all. Miss May, were you and Grace friendly? —Yes; we had tiffs occasionally, but wo were friendly. And you and Twigg?—Yes, I always spoke to him. Did not you and Grace quarrel over Twjgg?—No, sir; never. Miss Loeser then swore, that she liad no poison in her possession, did not understand poisons, and had never heard the nam© of hydrocyanic acid before her sister's death. She declared, impressively, with her hand raised in the air, that she was not concealing anything. —Love Letters Opened.— The mother of the dead girl was almost carried into the courthouso. She declared

that no poiKin of anv kind was stored in her house. She confessed that, in keeping a- careful watch over her daughters, she steamed open and read all Twigg's letters to Grace, and she thought that any mother was justified, even by subterfuge, in read ing her daughter's letters. Were May and Grace on friendly terms? asked counsel.—Yes. Did not you see a letter of Twigg s writ ten to Grace in which he referred to May and said: "She has to act nice ex pects to ride in our automobile?"— Yes; but I thought nothing of that except as a joke. —A Strange Faint.— The most surprising testimony was that given by Dr Foard, the first physician to soe the victims. The latter he foui.ll lifeless sitting upriaht on the sofa. " May Loeser," continued Dr Foard, "was unconscious. There was blood-streaked foam upon her lips. She was breathing stertorously, with her teeth clenched and the pupils of her eyes dilated." What are the symptoms of a mild, nonfatal case of hydrocyanic or cyanide poisoning?— Foam on the lips, clenched teeth, dilated pupils, stertorous breathing. Would any of these symptoms bo observed in an ordinary case of fainting from excitement or grief?—No;_ they are distinctly symptoms of poisoning. —More to Come Out Yet.— Maryland County society, with which the Loesers and Twigg were popular, is greatly divided regarding the mystery. A very considerable section attack Twigg and sympathise with May Loeser. It has been ascertained that Twigg did not swallow nearly as much poison as Grace. It is asserted that there is evidence to prove that he did not want to marry Grace, and it is suggested that he may have poisoned her, taking only a small dose himself, in the belief that he could easily survive the effects. The Pinkerton detectives ridicule the idea that May was concerned in the poisoning, and declare that she has been unjustly treated. After the inquest Prosecuting Attorney Robb expressed his conviction that a murder had been committed. He is reported to have clues which have not yet been disclosed, and not even suggested, at the inquest, bearing upon another woman in the case. One despatch says that a warrant has been issued for tho arrest of this woman, but this Jacks confirmation.