Maude Gilbert

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Thinks Girl Had Engagement With White Night of Tragedy

Mrs. Dusinbury Says Conversation Led Her To Believe That Dead Woman Expected To Meet Him When She Left Her Room Early Wednesday Evening.

Mrs. E. D. Dusinbury, who resides in a cottage in the rear of 29 N. W. Third street, where Miss Gilbert roomed, declared last night that she knew the dead woman well and she frequently came over to her room and would chat with her and has also accompanied her to a number of parties and other social gatherings. She stated that Miss Gilbert, from her conversation with her Wednesday night, evidently had an engagement with White and that the last time she saw her alive was about 7:30 Wednesday night. Mrs. Dusinbury also stated that Miss Gilbert returned from a visit to relatives in Bridgeport, Conn., only about six or seven weeks ago and that a few days ago she stated to her that she was learning to drive a car.

Asked If White Had Called.

"Miss Gilbert came in shortly before 7:30 Wednesday night with Louis Larson, cashier of the Southern Utilities company, with whom she had been out to supper," said Mrs. Dusinbury. "She came over to my house a few minutes later and asked me if Mr. White had called. I said he had not. She then asked me what time it was and when I told her about 7:30 o'clock, she remarked: 'My, I didn't know it was that late. I must hurry.' Then she hurried away, and that was the last I saw her alive."

"I have known Miss Gilbert ever since October, 1920, and she was a good, quiet girl, and spent the majority of her evenings at home."

Mrs. E. B. Trexler, at whose home Miss Gilbert roomed, also declared that Miss Gilbert was a quiet girl and was an exemplary woman and spent most of her evenings at home.

Has Two Brothers in Bridgeport.

Miss Gilbert, whose body was taken from the Tamiami canal late yesterday afternoon, has no relatives except two brothers, so far as could be learned last night. Both of these brothers, Harvey and Ernest Gilbert live at 2979 Fairfield avenue, Bridgeport, Conn. One is in the ice cream business and the other is a motion picture machine operator. Chief Deputy Sheriff Guy said last night heat he going to wire them regarding their sister.

Mrs. Trexler said yesterday that Miss Gilbert occupied a room in her home last fall and winter, at which time Miss Gilbert's friends, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Collopy and their daughter, Miss Lavina Collopy, also occupied rooms there.

Came Back Five Weeks Ago.

According to Mrs. Trexler, Miss Gilbert came to Miami in October, 1920, with the Collopys from Bridgeport, Conn., and went away with them in the spring when they returned to Bridgeport. She visited her brothers, Ernest and Harvey Gilbert, in Bridgeport, and came back to Miami five weeks ago.

When Miss Gilbert returned to Miami, and Mr. and Mrs. Trexler were visiting in Pennsylvania. She asked Mrs. E. D. Dusinbury, of 27 N. W. Third street, if she might occupy a room in the Trexler cottage until Mr. and Mrs. Trexler returned from Pennsylvania, saying she knew they would not object. Mrs. Trexler said. Mrs. Dusinbury was in charge of the Trexler dwelling.

When Mr. and Mrs. Trexler came back two weeks ago they found Miss Gilbert occupying one of their rooms, and she continued to reside with them up to the time of her disappearance Wednesday night. Mrs. Trexler said. But Mrs. Trexler did not know, she said, until yesterday morning that Miss Gilbert had not occupied her room Wednesday night.

The tragic incident of Miss Gilbert's disappearance completely upset Mrs. Trexler, she said. She alluded to Miss Gilbert several times as "a very fine women," and when questioned, added that Miss Gilbert never at any time entertained young men in her home and so far as she (Mrs. Trexler) knew, Miss Gilbert no close friends either men or women.

According to Mrs. Trexler, Miss Gilbert was 5 feet, 4 inches in height, weighed 118 or 120 pounds and was of slender, rather than medium build. Her eyes were dark brown and her hair black, she said and her complexion dark.

White a Citizen Several Years.

Edward F. White, who is in jail pending an investigation of the death of Miss Maude Gilbert, is head of the ice cream department of the Southern Utilities company of No. 3. N. W. Sixth street. He has been with this company for about a year and a half.

He is 31 years old and came to Miami from Jacksonville several years ago.

Mr. White lives at 618 S. W. Fourteenth avenue, and although neighbors in that vicinity had not know him for more than two or three months, several of them said yesterday afternoon that he seemed to be very devoted to his family. Neighbors also said that Mrs. White and the children left on Wednesday evening for a visit to relatives in Savannah.