Myths & Mischief

Welcome back to Myths & Mischief! This is your Lovable Lord of Lore, today’s mischievous myth is the third installment of the tale of the death of America’s master of the macabre,

Edgar Allen Poe. 

This is the 3rd part of a short story that gives a possible explanation of famous author Edgar Allen Poe’s demise.  

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Rufus Wilmot Griswold had been a fan of Poe’s writing, but when Poe wrote a poor review of his book of collected poems, their relationship soured. Griswold went on to describe Poe as an addled mind drug addict and drunkard who had a warped sense of reality. (This reputation stuck, with the image of Poe which lingers on and is occasionally celebrated today.)

As the inspectors entered his office, they were well aware of his animosity toward Poe. Griswold greeted them, happy to get the attention. Before they could identify themselves Griswold volunteered “You must be here to find out more about Edgar. I am happy to give you any insights you require.” Thompson eye-balled the man who gave off a vibe of being overly eager to have his opinions heard.

Wilson asked “How did you know we were here about Poe.”

“I assumed that once you found out that I was named the executor of his literary work and his estate. Isn’t that why you are here?”

“Of course.” replied Thompson, what can you tell us about the events that led to his death?”

“I can tell you that I am not surprised, it was just a matter of time before he lost his grip on reality. With all the drinking and drugs, along with his depraved mind, his suicide was inevitable, it was just a question of how and when. He must have lost his head in a bet with the devil.”

“So you believe it was suicide?”

“I don’t think he put a gun to his head, but his intended actions were leading him down that path.”

Thompson paused as he suspected knowing the answer before asking “So I take it you agree with what was said in his obituary?”

Griswold unaware, fell into Thompson’s trap. “Of course I did, but I suspect that you know that I am the author of that article. I felt it was my duty to celebrate the talent of the man while describing why the world lost further exposure to his talents. While his death was inevitable, it is still a shame that he wasn’t of sound mind, but perhaps that helped his writing.”

Wilson surprised asked “You wrote it?”

“Yes.” He said nodding at Thompson.

“How did you come to be the executor of his estate and literary work?” Thompson asked.

“We respected each other professionally, and his family sent me the request, I couldn’t turn them down in their time of grief.” said Griswold with a solemn face.

“When was the last time you saw Poe?”

It has been months since I have seen him, I didn’t know he was even in town. I couldn’t even tell you if he had planned on visiting me, but given our relationship, I wouldn’t be surprised if he popped in unannounced.”

“Was he in the habit of popping in?”

“Like I said, we had a professional relationship, from time to time he would ask for my opinion of something he was working on, but he never gave word ahead of time.”

“Do you know of anyone that would have wished him harm?”

“With his lifestyle, I am sure he came across all sorts of nefarious characters, but like I said, we had a professional relationship and I avoid those temptations that he gravitated toward. He was a dark and depraved soul. Who knows what he did to upset people? I don’t think with his popularity that anyone would have killed him. No, it must have been self-inflicted.

“What will happen to his estate and his works?”

Griswold responded, “I don’t know, this has all been such a shock.”

Thank you for your time Mr. Griswold, I am assuming you wouldn’t mind us coming back if we had more questions for you.”

“No indeed, but I don’t know what else I have to offer other than what I’ve already told you about that troubled man.

“One more question, who did you vote for?”

“Oh, I regret to say that I didn’t have time to vote, I was working and missed the election all together.”

“Will you be staying in town in case we need to reach you.”

“Yes, I will need to get Mr. Poe’s affairs in order.”

“Right, have you had any contact with the family?”

“I alerted them about his demise and that I will be handling his estate and works.”

“Was that the extent of your contact?”

“Yes, nothing really to speak of.”

“Thanks again for your time, we will stop holding you up on your work. Good day.”

“No problem.”

Wilson nodded to Griswold with a faint smile as he and Thompson headed out the door. “You don’t like him?” Wilson asked as the door shut behind them. “No, but I don’t know if I like him for murder either. There seems to be more going on. If he was beaten to death, the reputation that Griswold has established doesn’t factor into it. On the other hand, why would he be in charge of Poe’s estate?” Wilson shrugged “Why did you ask him who he voted for?”

“I wanted to see if he would make a connection to himself and cooping, he dismissed it, but it was unclear if that is factual. Let’s go back to the office and we’ll visit the hospital to see if anything else was found.”

When they got back to the office, they found a man waiting for them.

“Hello, my name is Thomas Mayne Reid. I heard about poor Edgar and wanted to know what happened to him.”

“What is your relationship with Mr. Poe, and what have you heard?”

“Edgar and I go way back, we were friends for years. A far as what I’ve heard, just rumors of his death here in Baltimore. I was passing through when I heard his name from a passer-by. I stopped them and asked what they had heard of him. They told me that he had drank himself to death, but that can’t be right.”

“Why not?”

“Look, I’m not saying that Edgar was a saint, but I can’t see him drinking himself to death. I know what people say about him, but in our younger days we would engage in wild frolics, but Edgar never went beyond the innocent mirth in which we all indulge.”

“Are you saying he wasn’t a heavy drinker?” responded Thompson.

“Heavy, no, while he may have had the habitual drink, he would also be intoxicated with as little as a glass of wine.”

We have two accounts from people that have described him as a self-destructive heavy drinker and that was the cause of his death. What are your thoughts?”

“I think you can conclude that those people either didn’t know him, or they stand to gain something by slandering him.”

“What brings you to Baltimore?” asked Thompson.

“As I said, I was just passing through. I was down South visiting some friends in New Orleans before making my way north.”

“What is up North?”

“My ship to England, I am moving there to pursue my own writing career there. Edgar inspired me to attempt to live by my pen. I may not have the talent that he did, but he proved it is possible.”

You say you knew Mr. Poe well, what can you tell us of his attire?”

Edgar was always well-dressed. He didn’t want to embarrass the Allen family that had taken him in. He never went out without his tailored suits.”

“Is there anything else that you can tell us that may help us understand what happened to him?”

“I haven’t heard from him recently, but it is my understanding that he has rebounded after the death of his wife and was engaging socially once again.”

“Anything else?”

“I can tell you that being a writer is a difficult occupation, few people can make a living at it. Perhaps other writers were jealous that he has been able to live by his pen alone.”

“Are you jealous?”

“I would say envious is a better description. I was envious not only that he could support himself, but he was a wonderfully talented and gifted writer. He was also a very sensitive person who had suffered a lot, I am not envious of that.”

“What do you mean he suffered?”

“Everyone that was important to him seem to die. His parents, girlfriends, wives, siblings, he had suffered horrible losses. You could feel that pain in his works, but there was also a wonderful, grotesque beauty to his stories.”

“I see, and all that loss didn’t drive him to the bottle?”

“I’m not saying that he soberly coped with all that loss, I understand he was in a bad way after his wife died.”

“Is there anything else you can add?”

“No, but I have a question, since it wasn’t alcohol, do you have any idea what happened to him?”

“We are exploring different scenarios, but we still have a lot to learn, we can’t really speak about an ongoing investigation.”

“I understand, I am sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance, but I must be on my way. I felt it was a moral imperative to dispute the erroneous claims that are filling the gossip mills.”

“Thank you, I am sure the news will travel if people are brought to trial, sorry we cannot offer more than that.”

“Best of luck.”

As Reid left, the inspectors ducked inside. They were handed another note. This one stated that Poe’s aunt had arrived in Baltimore and should be at their office at any moment.

“Why would Griswold lie about Poe, and why would Poe make him the executor of his estate, it seemed like he was out to smear Poe?” Thompson asked rhetorically.

Wilson answered anyway. “Snodgrass fits that bill as well, we will have to question both of them again, but those could be dead ends.”

As they were discussing motives, Thompson received a letter from Poe’s supposed fiancé, claiming that she was not planning on matriculating to Baltimore and would be remaining in Philadelphia.

Maria Clemm, Poe’s aunt entered the office before they could react to the letter.

To Thompson, she came across as a poignant person who spoke her mind and didn’t have time for tomfoolery. Her attire suggested that she came from money, and was unlikely to spend her wealth frivolously.

“Ms. Clemm, I am sorry for your loss, please have a seat, is there anything I can get you?”

“No, thank you. I am sure you have questions for me, and I have some for you so I think we should get right to it.”

“I understand you have traveled a great distance in haste. Unfortunately we are still investigating, so I don’t know if we can answer any questions right now, but we are going to get to the bottom of this.”

“So you don’t know what happened to Edgar?”

“We’re working on it. Can you tell me about how Edgar was doing the last you saw him and when that was?”

He did have a cholera attack when he was in Richmond, he most likely contracted it during the outbreak in Philadelphia. Since his recovery he went on to give lectures and he took an editor job. We had talked about him proposing marriage which meant another trip to Philadelphia, but I hadn’t heard from him since, so I don’t know how that went, or if it happened at all?”

“There have been rumors about drug and alcohol problems, can you shed some light on that?”

“After his wife died, there was a time when he was struggling, he nearly died from an overdose of laudanum, but I don’t believe he was suicidal, I think he miscalculated how much to take.”

“Did you share that with Dr. Moran after being notified of Edgar’s passing?”

“The first I heard of Edgar was from your letter, I haven’t received word from a Dr. Moran, I was contacted by a man named Griswold, who spoke a lot of legalese and had me sign some documents so that the health records could be released.”

“Was that Rufus Griswold?”

“That sounds right.”

“Interesting, I want to clarify something, other than the time after his wife passed he had no drug or alcohol issues?”

“That is correct, after his wife, my daughter, passed 7 years ago, he had a tough time coping and turned to the bottle. That seems like it just happened, but he even joined the Sons of Temperance and supported the abolition of alcohol. His views changed when his brother died from complications related to alcohol consumption16 years ago.”

“And you are sure he was well before traveling?”

“Yes, I spoke with him before he left for the lecture circuit.”

“Edgar’s last actions that you were aware of was to take an editor’s job and pursue marriage, was his job or the woman he was wooing in Baltimore?” asked Thompson.

“No, I don’t know what he was doing here. I would suspect that he was visiting friends, he did live here for a stretch.”

“Do you know of his whereabouts from the end of September into the beginning of October?”

“I couldn’t say, that wasn’t in his last letter, but that just mentioned his intent to marry and his new job. If he was traveling, he always had his trunk with him. I would appreciate it if you could return it to me once it turns up.”

“Can you think of any reason that his would be fiancé declined to come to Baltimore to speak with us?”

“I’m surprised by that, that wasn’t how Edgar had described their relationship, I assumed she would be showing up any moment, or at least for the funeral. Am I to understand that Mr. Griswold will be handling the funeral arrangements?”

“I would assume so, and thank you for your time, we will follow up with this information and give it to the doctor, he may have come up with some answers, and if not, your information may help him in that endeavor.”

“I will be in town until after the funeral, as an inspector I am sure you will be able to locate me if needed. I came here right away and have not had an opportunity to secure accommodations.”

“Of course, and again we are sorry for your loss.”

As Ms. Clemm exited, Wilson turned to Thompson, “I thought the doctor had contacted her.”

“Yes, we will need to follow up on that as well as how Griswold was given Poe’s estate.”

As Thompson and Wilson arrived back at the hospital, they didn’t know what to expect. Neither one of them had suspected Dr. Moran of lying, and it was unclear what his motivation would be.

“Dr. Moran, good to see you again.” Thompson said as Wilson stood behind him with a furrowed brow.

“We are following up on our investigation, have you made any new discoveries regarding Mr. Poe?”

“None come to mind, what have you found that might lead to a cause of death.”

“We talked to his aunt, she couldn’t recall who you were, apparently she never received your notice of his passing.”

Dr. Moran waited for a question about the note he had meant to send, but had forgotten, but it never came.

“His aunt said that he had joined the Sons of Temperance and was not drinking anymore. She also claimed that he had had a bout of Cholera but that had cleared up. Can you tell us about conversations that you had with Poe, other than symptoms, we are also looking for information to pass along to his family.

“I had a number of conversations with Mr. Poe, many of them were one-sided as I was trying to provide him some comfort.”

“Do you remember anything that he had said?” asked Thompson.

“I agree with his aunt, it most likely was not alcohol related, he had not the slightest odor of liquor upon his breath or person.”

“Did he say anything else about Reynolds?” Thompson followed up.

“Reynolds, I don’t recall that, he mentioned a Misses Herring several times but he was delusional at that time.”

“Who was he referring to when he said her name?”

“It was unclear, Mr. Poe had an uncle-in-law in Baltimore named Henry Herring, but the way he was calling out, he might have meant his late wife, Virginia Clemm Poe, or he may have meant Sarah Elmira Royster, to whom he recently proposed from what I gather.”

“Did he have any last words?”

Yes, I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget. He said “The arched heavens encompass me, and God has his decree legibly written upon the frontlets of every created human being, and demons incarnate, their goal will be the seething waves of blank despair.” Then he went on to say his final words, “Lord, help my poor soul.”

Wilson’s standoffish demeanor changed, he had seen Dr. Moran in a new light and realized that changes in his claims only came after Robert had mentioned passing on information to his family. He was following the convention of trying to console mourners, even though he believed anyone that was familiar with Poe’s writings would not believe that these were his words.

Thompson kept firing questions. “We found an eyewitness that Poe had been beaten and left in the street, could that have been his cause of death?”

It’s possible, but unless he had sustained significant brain damage which I did not observe, it wouldn’t explain his condition as he was being treated.”

“Considering it took him days in the hospital before passing, was there any way to indicate if his injuries were on election day, or perhaps if he had older injuries?”

I don’t think I would have been able to tell the difference, I wasn’t focused on a physical assault considering his delusional state.”

“So if it wasn’t substance abuse, or a physical beating, what else would make sense of such a state of delirium?”

“Rabies would explain the delusions, but I don’t recall seeing any bite marks. He may have been bitten some time ago, and has been growing sicker since. That may also explain why he thought it was cholera, but usually people with rabies don’t want water, and that was one of the only things that Mr. Poe repeatedly requested.”

“Is there any way to test for rabies?”

“I know he was rumored to have pets, I would check his home and see if those rumors are valid.”

“How would we be able to tell if the animals are rabid?”

“They would be behaving in an odd manner, or foaming at the mouth.”

“How can you tell if animal has an odd manner?”

“It may be overly aggressive, or uncoordinated.”

“It looks like we are going to Virginia, Doctor, we will report anything we find. Please examine Mr. Poe again and see if you can detect any new information before he is put in the ground.”

Before they left for Virginia, Thompson and Wilson stopped by their office to get what they needed for the trip. A letter had come for them from a man named Thomas Dunn. He was asking for a meeting when they got to Richmond and it included the address of the inn where he would be staying.

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That’s it for this week’s installment, this is your Lord of the Lore signing off.  

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