Marie Louise Gato was the 19-year-old daughter of Jacksonville cigar factory owner Gabriel Hidalgo Gato.
At the time of her death Jacksonville was home to 15 cigar manufacturing companies, her father’s company, Modelo Cigar Manufacturing, was the largest.
She was shot five times as she was entering her father’s home near Laura and 11th Streets, in the Springfield area on April 20, 1897. Her father had arrived home via carriage and was at the back gate when he heard a disturbance.
He rushed inside to find his daughter on the floor, bleeding out from multiple gunshot wounds.
She died hours later but not before making a deathbed declaration that her friend, Eddie Pitzer, had killed her.
She described him as a friend. He considered himself to be her fiancé, but had recently discovered there were two other men who also considered themselves to be her fiancé.
That left some to speculate that the 6th bullet had been meant for himself, but her father arrived before he could follow through and he ran away.
Others believe the 6th bullet was intended to go where the other five had, as he was too arrogant to commit suicide.
Besides the deathbed declaration of his guilt there were several eyewitnesses who saw him at or near the scene of the crime, including G.W. Wetmore, who saw Pitzer walking with Marie and stated that Pitzer took Marie’s hand and tried to kiss her, but she wouldn’t let him. That, along with her father’s wealth and connections made it seem to be an airtight case against Pitzer.
However, Pitzer also came from a wealthy family, and he was white. The Gatos were white, but being Cuban, not really white. An alibi was produced for Pitzer. He couldn’t be the murderer as he was with another woman at the time of the crime.
And other witnesses were found. John Bigger claimed he’d heard the gunshots and saw a large negro running away. Bigger’s father, Lycurgis, also claimed to have seen a mysterious negro following Marie on her way home.
A Jacksonville Police Detective wasn’t convinced by the new evidence. He continued with his investigation into Marie’s murder until he was attacked and killed a week later, just over a mile away from the original crime scene.
His case notes were never found, and any other discoveries he had made died with him. Even his name has been forgotten to time. Whether that was due to intent, or just poor record keeping, we may never know.
Pitzer was eventually arrested and his trial was one of the most sensational in Florida history. Had television been around then it would have been the first reality show.
Pitzer had attracted a large following of female admirers that would have made Ted Bundy envious.
His jail cell was filled daily with flowers, chocolates, an assortment of food and drink, as well as notes and letters from his many female admirers.
His trial was standing room only. Pitzer, professing to be a gentleman, gave up his seat for a lady and all the ladies swooned more than they had been swooning before.
The gesture was repeated several times with the bailiff bringing the defendant a new chair each time, and the other ladies swooning more than before, until the judge had had enough.
The defendant’s mother fainted. The defendant’s attorney fainted. Multiple female spectators fainted. Marie Louise’s sister, Georgia Gato, fainted.
The defense cast doubt on Marie Louise Gato’s state of mind when she had given her deathbed declaration since she had been shot five times and had been given opium.
Then there was the matter of the mysterious negro.
The defense alleged a duel had been fought for the victim’s hand. Whether that was supposed to make him less guilty or more guilty I do not know.
Gabriel Hidalgo Gato testified that Pitzer often brought Marie candy and if she refused it he would throw a tantrum. Gato also testified that Pitzer had threatened her with both a knife and a pistol before.
Then there was the matter of the mysterious negro.
The trail lasted from May 26 to June 5, 1897. Jury deliberations were 22 hours. When Pitzer was acquitted more women fainted.
Later that day Pitzer left town, heading to Pittsburgh.
He was escorted to the train station by police officers as there were reports that at least two young Cuban revolutionaries were sailing to Jacksonville to kill him.
Marie Louise’s father, Gabriel Hidalgo Gato, died the following year.
Her murder was never solved. She was buried near the back of Old City Cemetery. Days after her burial and on until this very day, visitors to the cemetery claim to hear a young woman weeping, and report seeing a strange light.
The weeping is attributed to Marie Louise Gato, the Cigar Princess. The strange light is the Forgotten Detective. Some say he hears her weeping and is rushing to her, others claim he is still searching for her murderer, then there are those who say he is doing both.
While preparing to conduct their first tour of the Old Jacksonville Cemetery, Port of Jacksonville Pilot Club members discovered the unmarked grave of Ms Gato. Hearing her tragic story, they began a campaign to have her missing headstone replaced.
Portions of this article were originally published in the Riverside Review, October 1988
and on examiner.com, October 2010.