The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-11-03
An Alice BOwlsby Horror.
A MAN AND WIFE SENTENCED TO BE
HUNG IN .CAEADA--RENARKABLE
CASE OF oIRCUMsTANTIAL Ey-
IDENCE-- THE CRIME, -
THE TRIAL, - AND
THE SENTENCE.

throughout the Dominion, by the ar
rest early in August last of Arthur
and Paul Davis for the murder OF
Jane Vaughan Gilmore by procure
ment of malpractice resulting in
death. Davis previously held out
as medical specialist in Rochester,
Buffalo and other cities, in the Uni
ted States and has in past years sew
eral times escaped well earned pun
ishment for his practices. Some two
years ago he came to Toronto where
he has been allowed to advertise him
self in a manner usual to special
lists of his class. 3t6 Gt{
On the 61st of July a pine box,
containing the nude body of young
woman, was found in a secluded spot
on the outskirts ef the city. 1t was
identified as the daughter of Rev,
Mr.. Gilmore, a Baptist minister, Ia
boring at present in Mnskago, she
having come to tins city a short time
before to reside with some friends
here. By a long and singularly com
plete chain of ,circumstantial evil
dence her death has been laid, BY
the hands Of the law, at the door OF
Davis and.his wife, who yesterday
were sentenced to be hung on the sth
of December next.
The trial has been going on all the
week, and has been watched by the
public With most intense interest, as
the escape of SPARTAN and Graves
from the gallows on a similar charge
!, at BlackvAle, some months ago by
Accumulation to the Penitentiary for
kiife, had aroused a feeling of pretty
general indignation against those
found guilty ofpracticiug the ietest
able cfi,ne. The Courtroom has
therefore, been paekel to its utmost
capacity during the whole trial.
The prisoners were defended by the
abest aiss prsus lawyers in Canada,
Mr.. NJ. G. Cameron, and the case for
the Crown was conducted by Kennedy
Mckenzie @ C., not much inferior
in ability zl4
The evidence showed the deceased
had been seen in Davis house short
ly before the finding of the body
that the prisoners gave orders for
making the box in which it was
found, it being identified by the ma
ker; that on the night previous to
the finding of the body, Mrs. Davis
and an unknown party were seen at
various points between Davis house
and where the body was found and
after#ard was observed driving a wa
gon with such box in it; that few
days before this, loud but partially
stifled screams were heard to proceed
from Davis house. When the body
was found it was considerably de
composed, though it was identified
by friends of Miss Gilmonr.
The medical testimony was, as u.s.
ual, somewhat contradictory, bnt, in
general, it tended to show that me-
chanical appliances had been the
cause of death. 1t would appear
that the intention of the parties had
been tosbury the body in the sand
pits near where it was found, but
having been frightened by man
discharging pistol on his way home
he having just purchased it and
wished to test it-they had to leave
their work unfinished. Another cir
cumstance which, being added to
others, apparently trifing, but form
ing links in a continuous chain,
brought the crime home to the gull
ty parties was that nothing was
placed with the corpse in the box,
but some broken straw and some ex-
actly the same was found scattered
around on the floor and in an open
mattress in the room Of the priso-
ners, they not having had time to
remove those and other evidences of
guilt before arrest. Articles of wear
ing apparel and jewelry belonging to
deceased were also found, apparently
secreted in hurry, not far from Da-
Wis house. These and very many
other such condolences came out
during the trial, making it altogeth-
er one of the most remarkable cases
of circumstantial evidence in the an
nails of Canadian crime. SCI
The jury retired last night at five
o'clock, and in one hour and quar-
ter returned with verdict of guilty
against both prisoners. Justice
Morrison in pronouncing sentence
upon them, held out no hope of re-