Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-19
SHOTBY A BURGLAR
An Illinois Ex-State Senator
Probably Murdered.
AWFUL TRAGEDY AT UPPER ALTON,

Ex-senator GiiIhan, Attacked by a Bur-
gisr While In Bed, Makes Desperate
struggle for His Life and Gets Pistol
Ball Through His Body Near the Heart
The Nnrd-rous Thief Escapes. Pur-
sued by a fosse--A Report That He IL
CorraIed.
UPPE. ALTos, Ills, March i9-Ex Sen
ator Gillian grappled with burglar at an
early hour yesterday morning and was NOR
tally wounded after terrific struggle.
Armed men were securing this woods far
and near all day. and hopes are yet enter
tanned that the murderer viii be captured.
Nr. Gilman, who Is easily awakened, was
aroused just before daylight by a sound like
the creaking Of door in the rooms below.
He lay stili for few minutes, and then i'm
agining that he heard the same noise less
plainly. as though an intruder were moving
about ia one Of the back rooms, he threw
quilt around himself, advanced to the head
Of the stairway and listened again. Here he
remained fully ten minutes without hearing
any more noises, and a. his feet seemed to
BE- almost frozen he retired, laughing at
the alarm occssioned, a. be then supposed,
by the distant rumbiing of some passing We
hicle
Attacked ia His Bed.
Hard hal be touched his bed, however,
when he heard sound which proved beyond
question that an intruder was moving about
in the rooms below Ii was the swinging of
the dining-room door The sound echoed
harshly through the house and was followed
by football in the parlor, and moment
, later the rob5er entered Mr. Gillhsm's
chamber. and thinking the latter asleep pro-
ceeded 10 ransack the bureau drawers. He
suddenly turned bulfs-eye lantern on Mr..
Gilman, found him awake and made a rush
for the bed. when Mr.. Gillian, though an
old man, jumped out and seized the robber.
Desperate bat Fatal Struggle.
A desperate struggle followed, during
which Gillian discovered that the burglar
was a neg no and that he had a revolver In
bis hand They staggered around the room
for a few moments. and then the negro
shook of his victim and, jumping back,
thrust out his revolver and fired twice The
first bullet went over Mr.. Gillham's shoulder
and struck tho door. The second bullet
struck the unfortunate man in the breast
Just over the heart, and he fell in front OF
the doorway. The noise of the struggle and
reports Of the pistol aroused every one in the
house, and as the murderer jumped over
Giilham's body and darted out of the house
he was seen by several members of the fam
lily. Mr.. Gilman was found unconscious
and bleeding internally.
The Robber Gets Away.
In the succeeding confusion the robber es-
capped. and though followed, his pursuers lost
sight OF him. News OF the shooting spread
with wonderful Tapidity, and created the
greatest excitement. Mr.. Gillian has re-
sided here for many years, and has been
highly h0nored by his fellow citizens, who
have time and again sent him to represent
them in the legislature. The special police
OF The city, all heavily armed, at once took
up the pursuit, and were joined by the entire
night police force Of Alton, who were or
dered by Mayor McPike 10 remain with the
force from this city until the robber is cap
tured, or hope OF his capture abandoned by
the men from Upper Alton.
Think They Have Him Cornered.
A strange man supposed 20 be the muir
derer, was sighted half an hour later, and
upon being hailed, ran into the woods and
was pursued by the posse He was seen two
hours later by small party and again es-
| capped Word came In late yesterday after
noon that the man was in close quarters and
would probably he taken. Several OF the
party have returned and believe the muir
derer l. hemmed in 50 closely that he viii be
captured
shot Near the Heart.
Mr.. Gilihams wound is very serious. The
ball tore an ugly passage through his left
breast in the region of the heart and the
physicians several OF whom held q consulta-
ton last night. have declared that To probe
for il now would be fatal Mr.. Gillham has
a wonderful constitution, however, and 1t is
said an effort will be made to extract the
bullet. Mrs. Gillian is completely pros
trated 10y the tragedy. She refuses to
leave the bedside of her husband, and there
is fear that the mental and physical strain
may prove too much for her
The wounded man was resting easily at
last reports, but the physicians give no hope
for his recovery. The burglar got about
sos MIR Gillian Is one of most prominent
men In the community-probably the fore
most citizen of the county. He is 81 years
old.