The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-03-21
SHOTBY A BURGLAR
An Illinois Ex-State Senator
Probably Murdered.
AWFUL TRAGEDY AT UPPER ALTON,

Ex-senator GiIIhnn, Attacked by Bur-
giar While in He'd, Makes n Desperate
Struggle for His Life and Gets Pistol
hall Through His Body Near the Heart
The Murderous Thief Escapes, Pur-
sued by Posse--A Report That He Is
CorraIed.
UPPER ALTON, Ills,. March l9-Ex-Sen-
ator Gillham grappled with a burglar at an
early hour yesterday morning and was NOR
tally wounded after terrific struggle.
Armed men were securing the woods far
and near all day, and hopes are yet enter
tanned that the murderer will be captured.
Mr.. Gillham, who is easily awakened, was
aroused just before daylight by sound like
the creaking of a door in the rooms below.
He lay still for few minutes, and then i'm
agning that he heard the same noise less
plainly, os though an intruder VINE moving
about in one of the back rooms, he threw a
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 as his feet seemed to
DO almost frozen he retired, laughing at
the alarm occasioned, as he then supposed,
by the distant rumbling of some passing We
hice.
Attacked in His Bed.
Hard y had he touched his bed, however,
when he heard sound which proved beyond
question that an intruder was moving about
in the rooms below. 1t was the swinging of
the dning.room door. The sound echoed
harshly through the house and was followed
by football IN the parlor, and a moment
later the robber entered Mr.. Gillham's
chamber. and thinking the latter asleep pro-
ceeied TO ransack the bureau drawers. He
suddenly turned buls-eye lantern on Mr..
Gillhan, found him awake and made a rush
for the bed when Mr.. Gillian, though an
old man, jumped out and seized the robber.
Desperate but Fatal Struggle.
A desperate ST. uggle followed, during
which Gillham discovered that the burglar
was negro and that he had a revolver in
his hand. They staggered around the room
for few moments. and then the negro
shook off his victim and, jumping back,
thrust out his revolver and fired twice The
first bullet went over Mr. Gillham's shoulder
and struck the 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
Gillham's body and darted out Of the house
he was seen by several members of the fam
lily. Mr.. Gillian 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 rapidly, and created the
greatest excitement Mr.. Gillian has re-
sided here for many years, and has been
highly honored 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 to 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 to 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 be taken. Several of the
party have returned and believe the muir
derer is hemmed in so closely that he will be
captured.
Shot Near the Heart.
Mr.. Gillham's wound is very serious. The
ball tore ugly passage through his left
breast in the region of the heart, and the
physicians, several of whom held a consulta-
ton last night, have declared that to probe
for it now would be fatal. Mr.. Gillian has
a wonderful constitution, however, and it 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
$2S. Mr.. Gillian is one of most prominent
men in the community-probably the fore
most citizen of the county. He is "a years
old.