Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-25
THE GILLIAN CASE.
GREAT osscualTy ABOUT THE HoMi-
eide ON TUESDAY.
A Plea Of Accidental Shooting by Paul
hoang--tfis Own statcment-The
Verdict or the Jury.
lc~rc.pcnasnse o, the Ricnmond D,spa.cA.l
PErrRsprRo, Va, Doc. a, 1890

heterogeneous OF the Richmond D'spatcn-l
PErxRsBrRo, Va, Doc. 81, 1890.
DIR. II. @. Leigh. coroner for the city,
held an inquest to-day on view OF tho
body OF Robert Gillian (coloredD, who
was shot and killed on Short Market
street last evening by Mr.. Paul Young.
The inquest was held in the Sherifi's
Office at the Jail, TO which the body OF
Gillian was conveyed after death. Tho
room was flied with spectators and q
large crowd was gathered outside in the
court-h house yard. number Of wit
nesses we're examined, the testimony
of all OF whom was exceedingly IN
definite and non-committal, either in
favor OF the Commonwealth or the &C.
cused. Indeed the only direct evidence
that the shooting was done by Mr..
Young camc from the statement made by
the prisoner 10 the officer TO whom he
surrendered himself, and in his own
evidence given on the stand.
NOTHING ABOUT 1T.
The balf-dozen other witnesses knew
practically nothing about the trouble
between the parties or of tho actual
shooting Several heard the report OF
the pistol but thought il was the explo-
sion OF pop-cracker. Others said that
Gillian had been drinking and advised
him 10 60 home to avoid falling into the
clutches OF the officers. Others still tes-
tilted to having seen Gillian earlier in
the day and TO have been iostled
and cursed by him, but no one
saw the shooting or were cognizant
of the circumstances that brought
il about And yet the tragedy
was enacted within few feet OF Mr..
Edward Williamson's store, at the cor
ner OF High and Short Market streets, at
q point where people are almost con-
stantly passing One witness testified
20 the fact OF seeing Gillian wheel and
fall in the gutter after the report OF the
pistol, but he did not see or know who
fred the shot.
Dr.. James W. Claiborne. who made
the post-m0rtem examination in com
pany with the Coroner. stated that the
ball entered the left temple. passed
squarely across through the brain, and
lodged loosely among the fragments of
the left temporal bone, which 1T shat
tered. The hall was a 32-calibre and
was much hattened and twisted in its
contact with the skull OF the deceased.
SURPRISE.
The general belief by reason OF tho
street reports of the affair was that Mr..
Young had shot Gillian in self-defence,
and this belief was very readily taken
- ,,ha, Tor
oath stated to the jury that the shooting
was altogether accidental /; that he had
no intention whatever OF shooting Gil
liam unless the latter, who had placed
his hand in his h:p-pocket, made some
threatening demonstration against him
that be held the pistol in his left hand
and had not even cooked it
THE PRISONER AND THE DEAD.
Mr.. Paul Young is a popular Young
man. aged twenty-three years, the son
of Mr.. J. +. L. Young, and great deal
of sympathy is expressed for the family.
His mother WAS near relative OF the
wife OF Commonwealth Attorney Mil
Ter, and the latter of course will not con-
duct the prosecution. John j. Cooke,
ESQ.,, will take his place. The case will
not come before the Mayor for examina
ton until the dav after Christmas The
prisoner is very slight of figure, and was
10y no means O match in size and strength
for Gillian. He seems to have used oil
necessary precautions in his conduct
with the negro.
Robert Gillian is from Amelia county,
and appears TO have been very turbulent
and abusive yesterday. His measure
ment to-day developed his height to be
five feet nine inches and his weight 40
pounds.
THR VERDICT.
The jury rendered a verdict OF death
from pistol-ball fired by Paul Young,
whereupon the Coroner committed the
accused for trial, and turned the body
over 70 the friends for burial
PAINFUL ACCIDENT.
Mr.. James Bass, merchant in the
lower part of the city. met with a pain
full accident last evening. While reach
ing to an upper shelf to get some bot
ties his hand came in contact with
broken ticker and he received severqf
cash across the right wrist which ne&iy
severed the tendons. He faintea from
the loss of blood before the f6w could
he stopped. ~
THE roRcs1IL1.
In private lettep received here to-
day from Senator John w. Daniel the
writer says tbs Democrats are not with
out good hope that they will be able to
defeat the infamous elections bill now
pending in the United States Senate.
CHRISTMAS CHEER.
Postmaster Boiling to-day presented
each one OF the employees OF his office,
including the letter-carriers. with q fine
turkey for their Christmas dinner.
Captain George w. Eanes, the city
sergeant, has prepared fine dinner for
the inmates of the Jail on Christmas
day, and they will dine on the best the
market affords-turkey and celery. roast
beef and sauce, baked chickens and con-
diments. ham and cabbage, and other
substantials, to be followed with cakes
of different kinds, pies and fruits, and
every delicacy TO DO found upon pri-
vste table.
All the public buildings. banks, and
railroad depots in the city will be closed
tomorrow in order that the day may be
properly observed by the officers and
employees.
A PHEASANT RUMoB.
1t is reported that family in this city
is heir to large amount of money now
in the Bank OF Suffolk. England, which
is said to reach up into the millions
There are number OF heirs also In
Maryland. Investigation into the mat
ter is being rapidly pushed.
REPORTED LyNCHlNG.
There is rumor here to-day that the
FIVE negroes reported 70 have been en-
gagged in the recent brutal murder and
robbery OF DR.. x. III. Riggan, OF Bruins