The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-08
BUT FOUR MONTHS MARRIED.
Her Husband Supposed to Have
Killed Her.
SAYS SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE.
They Had Quarreled and He Was
Jealous and Despondent-ATe Tell
tale Letter to His Friend.

shop live together, an awful tragedy oc-
Cured early Yesterday evening. The floor
OF al humble fiat is stained with the blood
of young and handsome woman who
was killed by her husband, or who in
moment of frenzy killed herself.
The fat is numbered 1851 Clara street,
and is rented by a Mrs. Walker. Two
weeks ago she received information that
her niece. Mrs. Nellie Gillespie. was COM
ing with her husband from Nebraska.
He was out of employment, and hoped to
improve his condition in California. She
had never seen her niece nor the man she
married in Nebraska on last Christmas
eve, but she prepared a home for them,
and they arrived one week ago.
Mrs. Gillespie was a comely woman of
about 10 years of age, well formed and
bearing upon her shapely head a wreath of
raven tres ses. Her husband was a good
looking mechanic apparently about ten
years her senior. Mrs. Gillespie had a
sister here, Mrs. Waters of 33 South
Park. and the young couple In the Clara
street fiat visited and received visits from
them freQently.
1t soon became manifest to friends of the
had been it had not all been sunshine.
They had quarreled and the man had been
Jealous and did not like to have other men
speak TO his young and pretty wife. but
their quarrels had never been violent and
their greatest trouble was apparently
caused by his failure to obtain employ
ment.
Gillespie was a locomotive engineer, sbut
had been out of employment since his
marriage. He could find nothing to do in
this State, and finally made up his mind to
go to Seattle, where his wife's parents
reside. and seek for employment there.
He intended to sail tomorrow morning,
and late yesterday afternoon began TO
pack up his clothes. His wife assisted
him, and when they had finished that task
he went out to corner grocery and bought
a can of beer, which was drunk by his
wife, himself and Mrs. Walker.
The fiat which they occupied contains
three rooms en- suite. Gillespie and his
wife after drinking the beer sat in the
front room. while Mrs. Walker retired to
the kitchen to prepare the evening meal.
She was busy among the pots and pans,
when she heard the report of pistol in
the bedroom, which was between the
kitchen and the room in which she left the
Gillespies sitting together and apparently
the best OF friends.
She rushed into the apartment and found
Gillespie bending over his wife. who lay
upon the floor. A stream of blood was
pouring from wound in Mrs. Gillespe's
breast. and a revolver lay on the floor by
her side. There was blood on the sleeve
of Gillespie's shirt. He was very pale and
intensely agltated. A few words passed
between Mrs. Gillespie and her aunt, then
the young woman expired and the Coroner
was summoned.
Officer Tryon of the Southern police
station heard the report of the pistol and
hurried into the house. Gillespie was
sobbing and pacing the floor by the side of
his dead wife.
He told the policeman that his "poor
the bedroom" he said. land when heard
the shot ran in to her,"
Mrs. Walker thought that something
was wrong, and her suspicious were i'm
parted to the policeman. The kitchen
door was nearer the bedroom than was
the front room, and she could not under
stand how Gillespse, ii he came from the
front room, could have protected her. 1t
was decided to take Gillespie into custody.
When Deputy Coroner Goger came with
the Morgue wagon for the body Gillespie
was calmer, but continued soDbiEg
Had you any trouble with your wife?"
be was asked.
Not recently. 1t was some time ago,
and did not amount to much"
when can | see my dear little girl
again ?" he asked, looking down into the
face of the bleeding form in the receiver.
you can see her tomorrow at the
was the reply.
This is all l know about the matter"
he said. my aunt was in the kitchen
supper, and my wife and were
in the front room. She was kneeling on
the floor and was reading by the window.
She arose suddenly and went into the bed
room. heard the report of pistol and
fall and ran in. My wife was on the floor
aud / raised her up and caressed her.
That is how got the blood on my shirt.
My wife did not tell me why she shot her
SELF"
On the way to the police station Giles
pie said to the officer who had him In
charge:
when Mrs. Walker came into the room
she asked Nellie who shot her, and Nellie
re piled that shot her.
"Where did she get the pistol? / had
pistol in the front room and she must have
found il and taken it into the bedroom"
Gillespie was hurried from the Southern
police station 10 the City Prison where he
was locked up in the tanks.
When Officer Tyron came into the house
handed him letter addressed to
Mr.. John Gillespie. Walnut. Kans. The
first part of it was in the handwriting of
the deceased and was as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO. April 6, '94
Dear Father. Mother and Family: have
been waiting for Clark to write, but can never
get him started. so thought would write while
he was downtown and he could write when he
came home. We had long, iiresome journey
coming out here. We are staying with my aunt
at present, aud we visited few days with my
sister; they live here. l don't like san Fran
cisco. don't think we will stay here long
My sister has the cutest baby. We saw some
grand scenery coming out here. We went out
10 the Cliff House. twas sgrand sight. We