The morning call., 1894-04-13
HER CONFESSION PRODUCED.
She Had Long Borne a Burden
of Shame.
HAD DECEIVED HER HUSBAND.
Memory of Youthful Misconduct Had
Overwhelmed Her With Grief
and RemOrse.

| All that was mysterious about the death
| of Mrs. Nellie Gillespie has been cleared
away. The young bride OF four months
| shot herself because she was no longer
able to bear the burden of an indiscretioD
| committed when she was Is years old.
| The story of her life and death was told To
the Coroner and jury yesterday. 1t left
no doubt as to the young woman's motive
| for killing herself. and fully exonerated
| her wor thIess husband Of all blame.
All who knew anything about the Gill
espies and the young wife's death were
summoned, but the only testimony of value
was given by Gillespie and Mrs. Walker,
his deceased wife's aunt.
The lady was appropriately attired in
black and told her story with many mani
festatiOns of emotion.
81 met the deceased" she said. "in Ne
braska when she was a young girl, and
when she married she and her husband
came to see me in this city. They were
married in last December.
"The Gillespies quarreled frequently,
and whenever l asked my niece what was
the matter she answered that it was Clark's
jealousy"
Mrs. Walker told the story of the shoot
ing as it has been told in the papers. She
had lett Gillespie and his wife sitting to-
gether in the front room while she went to
prepare supper. A few moments after
leaving them she heard the report OF
pistol, and upon entering the bedroom
found Gillespie supporting his vile. She
asked Mrs Gillespie who had shot her and
was answered II did it myself"
Had they had any trouble?" the Coro-
ner asked.
well, yes. When she was young girl
between 13 and IA years of age she left
home with her cousin. Sherman Kelso. aud
stayed away with him three years.:
"Were her parents living tnen?"
"Yes."
Where had she been ?"
"She was found in Chicago. and when
she came back she said tbat Sherman had
abused her and that she had run away
| from him."
| 1t was this dark spot in her memory that
| caused Mrs. Gillespie to commit suicide.
| Her husbands testimony cOrr0bOrated the
evidence of her aunt.
| He testified: II am a locomotive en-
gineer and have resided in Lincoln. Nebr.
Nellie Gillespie was my wife. She came
tn her death by a pistol shot fired by her.
| self. Twas sitting in the front room and
| heard the shot. | rushed in and she stag
| gered toward me. | caught her in my
| arms ana she threw her arms around my
| neck and laid her on the floor. Her aunt
came in and asked: Who did thisT
| Nellie answered: i did,
my wife and | had lived happily to-
| gether. but she was always worrying about
something that happened before l met her.
| 1t was not in regard TO our marital rela-
ti0ns. Part of it was owing to her being
away with her cousin in Chicago. did
| not know of it at the time of our marriage.
II often found letters left by my wife in
which she stated that she was going TO
| commit suicide. found one month ago;
1 huf thonUhf shQ W finn ~
Have you that letter? ?"
| Gillespie replied in the affirmative, aud
rather reluctantly produced sheet of
| crampled paper on which was written:
| To whom 1t may concern: My husband, c. d.
Gillespie, is in no way at fault for what am
| going to do. 1t Is OF my own free will. cru
| ely deceived him before our marriage, as l
| thought for the best.
| But be that as it may have ruined my own
| happiness. l am writing this while he Is away.
| He is exempt from all blame. / will now watch
| my chance for ending my life. go to meet my
maker, and pray he viii have mercy on me.
| Respect, NELLIE GILLESPIE.
| There was nothing more to tell. The
| Coroner gave the stereotyped charge to
the Jurors, who retired, ana in few mo-
nents returned with verdict that Mrs.
Gllespie's death had been caused by her
| own hand.
Gillespie, who had been held by the
police pending the investigation, has been
| relea sed from custody.