The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-07
THE son ExoNERATEs MURPHY.
Edward Galliyan Attaches No Blame
10 Hini-The Father Insane.


Edward Gallivan, aged twerty-one, a son
of the dead man, and who is employed as
cashier in the Commercial Club restaurant
called at the Journal office last night and
made a statement in regard to the shoot
ing. CAS- near as I can learn" he said,
"there seems to have been no cause for
this affair except the insanity OF my father.
He has had such spells before, but never
showed any inclination, more than a ram
bling talk, to injure any one. About three
months ago he had such a spell, and /
wanted him to be examined and treated by
a physician. I talked to him about it, but
the talk seemed only to irritate him. and
said no more, for did not think Of the pos
sibility OF him killing or injuring any one.
His brother also talked TO him, but with
no better success. He seemed TO recover
from his SPELL and for long time he did
nothing unusual, and we thought he would
be afflicted no more.
$50 far as i can learn the story or the
shooting / cannot attach the slightest
blame to Mr. Murphy. 1t is hard, though.
TO lose ones father in that way. My
mother and father had eaten dinner TO-
gether and then mother went to the back
yard TO finish hanging out her washing:
She left father reading paper. There had
been nothing unusual IN ms actions 10 o,,, at
surprised to hear pistol shot Immediately
after he stepped out of the back door. She
turner.
baby and then ran TO the home of neigh
bor She met the smaller children at the
gate as they were returning from school
and took them with her. She DID not know.
hut thought the first shot was merely fired
at random. and that then, as father caught
sight OF Mr.. Paugh. he conceived the in
sane idea of shooting him and did so.
Mother did not stop TO see what else was
done. and knows nothing about the subse-
quent shooting.
.s'The report OF previous trouble between
my father and Mr.. Murphy. think. is en-
tirely without foundation. The families
rel between Mr.. Murphy and my father.
Such thing might have happened. but the
family relations have been pleasant. j
think my father did not begin this matter
but simply because he was insane and did
not know what he was doing. Ii is a very
unfortunate affair and one that could hard
ly be foreseen and avoided. / wish to en-
seem 10 say ii about the man who killed my
father. I cannot consistently blame him
for what he has done. He merely acted in
self-defense against an insane man.
Mrs Gallivan says: 81 was in the back
yard hanging out a shirt I had washed
when my husband rushed past me and fired
ran to Mrs. Schrader's house, where ]
stayed until the trouble was all over.
did not see any one shot. and did not know
any one was hit until somebody came and
said nav husband was dead. / have never
seen anything IN his appearance or conduct
that would make me think he was insane.
He has been sick For several months and
unable to work. He has never been under
doctors care. but has bought considerable
medicine for his nerves. Last summer he
bought five dollars worth OF patent medi-
cine at one time. wanted him 10 go to a
doctor. but he would not do IT. He and /
ate our dinner to-day with my little SON
NY other children were away from home
My husband seemed cheerful. and ! didn't