The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-06
WILLIAM |. GILL DEAD
The Interesting Character Elk
pires at the City Jail.
ONCE A PROMINENT MAN
Different Stories of His Past Are Told,
None of Which Can Be Verified.
Said to Have Been Mayor
of Houston, Texas.

William /. Gill, a character of more
| or less interest, who has been about
/ the city for the past two or three years.
/ died yesterday afternoon at the city
/ Jail, presumably from Bright's disease
/ or some other chronic kidney trouble.
/ On Saturday night Gill was sitting in
! one of the saloons of lower Main street
| when a number of the frequenters of
! the place noticed that he was becoming
! very sick A hack was called to take
him to the city jail where. it was
| thought, a nights sleep would put him
| in good shape again. Gill was put to
bed in one of the cells. Yesterday morn
| ing at about o'clock w. T. Augustine,
| the night engineer at the city hall.
spoke to him and asked him how he
was feeling. Gill replied that he was
| all right He again fell asleep and no
| further attention was paid to him until
| at about 1870 o'clock, when officer
Mayhem noticed that he was breathing
| rather hard. but as many men in a
drunken sleep breathe hard no particu-
| lar notice was taken of the fact.
At about o'clock Officer Stevens en-
tered GIFTS cell and upon examining the
man he found him dead. Acting Coro-
ner Donoghue was notified, and after
viewing the body ordered it removed to
now lies.
Gill was an example of the curse of
the immoderate use of alcohlic stimu-
lants. While nothing certain is known
of his past history. it is a generally ac-
cepted report about town that Gill was
at one time a very wealthy man ana
that he has occupied high positions in
railroad and political circles through
out the entire West. OF late years, how
ever he has permitted liquor 10 set the
upper hand of him and his sad death
is but another addition to the long list
Of those bright men who fall victims to
the drinking habit.
From persons more or less intimate
with him. it was learned that Gill had
often told of his past, but from none of
these could be obtained a story that
was in any degree connected. Tt APP
pears from what is known here, that
Gill was born in New York about 30
years ago. He received an excellent
education at the famous Trinity uni
versity of Dublin, Ireland, and also
studied in France. He had Travelled eX-
tensively in Europe and was well posted
on all subjects concerning the politics
of the old world. After finishing his
education. it is understood, Gill re-
turned to the United States, and after
some years spent in New York and
other Eastern cities he came West
1t is reported that he was at one
time mayor of Houston. Texas. An
other report is that he was once the
editor of the Houston Post the largest
newspaper of Texas. one man said that
Gill had once been lieutenant governor
of the Lone Star state man who
claims TO have known him for many
years says that Gill was the first presi-
dent of the Denver & Rio Grande rail-
road Prior to the A. Il. Il. strike, il is
said that Gill held a responsible posi-
ton with the Northern Pacific at Spo-
kane. lie is also alleged to have been
connected with the Portland Oregonian
for some years
The stories are mere heafsay and are
fact remains, however that Gill was
possessed of an excellent education;
that he was an interesting converse
tionalist, and that he was always well
posted on the topics of the day. He
was one of the finest penmen that ever
touched pen, some samples of his work
being specimens of perfect penmanship
Some semblance of truth is given 10
Gill's pretensions to past prominence
by the fact that he was on familiar
terms with a great many men who
stand high in local and national affairs
He was a very warm friend of ex-Gon-
gresham John +. Finerty. who visited
this city some years age. 1t is said that
Gill Is connected with one Of the most
prominent families Of Ireland and that
he was nephew of Peter GIL. mem,
Der of the English parliament nom
ireland. He Is also understood to have |
brother who conducts newspaper at
Chicago for Irish Americans. A great