The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-10-10
CURRY COUNTY MURDER.
Accused Makes a Voluntary Statement
Of His Case
To the District Attorney Of Douglas
county--claims to Have Been in Gold
Beach at the Time Mrs. Edison Was
Murdered and House Burned.

DcaSh 81 AHN 4 lllc HIS. Eulbou was
Murdered and House Burned.
RosEBuaG, Oct. l0-lSpecia'--S. G..
Gillespie, the accused murderer Of Mrs.
Edison in Curry county. after being ar
rested at Cottage Grove and brought to
Roscburg, made voluntary statement
TO District Attorney Brown as to his
whereabouts at the time the crime was
committed. The statement was made
Oct. /, under interrogation, aud the sub.
stance is as follows:
got the pension check from X. II.
johnson. between Iumalts and Don.
malt. II was the same one sold to
MIR. White near Myrtle Creek. had
tS2 and gave johnson S75 for the check.
johnson had heavy mustache and thick
sandy hair, wore Overalls and heavy
blue colored beaver coat. Overlook him
on the road and bought the check ~ IL
would be easier to carry than the money.
This was on Wednesday, Sept 20. Met
you on Thursday, about ten miles this
side Of Myrtle Point Mr.. Sherwood
can testify that had considerable
money Wednesday morning when left
Iumalts Stayed at Myrtle Point
Wednesday night and Thursday night
at Fetters; camped out with Cary's
there. Stayed at j. $. Capps nc Den.
mark, Tuesday night, at FFum's barn
Monday night at home Sunday and
Saturday nights, and Iumalts, six
miles this side Of Port Oxford, Friday
but went home that night.
L.. q 4
Sept. 2l he met Dist. Atty. Brown near
Myrtle Point. Identified the check he
sold to White. Again retraced the
dates and places he stopped enroute, the
same as above. Rode home from Iu
mats 10 Gold Beach Friday night Sept.
10. Came with Mr.. Cary to Iumats,
then went back In the night. Got there
about y o'clock Saturday morning. Was
Bagnell's ferry. Left Gold Beach 10 re-
join Mr.. Cary about 2.30 or o'clock p.
m. Monday. Rode tO Frum's barn.
Got breakfast anc fed horse at Louis
knapp's Tuesday morning. Saw JAS.
Averill, Mr. Wrenn, Bill Nodberg, Frank
Jones and others in Gold Beach the day
before. Talked with them and bid them
good bye at the saloon Just before he
brown horse with him his mare was at
Iumat's. Saw Jesse Turner, Chas.
Wilson, Asa Turner, Pet Fry and some
strangers who we're looking after cattle,
the day he lcftGold Beach.
Home IL with his mother and sister,
Mrs Marsters, at Gold Beach. Live in
what was the Masonic hall, near the
court house. Slept most OF the DAY sat
urday and was around the saloon "A good
deal on Sunday, both forenoon aud ai-
tornoon. Was there about an hour on
Monday forenoon. Names two or three
other parties lac saw there Monday.
Gathered up some things and fooled
around until about 3 o'clock, when he
left town. Met johnson about o or 10
O'Clock n. m. on the Dairyville road,
about half way between Zumalt's and
Denmark, in timbercd Hat between
the Skies river and McNlullen's.
Signed ~ a voluntary statement.
CoALMAN GILLESPIE.
The officers, upon investigation, have
found most Of his statement to be un-
true. That Gillespie was not in Gold
Beach at all at the times stated, Ia the
knowledge Of the parties he claimed to
have seen and conversed with there. In
fact his whereabouts at all times from
his leaving Zumwalts Friday night,
Sept 10, until he appeared at Louis
knapp's on Wednesday morning, Sept
20, has not been completely traced.
The pension check issued to Mrs Ed
son is also very strong priece OF evi. |
lence. Il is dated at SAN Francisco on
Sept. 10, and could only have reached
Mrs. Edison through the mails ON Tues
lay. That night the crime was COM
nitted, and next morning Gillespie ap-
scared at Louis Knapp's, and thence his
are definitely known,
II is believed that after leaving Zu-
nalrs lac proceeded 10 the neighbor-
iood Of his intended victim, and awaited
/ favorable opportunity Tor commission
II the deed. lie has since virtually adj
nitted to the officers that he committed
he crime. lie was examined, bound
'ycr and is now in Jail at Coquille City