Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-09-28
UNFORTUNATE SHOOTING AFFAIR
In Which D. B. Gillespie Killed William
White.

A very unfortunate difficulty occurred
at SpringvilIe in this county on last Thurs
day evening, the parties being William
White and D. B. Gillespie. They both
lived on the same farm, which belongs to
Mr.. Geo. w. Gillespie, White being a
tenant 1t seems that White had been in
an i'll humor with Gillespie for some
months. The afternoon of the shooting
Gillespie went to the pasture where his
COW was running 18th that of White. The
COWS were in thicket, and Mr.. Gillespie
sent his shepherd dog into the thicket to
bring out his COW, which the dog did, and
the COW was driven home. Shortly after
dark Gillespie and his young wife were
sitting on their front porch, and they saw
White and his wife approaching. When
they got to a small creek White did not
use the foot log but walked through the
water, his wife was carrying a lantern and
walked over on the log. They came on to
the front of GiIlespie's house and White
asked Gillespie where his (White's) COW
was. Gillespie told him he thought the
COW was in the thicket from which he had
driven his own that evening. Thereupon
White began to use abusive language, call
ing Gillespie a damned liar, and raised a
gun which he had brought, pointing it at
Gillespie, swearing he would shoot him.
Gillespie lodged back in the dark, went
around his house, and to a neighbors,
where he procured gun to defend him
self.
In the meantime Mr. James Wells, who
had been sitting on his horse in front of
the house, prevailed ON White to go away,
and he started off up the hill, still cursng
and swearing that he wouli kill Gillespie.
The latter could hear these threats as he
was returning to his home with the gun.
He got Wells TO 90 with him and they
started on in the direction White had |
taken. Mr. Gillespie when in about
hundred yards of White requested Wells
to 60 forward and see if he could not |
pacify White, saying that he would like
to talk with him and settle the matter
Wells went forward and ap-
preached White, whose rage was increased |
rather than diminished. He turned back !
and came in the direction of Gillespie, his
wife, endeavoring 10 prevent him, was
pushed aside. She was still carrying the
lighted lantern. When about thirteen |
steps from Gillespie, White started to raise
his gun and Gillespie told him not to do it,
but he brought the gun to his shoulder
and Gillespie did the same. Both guns
were fired at about the same moment,
making, it is said, almost one report.
WLite fell shot through the heart and ex-
pired in few moments. Gillespie fell to
the ground being shocked by conclusion,
the load from Whites gun having passed
close to his head.
On yesterday Judge j, II. Stuart of the
county court, issued bench warrant for
Mr.. Gillespie He surrendered TO the
county authorities, cane to town and was
brought before H. G. Peery, justice OF
the peace, waived an examination, and
was bailed in the sum of $1,000 to await
the action of a grand jury. His bondsmen
are: Geo. w. Gillespie, r. B. Gillespie,
Joss. Gillespie, Jno. D. Daily and H. G.
Mccall. There have been accounts pub
lished in several papers that were not cor
rect, as far as we have been able to ascer-
tain and that did Mr.. Gillespie injustice.
He is young man, Only % years of age,
with wife and one child six months old. |
White is represented to have been dan
gerous and very bad man. 1t is said that
he had killed man and had been an in
mate Of the West Virginia penitentiary.
His reputation in the community where
he lived was that Of a bully and danger
Gus man.