The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-06-19

murder trial al Isle of Wight Court
Rouse and told about a decoy letter
winch had been conc0cted IN the pres
ence OF five persons. four OF whom as
sisted IN It's preparation. TO aid In Gill
gan capture. Hurricane declined to tell
me details Of what he considered pro-
Iesslonal business until ordered 10 DO so
oS the court The jury was excluded
rom the room while the purpOrt Of the
ir'ter was being told. The prosecution
objected to the evidence.
Branch hunted Gillgan with blood
mounds He said the fugitive was aided
oy relatives and friends, and when all
other Resources had failed he had thought
OF using decoy letter, which he deciar-
ed rarely failed when the man looked for
loved a woman
The detective said he attended {. Bev-
cry turner's funeral, and passed the
night at the home Of DR.. w. d. Turner,
a cousin Of Isabel. The defense wanted
10 show prejudice and conspiracy or the
part OF Branch's four associates, all Of
whom were important witnesses for the
prosecution. The four persons in the
room when the letter was composed were
the detective. Mrs. Agnes Turner. Miss
Isabel Turner. DIR. ". d. Turner. and
W p. Wilson. Witness said Mrs. Tur-
ner's only connection with the letter was
that Of spectator. He assumed the entire
responsibility Tor the missive having
been written
Two or three letters were begun before
they had a III decoy II was first started
Dear friend" but that was decided not
TO be affectiOnate enough. and My dear
. Moi yFErfT.H he Of
the company was al loss how to pro-
ceeed. but Isabel knew what would ap-
peal TO the fugitive. and she dictated the
epistle and terms. The letter was signed
in an affectiOnate way.
The letter stated that the world seemed
growing cold; her mother had turned
against her. and she had decided 70 run
away. She wrote that she had forgiven
Nick, and wished him to fly with her to
a distant cline where they would be-
happy always. The plans were for Gill
gan and Isabel 10 board a train by ap-
pointment, and to have Gilligan arrested
al "A subsequent station.
The letter was never sent. Gilligan sur
rendering meanwhile Branch declined to
say If Miss Turner was 10 have carried
1t TO Gilligan's brother. tie said it was
not TO be posted
II was sought by the defense to show
that Gilllgan had not tried to defame
IsabeIs character except in his confes-
sion, as related by Sheriff Edwards
which they discredit
J. r. Barham said Gilligan had sur
rendered to him Sunday. January Il. and
had seen Rob Ferguson and W III. Weed
before being delivered 20 Sheriff Edwards
Witness declared that he (Nick) and Sher-
IN Edwards had taken u drink together
and that witness gave the sheriff bottle
Of whisky
The court ruled that IL was immaterial
whether Sheriff Edwards expected a re-
ward for Gilligan, and the jury was ex-
Guided while he told Of the sheriff's propo-
sition TO divide the proceeds
GiIligdn will go on the stand to-mor-
row and relate his story of self-defelse
He Will repudiate the statement that he
ever DETAINED Miss Turner's character.
Miss Turner will likely be put on by he
defense some time Friday The defense
viii seek 10 introduce newspaper inter
view had with Miss Turner but the prose
cution will likely oppose its introduction