Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-06-18
GILLIGAN'S TRIAL.

House we're expert testimony proof as
TO the number of drinks taken while
GiIligan was being taken to the Peters
burg Jail after bis surrender, and an ef-
fort 90 the part OF the defense to con-
tradict Sheriff Edwards's statement
about reward.
DIR. Cameron, the Brooklyn expert
| surgeon, was put on the stand, and con-
tinued to give hypothetical testimony.
The witness deduced that the gun YVES
five or six feet from Mr.. Turner's neck,
and that 1t was about thirty-three inch
! es lower than the wound on the neck.
Several Witnesses were examined al
to the physical characteristics OF Mr..
Turner. Ali agreed that he was very
active man, about sixty. T. II. Curtis
| said the deceased was one OF the most
powerful men he ever saw, could han-
die lumber better than any OF his ne
gro hands and had much endurance.
Andrew Carter Gilligan went on the
stand 10 the afternoon and told his
story of the tragedy. His plea was
| self-defense. He claimed he had to
shoot q. Beverly Turner to save his
own life and that of the dead mans
daughter Isabel, whose arms, he said,
were around his neck at the instant oil
the killing.
Gilligan said he was twenty-sx years
| old. and worked for the deceased at his
home and at his mill. They got on to-
| Rether like father and SOD. At times he
cared for the home when the family was
away, and was trusted agent. 1t was .
com non thing for him to take mealswith
the family. He said he left Mr.. Tur-
uer in 1898. When asked why, he
said "Isaoel and / were in love. l
told her it would be better il it were
all broken uD. She could do better
than marry me; she could marry man
who was able to take care OF her. She
would not release me from my promise.
| She said no one else could make her
happy.
Il knew Miss Isabel was showing
her love TO her mother. She told me
her mother had found out, and had
blown her up. l said couldn't help it.
That's why left.
81 used TO meet her about the place
very often. / tried to break 1t oil but
could not. Isabel begged me to come
and went to CRAFTY her,"
Witness told of his being shot at one
night. He informed Isabel that he
should not come again. She replied
that it would soon wear off, and begged
him to stay away for a while and then
return.
The prisoner told of incidents con-
nected with some of the letters and
I supplied missing dstee. He said the
last letter was written September 10 or
10, 1899, when the correspondence had
ceased, because they were afraid OF de-
lection. That was when she last left
for school. Witness claimed that ne
left forty or foity-6ve letters in his
room before he went into conceaIment,
whereas only twenty-five have been
produced in court. He said some OF
the letters were signed elizabeth"
and others "Lucindy." The defendant
related many incidents that proved
Issbel's great love, and continued:
| "Mapy and many time have i
| pleaded with her to release me. She
cried and pleaded and begged me to
come. loved her and yielded. l love
her yet"
Gilligan said that Isabel had squeezed
his hand at Bay View Church and had
begged him to come to Bacon's Castle
to hear her sing, saying she would
''look real sweet" At Bacor's Castle,
witness said, Isabel urged him to come
| TO see her.
Gilligan denied that he had fired a
pistol about the Turner home, and said
he never owned pistol. Witness told
Of his meeting Miss Turner on the
eharf the afternoon which ended in
Mr.. Turner's death. He said Isabel
nodded to him twice, and begged him
| to come to see her that night.
He hesitated about going, but said
he would meet her under the "same
old pine" She told him that if he did
not come, she would jump of the wharf
and drown herself. He told her of the
borrowing OF a gun to 60 hunting, and
related that he afterward went to the
Turner home. He did not hear any.
thing of Isabel, but Mr.. Turner went
out to get wood. He was waiting by
tree whed be heard Turner's buggy.
Mrs. Turner got out and told Isabel
to take out the horse. Mrs. Turner
went into the house. The defendant
helped Isabel take out the horse, and
hang the bride on the fence by the
gate. They talked few minutes, when
Isabel said: sits bad night; I'm going
10 to get gum boots" -
Isabel went into the house, witness
continued. "After little while l saw
her coming with light. She was
whistling Just one Girl for Me- Isaid:
put that light out. I'm not Ounce
enough to stand out here in the light
"The light was extinguished. Ipick-
ed up the gun from the walnut tree,
and went over by the pine. The muz
zle OF the gun was on my toe. had
my left arm about Isabel, and her right
arm was around my neck.
"We heard something, and said:
'listen.' 1t was Mr.. Turner stepping
lightly. Isabel said: stand close, and
he won't see u.s.
81 heard the click OF his gun, and Mr..
Turner exclaimed: You, ! have got
you at last raised my gun and fred
with one hand; my right hand. Mr..
Turner staggered of. Isabel cried,
You have shot my father
"Yes, and it was all your fault; l am
going to shoot myself" the prisoner
testified he replied.
"'No, DON'T Isabel said. Don't |
say anything about it. No one shall
ever know
II was scared. / didn't know what |
to do. 1t was the first time had ever
been scared"