The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-06
DEFENSE GETS THE
LOVE LETTERS
Courts Ruling in the
Gllligan Trial.
FAMOUS CASE CALLED
Illness of the Prisoners Sister Nav
Cause Slight Delay.
LAWYERS HAVE A LIVELY TILT
Tho Accused Man Appears to be IN
Good Health, and Takes Matters
Coolly-aliss Turner and Her
Mother Appears in Courks
But Both Heavily
Yelled.
LAWYERS HAVE A LIVELY TILT

ISLE-OF-WIGHT COURTHOUSE, VA,
! June 5-Special.-The noted Gilligan mur-
der trial now has bright prospects OF De
ing gone into. Every barrier but one had
been broken down when court ADJOURNED
this afternoon That was the illness OF
Mrs Susie Batten, OF Smithtield, sister
| OF the accused, who announced that sne
was too unwell to attend court to-day, out
| might he better tomorrow.
Tue question OF the tender love-letters
| is now seemingly settled. There were
some warm tits between the lawyers, ana
| these tits almost became personal. Inc
| gist of Judge Atkinsonis rultng TINS az
| ternoon is that the defence can have pos
| session of original letters, but they must
remain in the Courts custody
Judge Hinton was apparently pleased
| with the Courts decision about the letters
! He mentioned Mrs. Susie BattenS Illness
as a. ground for continuance. Coionei
! Rovizin reminded him that OF his state
| ment of readiness when the letter cues
| ton was fixed Judge Hinton replied tnat
| his associates would not take the risk OF
| Mrs Batten's attendance TIL they hedtu
! how she was.
| tention and urged that her condition De
learned and reported by a doctor at To-
morrow's session Court adjourned at 319
| till 10 o'clock tomorrow
| GILLIGAN UNMOVED.
| Afterwards Miss Lille GiIligan, the de-
| fendant's youngest sister, and ms niece
| Miss Matte Batten, visited him IN court
| There was affectonate greeting, put no
| tears this time Gilligan left the court
! l., ..,,-S f,l. a
| cite. Gilligan looks well, but he mas Eot
! much appetite.
! DR.. w. D. Turner said to-day that Gilli-
! gan had scme Indian blood IN his veins
| and said his great skill in the forest was
MANY SPECTATORS.
Spectators from all sections gathered
! early The first ripple of interest came
| when. the prisoner was driven on the court
| green in charge of Sheriff Robert A. Ed
| ward and Deputy J. a. Johnson, who had
gone to Petersburg last night The party
/ cot off at Zun this morning and had
| breakfast with Sheriff Edwards. GilHgan
! came on the scene at 1920 and was locked
( up in the little jail shortly before IL
| o'clock.
Miss Isabel Turner, the prisoners sweet
| heart and the victims daughter, was
driven on the ground She was attended
| bv her mother Both were attired in
| black and heavily yelled. They were as
| sisted out of their carriage and retired 10
| their rooms in the hotel.
| Sheriff Edwards called the court to
| order at half-past eleven. Mr.. Edwards
! then introduced Col. J. c. Baker, OF New
| port News. Colonel Baker appeared Ior
! the defence.
| Giligan was brought into court, and
walked boldly and indifferently from the
nearby JAIL and took a seat by the law
f! yers' table, between Judge Hinton and
Mr. Edwards. Gillgan looked TO be in eX-
| cellent health. He wore q neatly hitting
! suit of dark gray.
| WITNESSES ABSENT.
| There was a lull in the proceedings as
witnesses were called. The crowd in the
| courthouse grew thicker. Col. Boykin
! arose and declared that the ro!l-call
| showed that several Commonwealth s
| witnesses had not arrived. He did not
| wish TO declare the States readiness un-
| til he knew whether they would come, as
| they were material He requested a snort
| wait One OF the witnesses he said. was
| Sheriff B. B. Edwards, of Surry county,
| whom he had yesterday told that his evil
| dence was needed. Judge Hinton united
| in the request. He said the defence
wanted nothing but a fair trial. He
! wished the other side to have all their
| witnesses.
| The court was reconveped at o'clock
| Colonel r. e. Boyhin said the Common
! wealth was ready. They had heard from
! Sheriff Edwards, Of Surry, and announced
| the States readiness.
| Judge Hinton asked that witnesses for
! the defence be called. He announced to
| the court that one of his witnesses, Mr.
| Howle, was absent this morning. but he
| was not going to ask continuance on
| that ground.
| THOSE LOVE LETTERS.
| Judge Hinton then brought up the ques-
! ton of the love letters. The defence had
| been trying to get them for three months
| He said the letters were just as much
Gilligan's property as his coat TIE law
| yer began telling what they expected to
| prove by the letters, and the jury was eX-
! GUIDED Colonel Boykin and Mr.. Holland
| interrupted. He said the letters would
| prove that the young people were lovers
| and that Gilligan had gone to see her by
| her invitation; that he was on the farm
the fatal night by Miss Turner'S invita-
| ton.
| ..Gilligan," he said, ..had the. audacity
| to fall in love with a lady who had the
| temerity to fall in love with him." and that
the letters would prove all he claimed.
JUDGE INTERPRETERS.
| Colonel Boykin made a brilliant reply,
| explaining his connection with the let
| ters. He had never revealed to the pub
| lie word of the contents, and if any
one imputed to him such motive the i'm
| putation was false.
Judge Hinton: Don't say that I i'm
| puted it.
| Colonel Boykin did not say who i'm
/ puted it, but his statement OF v.ndication
| was continued when the lawyers on the
| other side did not interrupt. Judge Hin
| ton pressed for a discussion. asking the
| defence TO have the original love letters
! Mr. Holland argued that Judge Atkin-
son had no jurisdiction to decide who
! owned the letters. He claimed thai
l Judge Hinton was the only mortal who
had claimed the letters were Giliigan's
/ He could introduce witnesses just as hon
/ orable as Judge Hinton who would swear
! they were not Giliigan's letters. Mr.. Hol-
! land said he didn't want to talk abou,
g-nucEand nsrn,s hut about law Judge