Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-06-13
GuLIGAN'S TRIAL.

der trial were introduced In evidence
at Isle of Wight Courthouse yesterday.
Twenty-Five letters were read, sggre-
eating 1000 words. They were writ
ten by Isabel Turner to Andrew Carter
Giligsu, her fathers slayer.
The letters were introduced through
the evidence OF Constable Frank O'Ber-
~, who got them from Mr.. Weed,
whose house Gilligan sometimes visit
ed. O'Berry delivered the letters to
States Attorney Boykin. Colonel r.
o. Boykin and William 8. Holland,
prosecuting attorneys, told OF their
custody of the letters. and OF having
copied them. John Eppes said there
were thirty envelopes at first, but sc-
knowledged that he did not connt them.
He was present at the counting, how
ever.
There is nothing in the letters to in
dictate anything more than some In.
discretion on the young's woman's part.
The epistles eem with loving phrases,
mixed with religious enthusiasm. Most
OF them are 10 very much the same
strain. Some of the extracts are as fol-
lows:
"Oh, dear one, my heart Is breaking;
l am going crazy. If you leave, it will
kill me. / have forgiven you, and oh,
l beg your forgiveness. On, oh, dear
one, don't 90 away. l beg for the sake
of my parents, don't kill me by doing
this way. Please don't go away.
will 20 crazy. l have been half crazy
ell day today, and it will finish me il
you 90 away, and that will kill my par
ents. Yours as ever" No signature
In letter dated February 2, 1898,
addressed to "My Dear Nick" and sign
ed, "Yours always, Isabel" the follow.
ing sentence appears: II am reading a
splendid book, and the hero is man Of
highest honesty and uprightness OF
character, and the only person that
know of that Is near the one in the book
is you.
Here Ia sn extract from long letter
addressed to "My own dear Nick" un-
signed and dated May z, 1898: "Don't
worry about the note; l will get out Of
it all right. They ore not going to say
anything about it any way. You ask
If have forgotten you? No, that can
never do, because every time / knee in
prayer / think Of you and pray for you
have not missed a day for nearly @
year."
In an undated letter, addressed "My
own dearest Nick" and signed, "Yours
lovingly" these words were written: ~
cannot promise you what you want me
to, because that would be an impossible
ity. | do not think there Ia any danger
yet, and you ought not to think so. But
| it is natural that you should feel uneasy
Aren't you glad now that l would not
release you from your promise? l am
/ guess / will be here all alone tomor-
row while they are at Church. Good
night, sweetheart"
The State rested its case yesterday
after examining Mrs. Drew Crocker
who swore that Giligan tried TO Dor.
row gun from her husband to hunt
squirrels on the fatal night, and DR.. w
ID. Turner, who testified as to the dis.
tances about his uncle's premises.
The defense then opened its side by
calling Constable O'Berry, who took
Mis- Turner's letters and photograph
Of that lady from Gilligan's trunk after
his arrest.
The witness identified the photograph
and the package of letters. Colonel
Boy kin, the Commonwealth attorney
was then put on the stand by the de-
tense. This gentleman explained how
he came into possession of the letters
He wrote O'Bersy about them, saying
ne had been informed that the consta-
BILE had been exhibiting them in several
places aud thought the letters should
be in the hands of himself. O'Berry
delivered the letters promptly 10 wit
ness. This was before Gilligan had
surrendered himself. Mr.. Holland, Of
counsel for the prosecution, also iden-
tilted the letters as those delivered to
the Court.
Judge Hinton, introducing, the letters
said that they only desired to prove
that Miss Turner and Gilligan had been
sw eathesrts; that they secuted the idea
OF there being anything wrong in the
letters.
James Savage testified that he saw
Miss Turner and Gilligan at Bay View
Church on Christmas day. He said he
saw Miss Turner turn in the
church and smile and wink at Gilligsn.
On cross examination the witness said
ne thought the lady intended her smile
and wink at Gilligan because he was
the only man in that direction with
whom she had been sssociating. The
witness adhered to his opinion.