Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-06-15
GuLIGAN,5 TRIAL.

ner. By D. T. Epes, coroner's Jury
man. the defense sought to show dis
crepancy between the statements OF
Mrs. Turner and her daughter, tnen
and now. The prosecution opposed
the introduction OF such evidence, and
the court sustained the objection.
Thomas Batten testified that the
prisoner came to his house or the night
OF the killing, In company with Cnesser
Hundley.
Judge Hinton wanted to ask the VIII
ness il Gilligsn bad stated that there
was any improper relations between
himself and Miss Turner.
Colonel Boykin objected to the ques,,
ton. Defense insisted, and claimed
that thew wanted to show Gilligan had
never DETAINED Miss Turner's character.
The court ruled that the testimony was
irrelevant. Counsel asked If Gilligap
had inquired whether it would be sale
for him to sure. der herself. Inc
prosecution stopped the answer, ana
conferred. The defense announced
they wished to show that Gilligan only
stayed away to keep from being lynch
ed.
The witness contrsdicted statements
made on the stand by Dayy Cot on, 10
regard TO what Mrs Turner hal said
sbout her husbands supposed where
abouts On The night of the killing.
w. II. Thomas said he lived Dscem-
Der 81 on the border of Surry county.
Gilligan came to his house Friday, De-
Gambler 90. He said be had been walk
ing very much and his feet were swol-
len. Witness changed shoes with Gill
gan and thought those Gilhgau wore
we're the same as those 10 court. WIT
ness had not heard OF Mr.. Turner'S
death till the night of the och, when
Giliigan came. Witness had never
seen his own shoes since.
Defense's counsel asked il either Mrs.
or MISS Turner had stated before the
Jury that they took no gun or pi tol
when they went down Ito the
snsnty after Davy Cotton, on the night
of the killing. The prose ;ution object
eu TO the question, and the jury was
sent out.
Before the Jury returned the witness
was allowed to say, to the best OF bis
knowledge, that he did not remember
that either OF the ladies had said she
carried q gun when they went alter
Dayy Cotton.
J.R. Barham said Gilllgsn surren'
dered to him Sunday, January IA. He
and the prisoner went with Robert
Ferguson 10 Mr.. Weeds home and then
to Sheriff Beniami d. Edwards, Of
Surry county. The sheriff took the
prisoner to Petersburg. Witness said
he (Barhsm) took drink, and 80 did
Sheriff Edwards and Nick. He only
saw the sheriff take one drink. Wit
ness gave the sheriff a sealed bottle o.
liquor. He did it unsolicited. Wit
ness was asked about Sheriff Edwards
expecting the reward.
The question OF rewards and the COD
tradiction OF Sheriff Edwards testimony
was argued at length. The court rule
that the question Of reward, so far al
it related to jher Fl Edwards statement
was collateral. Exceptions were noted
The witness did not hear the sheriff
say anything OF the reward at that time
but after the jury's exclusion he sale
Sheriff Edwards saw him at Snrry
Courthouse the fourth Tuesday in Jan
uary, and said If witness would turn the
matter over in his (the sheriff's) hands
be would get the reward and would di'
vide. Afterwards it was stated Incl
IDENTIFY by counsel that a reward OF sion
was offered by the governor, and 1t was
thought $50 more by the Turner fam.
ily. The rewards were for the appre'
hension OF the prisoner. Witness said
Sheriff Edwards was sober when he saw
him there.
Witness was asked il he ever heard
0illigan utter any aspersions Against
Miss Turner's charac er. He was mol
allowed to answer.
John J. s. Branch, detective, who
bad hunted GilligsD, was asked about
decoy letter which was written in bis
presence.
Colonel Boykin told the witness not
to answer.
The Jury was sent out. The witness
said he wonld not reveal private mat
tiers unless forced to. Judge Hinton
wanted to show that FIVE persons helped
with the letter, and four OF them had
been witnesses. He wanted to show
that conspiracy to arrest Gilligan had
existed.
The five, 1t is said, who helped were
T.
Turner, Mr.. Branch and W. z. Wilson.
The decoy love letter was written
about the time OF Gilligan's surrender,
and was never sent. The letters sug-
gested that Gilligsn meet Mics Turner
and elope. An officer was to board the
train and arrest him.
Witness said Mrs. Turner's only con-
nection with the letter was that OF
spectator. He assumed the entire re-
sponsibility for the missive having been
written.
Two or three letters were begun be-
fore they had a fit decoy. IL was first
started dear FRIEND" but that was de-
cided not affectioDate enough, and my
dearest Nick" was decided on. The
rest of the company was at loss how
to proceed, but Isabel knew what
would appeal to the fugitive, and she
dictated the epistle and terms. The
letter was signed in en- affectionate
way.
The letter stated that the world
seemed growing cold; her mother had
turned against her, and she had de-
cided to run away. She wrote that she
had forgiven Nick, and wished him to
fly with her to distant cline, where
they would be happy always. The
plans were for Gilligsn and Isabel 10
board train by appointment, and to
have Gilligsn arrested at subsequent
station.
TLa Iat.a= .uan nauar aant. Qilliaan