Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-06-07
GILLTGAN PLEAD NOT GUILTY.


Yesterday was spent at Isle OF Wight
courthouse in getting jury for the
Gi ligan trial. The lawyers said they
were ready and the talesmen we're call
ed, and Colonel Baker moved to quash
the veuire. The motion was over
ruled, and exceptions were a ,ain noted.
Clerk N. F. Young read the indict-
meut. The Indictment charged that
q. Beverly Turner was killed by load
of gun shot in the right side of the neck,
and that Gilligan had fred the quo fe-
loniously, wilfully and with malice
aforethought. Gilligan very distinctly
entered plea of not guilty.
The jurors were called, one at
time, Col. Boykin examining them for
the State. A venre of sixteen tales
men was called and entered the box.
Thirteen were accepted out OF the first
panel and the judge ordered another
venire faciss from which to get three
| other jurors.
When court adjourned yesterday sf-
ternoon at O'Clock uDti 10 o'clock to-
day the panel Of talesmen had been
completed.
The Commonwealth will begin tax
ing testimony today.
The chief Interest in the case attach
es to the contents of some doz.ns Of
love letters exchanged by Miss Turner
and GilligaD. The latter's sttorneys
expect to save him through the coD-
tents OF the letters, by establishing that
the prisoner called at the Turner home
on the n ght of the tragedy. where he
bad been forbiddea-by the N he kill
ed, to see Miss Isabel, and IT, t She was
nearby when the shooting occurred.
Some OF the young womsn's friends
hold that the letters ought to be made
public, and that their contents will re-
veal nothing so dark as Gilligan's law
yer's intimate.
MIR. Turner was killed some time af-
ter dark en- the night of December 81,
1899. From all that could be learned,
he went out into the yard near the
barn, presumably to zee that all the
horses had been properly cared for.
His stables were some distance from
the house. He did net return for quite
a long time, and when Investigation
was made he was found dead with
bullet through his neck. He had evil
IDENTIFY tried to come back to the house
| from the barn, but before reaching il
nad dropped from loss of blood and died
there.
There was no clue as to the identity
of the murderer, as Mr.. Turner was not
known TO have any enemies, bnt, on
che contrary, was exceedingly popular
| among a wide circle of friends.
Il began 10 be noised about next day
that Mr.. Turner had had some difficult
ty with young Gilligan by reason Of toe
tather's opposition to the young mans
suit in secret for his daughters heart.
About the same time Gilligsn disap-
Deared from the neighborho0d and this
| confirmed the suspicion that he knew
| something about the killing.
For quite q while Gilligan could not
be found, but he then voluntarily SUI
rendered to the authorities OF the county
| The feeling 10 the neighborhood OF the
| killing was very strong against bin,
aud there were rumors OF an effort TO
lynch him. For this reason he was put
| 10 prison at Petersburg, some 4O miles
distant. where he has been ever since.
| When he was carried back to prison in
Petersburg Re told his lawyers the
whole story OF the murder. He said
that he loved Mr.. Turner, who bad
been as a father to him, and that he
would not have fred the shot that kill
ed his benef.ctor unless his own life had
been in danger. He also declared that
when he fred the shot Mrs Isabella
Turner was with him. Further than
this he declines to make any public
statement until he is forced to do 80 in
defense of his life.
Miss Turner ia described as 19 years
Of age, of slender and willowy figure,
exceedingly graceful in carriage, and OF
q ref aed southern type OF beauty sic
mas golden hair, deep blue eyes, fair
complexion and perfect Cupid's bow
of mouth.