The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-12
eILIIeAN MURDER TRIAL.
The Fair Sweetheart and Her Mother on
the stand.
lOontinned from lst pnnel


features She was dressed in deep
mourning. and gave her testimony In a
distinct deliberate, and stately manner,
and although she was rigidly crOss.ex-
amined, the defence failed 90 shake her
statements. Miss Turner told cOncisely
Of all her acts between December 2lst.
when she left HOllins Institute. and the
few days which she spent at home She
told Of her trip to FerRuson's Wharf on
the fatal Wednesday. and Of how Gill
gan had attempted 60 speak 10 her and
she had declined his advances When
she aud her mother returned from smith
field that evening her mother went into
the house aud she paused TO put the
blanket on the horse. Gilligan sudden
" appeared and attempted TO put his
hand on her shoulder and detain her,
but she escaped 20 the house. Her father
met her az the door with lantern and
went on TO the barn, che going back az
far as the gate TO get her mail. which
had been dropped there. In returning
she encountered Gilligan at the corner
Of the house behind the rain.barrel He
caught at her cape, but she fed into the
house. and, with her mother, began
drying their garments, which had be.
come wet during the long drive IN the
snow.
Fifteen minutes later a shot was
heard, TO which they paid but little at
tenuon, as during the holidays such
noises were not uncommon. She and
her mother, from the back porch.a few
minutes later, saw man lurking In
the dark near the gate. They became
frightened. and one taking a gun and
another q pistol, the use Of which they
were both experienced in, they pro-
ceeded to o shanty nearby and returned
with the negro boy, Davy Cotton. They
ate their supper taking Mr. Turner 8
repast into his room on a waiter think
ing that be must have gone to Mr..
Orocker's on business regarding their
Joint peanut crop.
Asa quarter TO 9 O'Clock, they sent
q note 20 Mrs OTocker asking II Mr.
Turner was there, and If not, request.
ing Mr. Crocker 90 come to them at
once. Cotton carried the note and soon
returned with Mr. Orocker coming on
behind. They then sent @ tton to the
stable to see II Mr.. Turner had ridden
away. The boy soon returned with
the glove, hat. and lantern belonging
TO Mr.. Turner and they, for the first
time, realized that something had oc.
Cured. They, Cotton and Mr.. Crock
ar then went to the stable lot. and
Cotton discovered the dead body lying
by the fence.
Several times during her testimony
Miss Isabella Turner sobbed softly, with
her face hidden IN her handkerchief,
but her most violent weeping came
when Col Boykin asked her regarding
her conduct with Gilligan Colonel
Boykin prefaced his question by the
declaration that he greatly regretted
having TO ask such a question, but the
confession Of Gilligan to the Sheriff OF
Surry county had contained the direct
charge OF intimacy, and be was. there
fore. impelled 10 ask II she had ever
committed an act Of criminality with
him Never. she answered with
positive emphasis, at any time or any
place. "
Then bitterly she wept while her
sunny head was hid once more behind
the veil OF sombre mourning She was
a splendid witness, telling her story
straight and without hesitation. She
stated in reply o. question, that she
had once loved GilliRaD, bat for eigh-
teen months had cared nothing for him.
MRS. TURNER.
After dinner Mrs. o. Beverly Turner.
the wife Of the dead man and mother Of
the witness Of the morning, vas called
She Is a delicate woman pat the merid'
tan Of life. The outlines OF her fes-
lures are much as those Of her pretty
daughter, but time has faded the flush
of youth from the care.worn face.
She was on the stand nearly four
bours. Her story Of the happenings
was identical with that Of Miss Isabel's.
She affirmed that her daughter was with
her every minute OF the night OF the
killing except the five minutes she re-
maiued 20 put on the horse blanket and
the two minutes it required 20 90 to the
gate for the mail When the hat and
glove Of her husband were shown her for
Identification the poor woman sobbed
piteOusly, and declared that the glove
was the mate 20 one on his hand when
his body was found. and she added,
His dear hand that l kissed when we
found him in the snow. " Mrs. Turner
was subjected 10 very rigid cross ex-
animation by Judge Hinton. She ad-
mitted that on the night Of the killing
she said, Nick Gilligan did 1t, but for
Heavens sake don't mention 1t. " She
explained that she had been warned not
TO call names, and was afraid that If
Gilligan heard Of her suspicious no
would escape by flight.
GILLIGAN's DOWNFALL.
For many years Gilligsn had besn
on the very best terms with the family.
This referred to q period prior 20 three
wears ago. when she said, "Niok's
downfall began. he had been raised
by the Turner's since she age Of 10 Re-
Gently he had been slipping about their
ward, and running off like gazelle If
any one tried TO identify him in the
dark.
THE LOVE LETTERS.
Mrs. Turner said that in the fall of
1898 Mrs. Wiley Batten. who is Gill
liRan's sister, showed her nine enve-
Iopes containing letters, and seven Of
these were in her daughters handwrit-
ing. Mrs. Batten would not allow her
10 see the contents, but told her they
we're love letters In the spring OF 1899
Mrs. Batten came to see her, and she
offered her from 81 to S. for the letters
and Mrs. Batten asked her why she did
not offer to buy them before that Gill
IiRan had since taken the letters Wit
ness said she had never dreamed that
anv love affair could exist between her
daughter ant the mill.boy. Mrs. Bat
ten told her that Gilligan was reading
the letters to anybody and everybody.
The defence we're pleased with Mrs
testimony. She was at times
very sharp in her retorts, and at other
times was crying bitterly.
THE JAIL GUARDED.
Out of abundant preoaution Sheriff
Edwards has placed guard around the
Jail. There is still some approhensions
that either the friends OF Gilligan
nav attempt his release, or his enemies
may try to take the law into their own
hands.