Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-06-15
THE GILLIGAN TRIAL.

\. G. Giliigan is being tried in
Isle of Wight county for the murder
of his sweetbeart's father. He does
not deny the killing, but claims that
it was in Self-defenee.
Sheriff Edwards testified that Gill;
gan told him that on Monday
or Tuesday night previous to the
shooting he was at church supper
and that Miss Turner called him and
he went TO her. She told him 10
come TO her house the next night.
lie also saw her on Wednesday and
she again invited him and said she
would throw herself overheard if he
did not promise to come. He went
and met Miss Turner aud they then
went into the stable lot and stood
beside tree. He had his left arm
around the girls waist >and she had
her right arm around his neck. He
had gun in bis right hand. While
standing there they heard footsteps
and ceased talking. Mr.. Turner. he
said, approached them with a gun
raised To his shoulder. He (GIlligan)
raised his gun quickly aud fired, and
Mr.. Turner fel! in his tracks. They
stood few moments and Miss
Turner returned to the house, promis-
ing never to divulge that he had killed
him. Gilligan further said TO the
sheriff that he would have run that
night, but the young lady held him;
but he was sorry he did not
run. Gilligan told witness that his
relations with Miss Turner had been
too intimate.
Mr.. Holland scored Gilligan for
the reports that he had circulated
regarding Miss Turner. He told of
the insidious spreading of such re-
ports, and that the lady was already
injured to the full extent that Gill
gan was able to defame her. "Thank
God" he said, cit is no. in the power
of such a man to ruin the character
of this young lady"
Sheriff Edwards further stated
that Gilligan told him that he once
loved Miss Turner, but he had then
lost respect for her.
Judge Hinton for the first time read,
from one of the love letters. .sIy
Dearest One: | cannot allow you to
come to the window, because / think
the negro who brings this note knew
you were here the other night, and he
is waiting out, and mother is going to,
stay III my room tonight. Unless
you meet me at the fence, near the
woodhouse, then l cannot see you."
THE FAIR SWEETHEART ON THE
STAND.
Miss Isabella Turner was the first
witness called Saturday. Miss
Turner told concisely of all her acts
between December 21st, when she
left Hollins Institute, and the few
days which she spent at home. She
told of her trip to Ferguson's Wharf
on the fatal Wednesday, and of how
Gilligan had attempted to speak to
her and she had declined his adj
vances. When she and her mother
returned from Smithfield that even
ing her mother went nto the house
and she paused to put the blanket
on the horse. Gilligan suddenly APP
peared and attempted to put his
hand on her shoulder and detain her.
but she escaped to the house. Her
father met her at the door with a
lantern and went on to the barn, she
going back as for as the gate to get
her mail, which had been dropped
there. In returning she encountered
Giliigan at the corner of the house
behind the rain-barrel. He caught
at her cape, but she fled into the
house. Fifteen minutes later a shot
was heard, to which they paid but
little attention, rs during the holi-
days such noises were not uncommon.
She and her mother, from the back
porch. a few minutes later, saw a
man lurking in the dark near the