Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
crime ST|RS An
Indiana TOWN
Excitement Caused by Shooting of
Miss Gillespie, at Rising Sun,
Increases at Her Death.
EVERY EFFORT Being MADE
TO find The MURDERER


Grand Jury Meets in Special Session
to Probe Mysterious Assassination
Ugly Whispers Against Relatives
of Dead WOman-Many Witnesses
Subpoenaed.
Rising Sun, Ind, Dec. 12.-This place
of less than 1000 people has been in
tensely excited since Miss Elizabeth
Gillespie was shot at her parlor win
dow last Tuesday evening. The ex-
element increased when the grand jury
began its investigation into the matter
Thursday morning, and since Miss Gill
lespie died Thursday afternoon threat
ening conditions exist here.
Grand Jury in Session.
Prosecutor Davis, Sheriff Rump,
Mayor Matson, Marshal Overly, Officer
Dorrell, Recorder Sine and others
here, as we'll as officers from Aurora,
secured such information that Judge
George Downey convened the grand
jury in special session, and Circuit
Prosecutor Theo. Wulberger arrived
from Dillsboro to assist the prosecu-
ton.
The Gillespie family was one of the
most prominent in Ohio county. The
victim was lady of literary and must
cal attainments. Her grandfather,
father and brother were eminent physi-
clans. Her father was mayor of Rising
Sun for many years, after service as
surgeon in the civil war Miss Eliza
beth Gillespie was 80 years old and
lived alone with her mother, Margaret
Gillespie, aged 70. Across the street
from them lived the victims twin
brother James and her sister, Mrs. w.
R. Seward. widow Members of
these two households we're not on
speaking terms. After the death of the
father, DR.. William Gillespie, they
Quarreled over the estate. Two years
ago James left his mother and Eliza
beth to live with Mrs. Seward. Re-
Gently the mother decided her property
to Elizabeth. Since then the relations
between the twins became more strenu-
GUS. Two other brothers are DR.. Will
liam Gillespie, of Cincinnati, and Rob-
ert Gillespie, farmer, residing near
Rising Sun. DR.. Gillespie arrived here
from Cincinnati the night his sister
was shot and was constantly by her
gained consciousness.
Brothers Testify.
Of the 40 witnesses subpoenaed.
James Gillespie, the twin brother OF
the victim, was the first one called, and
to his examination the day was devot-
ed, while intense anxiety existed
throughout the town. The summons
called for James to produce his 16-
gauge shotgun and all the cartridges
he had with it He asked the officers If
they had search warrants and refused
to let them into the house to get the
gun and cartridges until he consulted
John Coles, his attorney. On the ad-
vice of his attorney the officers were
admitted and the gun and cartridges
were taken to the jury room.
DR.. William Gillespie of Cincinnati,
testified before the grand jury as the
! second witness. His testimony was
mostly in regard to the nature of the
| terrible wound in the head and the rel
alive position of the victim and the as
sassin. 1t was also stated that he testi-
| fed that his sister was unconscious
until the time of her death and that he
had no idea of the cause for the deed,
| or who did it.
According to current rumor Mrs. N.Y.
| ron Bourbour, wife of the cashier of
! the First National bank, was a very
| important witness. She heard the
! shooting and her husband ran to the
! relief of the victim and her aged
mother 1t is stated that the evidence
tives living directly across the street
| came to the home of the victim after
the tragedy.
The grand jury Friday called in many
| witnesses in the investigation of the
murder. Meantime the coroner is also
preparing for inquest.
Brother Refuses to Talk.
The victims twin brother, on advice
of his counsel, refused to answer ques-
lions before the grand jury, even after
arraignment before Judge Downey, and
still refused to talk to newspaper men
or others. The family openly express
their Indignation over James Gillespie's
being called before the grand jury with
his 16-gage shotgun and cartridges.
Suspicion no longer rests on DR.. Har-
riman, who has proven that he was in
| McHenry's store when the shooting was
heard. DR.. Hartman has a 16-gage
shotgun, such as used for the fatal shot,
and the empty shotgun she'll was found
after the tragedy in the alley back of Dr.
Harriman's house. DR.. Hartman rents
from the victim and had just been or
dered by Miss Gillespie to vacate the
premises. This difference between them
and the finding of the empty 16-gage
shell near his house caused much un-
just suspicion at first to rest on the doc
tor Since the Hartman theory has
been dispelled, feeling in the vicinity is
| more intense than ever.
Prominent Lawyer Dies.
New York, Dec. 12.-Albert J. Wise,
president of the firm of ]. H. Bunnell
& Co., and a prominent member of the
New York bar, died from bronchitis
following internal injuries received a
week ago, when he slipped and fell near
his home while alighting from trolley
car. He was born 43 years ago In Lima,
O., and once practiced law there.
|
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.