The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-14
DEATH BLOT
OUT ROMANCE \ /:
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UUI nUlvlHNUL
Continued from First Pagc)
arranged between them the day Of the
tragedy,
1t was carried out with care and delib-
Grafton. The desperate weapon lay be-
tween them and two OF the five chamber
were empty. No evidence whatever OF the
slightest scuffle was apparent. Their
clothes had not been ruffled. The young
girls skirts were closely wrapped about
her and both parties were dressed as forf
o. marriage occasion. They had carried
out completely wl,at now appears. consid
.crlng their age. to have been one OF the
most unusual and possibly courageous
acts OF self Redistribution on record IN the
State OF Virginia. They certainly loved
each other desperately.
Held Him to It! 81
81 On the morning OF the day on which:
the tragedy occurred, she saw him for
few minutes and seriously asked him II
lie was really going to stick to his agree
Ement, to end their lives and she came to
Ashland on the midday train. something
very unusual. for this ayowcd purpose.
She went to Richmond on that morning
as usual. Ito the Woman's College, and
train and remarked to friends: y will
have no use for these books after to-mor-
row. The courtship was Of short dura-
ton and that under very difficult cir
5cumstances. as young Gill was very VIC
Slently opposed by her parents. Her
mother had recently plead with her and
prayed with her4Eto discard the young
man, but she ARMED to the last that
her love for Robert was dearer to her
than her own life. and so 1t proved to be-
T,lc bodies were brought to Crewe'ss
undertaking establishment here to-day
and prepared for burial. The services Will
be conducted this afternoon a t $3.50 o'clock
from the Christian Church. and the path
etc request of the girl that they shou.a
be buried together Will be carried out by
special engagements between the heart
broken parents. IA &
In the Same Grave.
#s They will be buried In the same grave
The Rev. Mr.. Seaman. OF v Charlottes- q
Vile. will conduct the services and the
attendance will no doubt be Immense.
a Robert L. Gill Jr.,s wa 81 seventeen years
old and Miss Bessie Stone was eighteen
They were both gentl e and amiahle young
people and popular with their associates.
The girl bore an excellent reputation:
and no hint Of scandal rest on her name
gentle and refined. quiet III demcanor and
rather delicate in appearance. She was
an only daughter. and the blow to her
parents is a crushing one. Y
n Last year, while attending the high
school at Ashland, she was taken sick
and had to undergo an operation that pre-
vented her finishing the course. 81
This session she was sent to the Wo--5
mans College, hut it is said atithat in:
81 fcIa oy1ix, matt a
Her father has long been n trusted en-
3,,loye at the car shops OF the Richmond
Fredericksburg aud Potomac Railroad,
and is well ana favora''ly known.
A Quiet Youth.
Robert u g III, lJr., was a quict, studious
and Industrious boy. Tie attended school
in Ashland in, the daytime and worked
as an assistant at the telephone exchange
part OF the night. receiving therefor sf1f-
teen dollars a. month. His father Is q
telegraph operator and also lives in As-.
land. 81 III. IS
THE young couple met about eighteen
months ago and formed a strong attach
ment that has grown with opposiuon'
they met clandestinely. and believing that
their future was hopeless and their trou 3
he beyond further endurance they sought.
the end sin death. WI
81 II sts said that young Gill had written
n letter October sth to- his sweet heart
ipwfich lie said they should die together.
tt was returned unopened to- him a t The
telephone exchange. where It was heid
until finally turned over to the city SER
geant. who again delivered It 70 the
ia rents Of Miss Stone, It is now In their
possession. q 81
III is said Miss Stones parents We're
ambitious for her welfare; that she
should be we'll educa ted, and marry well
IN life and steadily opposed the attentions
of young Gill.
Although they knew OF the love affair.
between tho young people, they did not
dream OF such n desperate plot between
them. and the terrible tragedy came MS
a crushing shock and they are Frustrated
with grief.
Last night, while the searching parties
lwero out seeking the young people. the
Rev. Dr. r. II. Pitt, in the Baptist
Church at Ashland. offered a prayer In
behalf of the sorely distressed parents
that God send them back safely.
After a night search by twenty young
men, assisted by Town Watchman Mills,
and equipped lanterns and dogs In which
no results were achieved, another special
searching party went out at $3.50 o'clock
this morning, composed OF ~ Parkin
Scott, j. M. stone. Joe Mills, Elliott Jor-
dan, John Crnwley and C. w Crew. The
bodies were found In the woods opposite
tho park known as the Railroad" Park
about one mile north of here, five hum
dred yards from the old pond which was
once such an attractive skating resort,
under a large mulberry tree. within two
hundred yards OF Wallace Tinsleys place,
Tho awful tragedy has lei q deep I'M.
press upon the community. IT presents
3 u .nsxcnlngicnl study that Is viewed more