The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-14
Aged Woman Breaks Down Re-
peatedly as She Recounts the
Story of Family Quarrels.
PREPARATIONS FOR PARTY
Incidents of Fateful Night of the
Murder Told, but No Hint of
Slayer's Identity.
STATES CASE OUTLINED
Prosecutor Harry R. McMullen's
Graphic Portrayal of Circum-
stances Preceding Crime.
special % ths IndianapolIs journal.

Special 70 the indianapolis Journal.
RISING Sun. Ind. May 13.-The giving
OF testimony on the witness stand by Mrs.
Margaret Gillespie. mother alike Of the
victim of the tragedy Of Dec. last and OF
two OF the defendants in the trial, and the
presentation OF the States case against the
four who are accused of having murdered
Elizabeth Gillespie. were to-day's features
in the Ohio county Circuit Court. Mrs. Gill
lespie. who is eighty years old. sat beside
her during the statement of Prosecutor
Harry r. McMu;en. She looked in good
health and was seemingly little moved by
the srraignment OF the States attorney.
but broke down several times while on the
stand. and at no time did she speak
10 be clearly heard by the jurors
The theory of the prosecution vigor-
Ously and strikingly presented to the court
and jury this morning by Harry X. McMul-
len. attorney for the State. In a speech
OF about three-quarters OF an hour he out
lined the horrible tragedy of Dec. last.
ana directly charged James Gillespie with
the murder OF the victim Of that tragedy.
and that the other defendants had guilty
knowledge Of the crime He spoke OF the
scandal that had existed in the family for
some time and mentioned some Of the facts
T. be shown by the evidence. which caused
Carrie Barbour 10 have such bitter hatred
for Elizabeth Gillespie that at one time.
he said. Mrs. Barbour had threatened To
throw vitrioi on Elizabeth.
The actions Of the defendants at the time
of the shooting and the subsequent suffer
Ing and death Of Elizabeth. the failure of
either Of the defendants to go near the
stricken home or to offer comfort or con-
ISOLATION TO the aged mother. their absence
4 Ne.
wound, all these were depicted in dra-
matte manner. and were given marked at
tention by the jury which is to determine
the fate of the accused.
JAMES GILLESPIE'S GUN.
The sixteen-gauge shotgun of James Gil
iespie. the only in the city unaccounted
for on that eventful evening, the sixteen
gauge wad taken from the murdered wom-
ans head, after her death, the mass of shot
also removed, the exclamation OF Mrs Belle
Seward. made at the time the shot was
hred; the remark OF Myron Barbour that
The ought not to have shot," the motive
Tor the murder. all these stated with feeling
and effect. and coming forcefully upon the
jury after their examination of the Giles
pie premises. apparently had a deep effect
their minds
At the conclusion of Mr.. McMulen's ad-
dress. Mrs. Margaret Gillespie. the be-
reavcd mother. placed on the stand.
In beautiful and kindly way she told
of the happenings of that night which
took her daughter from her. DR.. viii Gill
lespie and his wife assisted the old lady
within the bar. where she sat down be-
side her son James. and cheerfully greeted
him with a hand clasp and a look of
motherly love that will never be forgot
by those who witnessed IL. The State did
not attempt TO show by Margaret Gillespie
the feeling existing between the defendants
and Elizabeth Gillespie, and the court held
on cross-examinat1on, that such testimony
would be proper the proper time, but
not now. The attorneys for the State ap-
parently were satisfied with the showing
made as to the fact OF the murder; the de-
scription. by expert evidence, of the wound
which resulted in her death: the failure of
the defendants to go the Gillespie
home or even attend the funeral and other
matters which simply laid the foundatio
Tor mass or testimony to follow. which
II Is alleged viii be of most discriminating
nature. 1t was shown by the testimony of
Louise Bloss. who remained with Margaret
Gillespie for weeks after the murder, that
Mrs Belle Seward did not call or speak
TO her mother until Dec. 26. but since then
has been frequent visitor.
DEEDS To THE VICTIM.
Mayor Matson's testimony was largely as
to the making out of certain deeds from
Margaret the mother, to Elizabeth Giles
pie. for valuable real estate i'm this county.
and TO the giving of notices to James
Gillespie. from Elizabeth and her mother.
The care and attention given Elizabeth by
neighbors and friends was extensively
gone into. and the window curtain through
which the shot fired was exhibited in
evidence showing the hole and powder
marks
The defendants are said to be much elated
over the testimony given. claiming that it
fs nd fhax-
able to show their entire innocence at the
proper time They certainly do not appear
IN court as criminals, but are cheerful and
buoyant with hopes of acouittal
Prosecutor McMullen said that there
was no direct evidences but a strong chain
Of circumstantial evidence. Describing the
scene when Elizabeth Gillespie was shot
through the window the night OF Dec
and detailed how the assassin crbssed the
street after the shot had been fired. Then
ne described the scenes at the homes of
the Barbours and Stewards. who lived
and her mother the click of the gate and
doors and especially the screaming of Mrs
Belle Seward. in the house of a neighbor
MY God, some one is shot"
Then ne related what he called the causes
leading to the tragedy, telling how all other
members OF the family and the Barbours
became estranged from Mother GiIlespie
and Elizabeth and how Mother Gillespie
frs HSd assded nsr property TO Elizabeth after
things had been said by Elizabeth of Mrs.
Barbour, James Gillespie and others and
Elizabeth
Hc concluded by describing how the de-
fendants acted after the murder Neither
the brother nor the sister crossed the street
10 assist the mother when Elizabeth Law
mortaliy wounded. and the afflicted mother
went to other neighbors for help instead
OF them Although Elizabeth fingered sew
erai days. none OF the defendants visited
her bedside. and he insisted that since the
tragedy members of the family had done
nothing TO ferret out the crime but rather.
had obstructed the state.
McMullen became eloquent when he told
of James Gillespie choking and beating his
twin sister and swearing at her thai she
would never live to enjoy the prop sity her
mother had given her. In alluding TO tho
scandal In the family. McAfullen said the
conspiracy started after Elizabeth went 10
Mr. Barbour and talked about her brother
and Mrs. Barbour.
MRS. GILLESPIES EVIDENCE
Mrs. Gillespie testified that she was eighty
years old and her twins-James and Eliza
beth-thirty-eight that she had been a
widow eleven years: that James left her
home Nfour years ago. since which time
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