Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-10-21
DIED FOR LOVE.
Sad End OF Bessie Stone And
RObt. Gill


10 ard IL years respectively, were
found dead short distance above
Ashland Thursday morning. A
bullet hole behind the young ladv's
ear and a similar wound in the BOYS
temple showed how they had come
to their end, while a pistol of heavy
calibre lying beside young ellis
right hand told the story of who
fired the shots. The girl had re-
moved her hat in preparation. while
Gill had laid aside his coat and vest.
The death of the two young lovers
is the sequel to what Was supposed
to be an elopement, with matrimony
in view. The girl had been paid
attentions by Gill for sometime.
Her parents, however, discouraged
his visits. This opposition seemed
to weigh upon the minds of both,
who began to regard themselves as
prosecuted.
Gill secured a revolver and told
his friends a number of times that
he was weary of life and expected
soon to end his career. She, too, ev-
identity had q similar inclination.
She returned on the noon train
Tuesday from Richmond, whittier
she went daily to attend the Wo-
mans College. Going home she
wrote letter to Der parents which
is as follows:
October Ii, 1904.
"My Darling Mother and Father:
"When you receive this / will
have ceased to be and will merely be
a thing of the past. Above all
things, let me beg of you not to
grieve after me, either of you. 1
don't want you to do it, my dear
parents.
81 know it will go hard with you
at first, but you soon, so soon can
forget it, if you will but try. /
know you love me, both Of you, and
both have done everything in this
world you could for me that was
needed to be done anyway, and / do
really appreciate it.
ado not worry and think, because
| commit this rash act, that l have
done anything amiss in this world,
for | have never done anything that
am ashamed for the whole world
to know, if needful. You can ask
If you doubt me, the boy l love, the
only one | do love, and he will tell
you that / have never, no never, done
anything that is in the least out of a
lady's place. He knows and really
want you to ask him or anybody
else in the town of Ashland that
you may choose.
81 am not afraid for you to ask
anyone, for / know there is no one
that can say aught against my char
acter, truthfully in this world. The
reason for committing this act is my
health is not by any means the best,
and | don't believe it will be real
good again, and there is really no
pleasure in living; and the other
cause and the main one at that, is
that / love, and really love my own
dear boy Rob with ali my heart and
my life. Without being allowed to
love him life would be utterly a
blank. Therefore, do not care for
this life any longer.
ait is a hard old world. fully re-
alize what / am doing, and am fully
aware of my reward in return for
committing this act. 1t is not hasty.
| have considered it over several DAYS
and have decided that 1 do not care
for this world or for life any longer,
being deprived of my own darling
Rob's love.
"People may hiss at it, bat |
firmly believe his life exists for
me, my welfare and my love;
for l know that had he not
loved me, and that dearly, he could
aud would not have given up the
things he has given up for me. I
feel that We both will be better off
by my action, for j realize have
and am now only dead expense and
trouble to you, and after my burial
expenses they will be all over and for
always.
al want to be buried in q white
casket. and have any kind of dress
or robe that you see fit. A funeral,
if you desire it, at the Ashland
Christian Church, conducted by the
Rev. Mr.. Howle and the Rev. Mr..
Seaman. i want no flowers, but
want the pistol by which / met my
death to 10y on my coffin until nv
funeral or burial service, and at the
funeral / want it taken in, instead
of flowers, by the honorary pail
bearer, whom / want to be Robert
Lee Gill.
81 only want one, and that to be
him, and nobody else.
al beg of You once again, please
neither of you grieve after me, as l
am better off and so are both of you.
Your own daughter,
BESSIE STONE.
Z. S.-After my burial, / want
the pistol returned to its owner, of
whom l borrowed it, r.. L. g., ir."
On the reverse side of the envelope
reads: "Above all things on earth,
bury us side by side. Rob, my darl-
ing boy, is not letting me go without
him.-B. V. S."
Young Gill also wrote a short, but
indefinite letter to his people.
After concealing the letter in a i
hand bag she carried, the girl
Joined young Gill and the two went
north on the railroad track. When |
they failed to return home at night |
it was generally believed that they |
bod eloped to Washington to be |
married. AS nothing was heard |