The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-14
Robert Gill and Bessie
Stone Die D Together by
Mutual Consent.
KILLED HER AND
THEN HIMSELF
They Were With Hands Clasped
and Pistol With Two Empty
Chambers Lying Between
Thern-T They Will Lie
in the Same
Grave.

# The black pail OF double death sblots
out the white winged romance that ac-.
gcompanied tho report OF the elopement
of Robert Gill ard Bessie Stone. innocent
youth and maiden OF the town OF Ash.
land last Tuesday. s #
"A double TRACED distressing and har-
rowing past conception. is the result Of
their, llfe's young dream.
When they were missed Tuesday and
1T became known that they had been
seen trudging together on the railroad
above Ashland, it was believed by chose
who were acquainted with the lovers
affair between them that they had start
ed on q journey that would prove an
Selopement and that would end in mar
Eriage at Washlngt ton or some other con-
svenicnt Gretna Green. .38s55 5 s.,
All inquiries Of their whereabouts hav-;
ing failed their friends became thorough
" aroused on Monday, " and SO strong a
suspicion OF the real situation grew&uponi
the mind Of the citizens that searching
parties went out that night in the direc-
uon inwhlchI they were last seen.
"A Night Search. Sss
After a frutlcss search during the
might, the hunt was resumed yesterday,
and the bodies OF the fortunate and
nlsanthropc boy and girl were with
hands clasped in deaths embrac co. evi-i
IDENTIFY having carried out a premeditated
plan to enter the great beyond together
IA large pistol with two emp ptyS e chambers
lying between them mute told Of the
awful tragedy with no eye than their
own to- witness It. ~
The girl had prepared Herself for loves
sacrifice by$removing her hat and 4 that
lay beside her. Young Gill had removed
his coat and = hat and these acts with
other little Incidents show thatSstheir
preparations were carefully me ;le. a.
CHASTITY; wound behind her ear shows tha t
4 he first killed his sweethe art, and gaping
4 hole In his own head tells Of his faithful
performance OF the compact to die to-s
gether. u, s5s 9 s$,: 5s5Ss
Although when found they had lain in
the rain and sun Of two days bea ting.
these facts were plainly written on the
surroundings.
Letter to Mother.
Between them lay the girls handkerchief
and aslittle hand bag, the like OF which
nearly all girls carry. and in it was a let
ter addressed to her parents. telling Of
her purpose to kill herself, and pleading
{ In affectlonate terms not to grieve for
herr IL ss3 5i5
The reading OF this letter made SO plain
the cause OF the tragedy as to eliminate
all suspicion OF foul play. and the corr
oner decided that an inquest was u un-E
necessary.
Tho letter itself was no less pathetic
than her last message sswr tten@ upon the
back OF the letter, making q parting re-s
quest In the anguish of her girl soul
just before she knew she would pass into
eternity. "Above all things on earth bury
us side BY side. Rob. my darling boy.
Is not letting me 60 without him. This
was signed B. ". s.. the rls$inItials
& The letter in full, perhaps one OF the
most remarkable ever written by a Eirl
so young, is published elsewhere. Young
Gill also wrote letter to- his parents,
which. though brief. plainly stated his
purpose Of killing himself and declaring
that II ho could not get his Bessie that
no one else should have her.
Planned Their Suicide.
@ It Is plain from these letters that these
two innocent young souls deeply III love
and believing their future hopeless, PLAN
ned for days before to bring about their
end. And while 1t was known to several
that young Gill. unhappy and despond-
ent. because he was denied the privilege
of assoclating with his sweetheart. had
frequently declared he would kill himself
and Is evident that she also had the idea
and at first Intended to leave the world
alone. The double suicide seems to have
been an afterthought and was probably
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