The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-06-27
Horse Stands Guard Over Body
of Dead Master.
Well Known McCracken County Char
meter Meets Violcst Death by
Accident.
HAPPENS IN GRAVES COUNTY,

an accident near Leader, Graves coun-
ty. KY. last night shortly after $3.50
O'clock. while en- route home from
Melber. but the body was not found
until this morning. Every indication
points to an accidental death. The
horse either ran away and threw Gil
len out or tramp.ed him under foot
after he left the buggy. Gillen, even
after death held onto the reins, and
they were found tightly elutched in
the dead mans hands.
Denton Mathis, a farmer of The
Me.ber section. made the discovery at
5 o'clock this morning Leader is
located just south OF the McCrscken
county line in Graves county. 1t is
between the county line ard Melber.
Last night Gillen left his home IN
The Florence Station nelghborhood
for Melber. He passed Leader early
in the night. At $3.50 O'Clock he re
passed en- route home. At that hour h.
passed the house OF J. l.. Thomas and
this was the last seen or heard of him
until his dead body was fonnd this
morning.
Denton Mathis was driving from
Meiber to Paducah. He approached
a bridge which spans branch of May
field creek. A horse detached frcm
the buggy standing at one side of TIE
road attracted his attention and lie
drew rein to investigate.
Mathis found Gillen's body under
the front part of the buggy the sin
gletree resting on the breast. The
horse was standing close by looking
at the PROSTATE form. The lines weIs
firmly clutched in Gillen's right hand
which had grown stiff in death. Tao
body was cod and death must have
come several hours before, probably
instantly. No marks, from hasty in
spection. could be seen and the coron-
er and other county officials in Graves
were notified of the discovery.
Bruce Gillen's Life.
Bruce Gillen was probably the wild
est known character in this end of the
state. He was As years old. He was
horn near Colliersville, a few miles
below Paducah on the Mayfeld road.
and had lived In this section all his
life lie was a drinking man and
when under the influence of liquor
was dangerous Gillen's visits to
this city were invariably marked by
some sensational episode ending in a
fine. and It is estimated that in the
past ten years his fines in police court
aggregated hundreds of dollars, costs
and ALL
Gillen was married and is survived
by two sons. Charles and Gallon Gill
zen. both at home. He had one
brother. Alfred Gillen, and two sisters,
Mrs Margaret Eden. residing in the
Eden Hill neighborhood, and Mrs,
Massie. wife of the ex-maglstrate.
Walter Coleman. resident of
Leader is probably the only person
who heard Gillen's voice before
death. He stated this morning:
"Glllen was drunk when he left
Leader He was shouting as he usu-
ally does when drinking. and heard
him across the bridge. | heard shouts
after the bridge was crossed but paid
no attention 10 them. | believe now
he was shouting for help and that
death was not instantaneous.
81 inspected the body this morn
ing and would say that Gillen cross
ed the bridge all right but when
nearing the gravel must have veered
little and gone over the side of the
bridge. This probably frightened his
horse and 1t overturned the buggy.
Gillen, from appearances, was caught
between the horse and front wheels.
The horse was stripped of harness
and the buggy overturned. When
found Gillens face was scratched, in
dicating that he had been dragged.
The marks of the buggy also indicate
that II was overturned from the
bridge and dragged a short distance.
DR.. NJ. f. Thomas. OF Folsomdale.
was called and made an examination
OF the body. He found that the neck
was broken In two places. the head
evidently having been caught In the
spokes of the wheel or under the bug
gy when It turned over.
Coroner d. A. saffold of Mayfeld,
held an inquest and the verdict was
that Glllen came TO his death while
drunk by falling or being thrown from