The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-04-22
GILMAN CASE IS
FULL OF MYSTERY
Mother, Son and Daughters
Charged With Murder
CONFESSION OF CURTIS
Tells of Assault and Murder of
- ma Gilman, Whose Body Was
Found Within Sight of Her
: Home.
CONFESSION OF CURTIS

4 Dayton, o., April 21.-Released on bonds
the mother and son fer $500 and the two
| daughters for $1,000 each, and after hav-
| ing waived examination under plea of
not guilty made before Justice Holder
man, the members of the Gilman family,
charged with procuring the death OF Dona
| Gilman, await the action of the next
| grand jury, which will be empanelled next
| September. The body of Dona Gilman,
a pretty and popular girl, was found on
the commons within sight of her home
early on Thursday morning of November
% last. She had not been seen by her
people. according to their story. since the
previous Tuesday evening.
The body when found was lying in a
constrained position, one arm drawn UP
as though to fend off blow and rigor
mortis was well developed. The coroner
| at that time In office was of the opinion
that a double crime had been committed
and hasty but incomplete postmortem
examination was held by himself and an
assistant, which resulted in decision to
that effect.
Rewards of $4,000.
Rewards were OleT6Q, one Dy IL pTOllll-
nent manufacturing establishment and
the other by the county commissioners.
aggregating 5000, for the detection of the
alleged criminal A simple minded fellow
named Dave Curtis, who sells papers on
the streets, was the first person arrested
and this was done after he had been
sweated in the office of the prosecuting
attorney in the late hours of the night,
and had made an apparently incriminat-
ing confession.
In addition to this alleged crime Cur
tis went on and detailed how he had
been guilty of other cases of assault on
women which had been shrouded In mys-
! terry for months. Public feeling was
aroused to a high pitch by the arrest
of Curtis, and sentiment was divided to
/ such an extent that the community may
| he said to have been separated into two
| classes One OF these believed the family
! knew something about the crime. The
other did not. Finally the mother. Mrs,
I,eahy c. Gilman. aud her son, Collins,
were arrested Then the coroner and a
deputation of physicians held a postmor-
/ tenn examination and there occurred a
division. The major portion of the med
/ ical men declared that there was no evil
dence of criminal assault, but other
! conditions were found which led them al
most TO a conclusion which did not find
/ favor with the coroner. who still clung to
! the assault theory. and finally recon-
i mended that Dave Curtis be held to the
| grand jury.
Mother and Son Tried.
| Meantime the mother and son were
| placed on trial before Justice Wagner
and after lengthy examination were
bound over to the grand jury That
! body after holding a record session. nm
ally dismissed the case. Members of the
jury themselves are said to have talked
freely about the case. something unusual
! in connection with the deliberations of
body whose information and proceedings
are held to be inviolably secret. These
members declared that the jury on the
final ballot lacked only one vote of an in
dictment the jury on the last ballot prior
TO reporting to the prosecutor standing u
to for Indictment At the last moment
another presentation was made by the
prosecutor himself, saying that he did not
have evidence to make out case. On
the strength of this one juror changed his
vote and the mother and son were dis
missed.
Finally Attorney Charles Kumler, for
mer prosecuting attorney OF the county,
was induced to examine the evidence be-
fore the grand jury, and is said to have
announced his belief that there had been
a miscarriage Of justice, and accepted the
case. and recently caused the arrest Of
the two living daughters of Mrs. Gill
man. in addition to Mrs. Gilman and her