Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1904 — AN INDIANA TRAGEDY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AN INDIANA TRAGEDY

MURDER OF MISS ELIZABETH GILLESPIE, AT RISING SUN. Crime Haa Disclosed Sensational Scandal in One ofthe Hoosier State’s First Families Twin Brother Charged with the Deed. A thrilling drama is being enacted in Rising Sun, Ind., a little city of 1,500 touts, situated bn the banks of the Ohio River some thirty-seven miles below .Cincinnati. No m,ore fitting setting for this same drama could be desired than the section where seven years ago the brutal murder of Pearl Bryan occurred, the details of which are still fresh in the ininds of newspaper readers throughout the country. The first chapter opens on the evening sf Dec. 8, last, when Miss Elizabeth Gillespie, a member of one of the oldest families in Indiana and a leader in the society circles of her town, was shot by an unknown assassin. The crime was committed just at dusk. Miss Gillespie was moving about the parlor in her home, where she lived with her aged mother, preparatory to entertaining the Women's Literary Club of Rising Sun, which was to meet there that night. As slm passed a window looking into the street the report of a "gun rang out in the darkness and Miss Gillespie fell to the floor, blood streaming from a jagged wound in her head. An alarm was given and the unfortunate woman was carried to her room, where she lingered unconscious until the following day, when she passed away. The crime threw the town into a fever of excitement, and all kinds of rumors were rife. The day following the shooting Judge George E. Downey convened the Ohio county grand jury in special session and a sea rolling ... investigation was started. For a period of eleven da,vs the grand jurors heard evidence. Although the work of investigation was carried on as secretly as possible, sufficient details leaked out- to show that

the authorities had discovered a domestic scandal in the Gillespie family which revealed a motive for murdering Elizabeth.

Twin Brother Accused. Despite tlie fact that rumors of a scandal had been numerous since the murder, yet the findings of the grand jury created a profound sensation. As a result of that verdict Janies Gillespie, the twin brother of the murdered woman, is now incarcerated in the county jail, while accused of being accessories to the crime are several of his relatives who are members of the wealthiest families in Rising Sun. These are Gillespie’s sisters, Mrs. Belle Seward; Mrs. Carrie Barbour, a sister of the wife of Dr. William Gillespie, another brother of the murdered woman, and Mrs. Barbour’s husband, Myron Barbour. The later is held under $20,000 bail bonds, while the two women were released under bail of $7,500. A Family FeuJ. For eighty-nine years the members of the Gillespie family have lived and died in Ohio County, Indiana. The Gillespies have all been physicians and the late husband of the rtiurdered girl’s mother was an army surgeon of note. The first differences in the family commenced with him. Trouble arose between himself and his wife which agitated this section for several years. For twenty years he never addressed Mrs. Gillespie, who was admired by all who knew her as a woman of the most beautiful and Upright character. Among the present generation of Gillespies everything was pleasant up to a few years ago. Elizabeth and her twin brother, James, were demoted to each other. They were inseparable as children ami young people. Elizabeth became engaged when she was 20, but the engagement was broken and the young man married another. Though no word of the trouble ever leaked out, Elizabeth Gillespie grew in appearance from a young girl to an aged woman, her hair turning almost snowy white within n year. She neter married, nor did her brother. James. Elizabeth devoted herself to the care of her widowed mother and threw herself heart and soul into plans which afforded pleasure to others. She was a lender in the social world and in church work. Then came trouble between her and her brother. She denounced James and Mrs. Carrie Barbour, a sister of Dr. Gillespie's wife, and thus another family feud was' brought on which culminated in murder. James Gillespie left his mother's house and went to live with his other sister, Mr«. Belle Reward, across the street. Dr. William Gillespie had married a niece of Dr. Thad Reamy. a noted Cincinnati physician, ami had moved to that city. His wife’s sister married 'Myron Barbour, nnd they live directly across the street from the Gillespie homestead, adjoining the Reward residence.

It 1s known that Miss Gillespie has hem in mortal (error of her brother for n long time. On several occasions lie boat her and threatened her life. She had consulted Mayor diaries Watson, her attorney, regarding the mutter. None of (lie four persons Indicted went to see Miss Gillespie as she lay dying in her home across the street, nor did they attend the murdered girl’s funeral. The outcome of the.cake will be watched with Interest.

Dr. H. F. Swanback of Nebraska wears the iron cross of Prussia, given him by Frederick IV.

JAMES GILLESPIE.

ELIZABETH GILLESPIE.

MRS. BARBOUR.