The 1931 Murder of James Gilliland, Oak Hill, Ohio

Kate’s notes:

   This murder trial was the banner headline for the Jackson Herald in July of 1931 but due to the way the article was clipped from the paper half the banner (and of course, the text) was missing. So my transcription begins with the header for the article itself.
   Images of the original clippping were contributed by Bill Gilliland, who discovered it from among many news articles found tucked away in the photo album of his mother, Alma Howe Gilliland.
   Following this article I've added transcriptions of two other related articles from Ohio newspapers, including a short report from the Coshocton Tribune on the final verdict.

The Jackson Herald, July 1931, front page story

CHAS. PATRICK KILLS 
JAS. GILLILAND FRIDAY
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Revenge for Hard Usage in Arresting Murderer is The Cause of Dreadful Tragedy
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PATRICK INDICTED

   The grand jury Tuesday afternoon made a partial report returning an indictment for first degree murder against Chas. Patrick. He has not been arraigned and has not employed counsel. When the sheriff asked him if he wanted to see a lawyer he replied that he would wait until the grand jury took action before he consulted a lawyer.
   Judge Jones immediately had Patrick brought into court and the indictment was read to him. He will not be arraigned until Wednesday or Thursday, since the law requires twenty four hours after the indictment is served before arraignment. He has a father and mother living in Kentucky and a brother in Portsmouth. He has not indicated what course he will take for his defense but legal advice will be provided before he is asked to plead if he does not secure an attorney himself. He is uneducated and can scarcely read at all it is said.
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   Charles Patrick shot and killed almost instantly James Gilliland on the street in Oak Hill a few minutes after seven o’clock Friday night. Patrick approached Gilliland as he sat on the curb and with a few unintelligible words in a threatening tone fired three shots into his body. Two of them were wounds that would have been fatal and one was fired after the victim fell.
    James Gilliland was 38 years of age and has a family of four children who with his wife survive him. He was a service man in the late war and has suffered from infirmities sustained in the service. He but recently returned from the veterans hospital in Chillicothe and drew $50 per month compensation, it is said for impaired health. He was employed by the Davis Fire Brick Plant in some light capacity.
   He was born at Price Switch between Coalton and Jackson and lived there when he was a youngster but for many years he has lived in Oak Hill. He has served at least one term and probably more as marshal of Oak Hill and was considered a fearless officer with evident purpose to perform his duty to the best of his knowledge. He could not be called a high class officer because of a little tendency to be excitable, according to people who knew him but it was never intimated that he neglected his duty. He was 38 years of age and has four brothers, Roy, Will, John and Oscar living near Jackson and a sister, Mrs. Myrtle McDow, of West Virginia.
   In October, 1928 while Gilliland was marshal of Oak Hill Charles Patrick, who lived at that time on a farm near Clay, came to Oak Hill and boarded a B.& O. train with the announced intention of going to Portsmouth to be examined for infirmities due to service in the World War. He is a married man and has seven children, the last two being twins, quite young. His family now resides in Oak Hill. Patrick, when he boarded the train seemed to be intoxictaed. At any rate the conductor thought so and when the train had gone a short distance he signalled the engineer to back up and he requested Patrick to get off the train alleging that he was intoxicated and he would not permit him to ride. This was the basis for a damage suit later filed by Patrick through the law firm of A. R. Johnson, of Ironton against the railway company. He asked damages in the sum of $10,000. It is yet pending in court.
   Patrick wandered around on the streets of Oak Hill until finally complaint was made to Marshal Gilliland that he was disorderly and the officer went to arrest him. Patrick it is said resisted arrest and fought the officer viciously. He struck Gilliland several times with indifferent results and bit his finger in a scuffle. Gilliland called upon several people to assist him and at length used his night club. Dealing Patrick a severe blow he put him out of commission sufficiently to place him in the village lockup.
   It was afterward learned according to a petition filed in court that Gilliland broke his jaw and dislocated several of his teeth in the scrimmage. After his release from jail Patrick filed a suit for damages against the marshal placing the compensation claim of $25,000. Rossiter Williams and J.W. Kinnison, who were bondsmen of the marshal were named as co-defendants. This action was brought to trial and was heard in the Jackson court room. Attorney Elkins of.... (the second part of the article, which was continued on page seven of the paper, was missing from the collection of clippings.)

From the Hamilton Evening Journal
Saturday, September 19, 1931, Page 1

JACKSON MURDER CASE BEFORE JURY
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Jackson, O., Sept. 10 (AP) -- The case of Charles Patrick, on trial for the slaying of James Gilliland, former marshal of Oak Hill, was expected to reach the jury late today, after five days of testimony.
   Only a few defense witnesses remained to be called, after which a brief state rebuttal and arguments to the jury were expected to be heard. The defense has attempted to show through all its testimony that Patrick was insane when he killed Gilliland last July 10, and unresponsible for the act.

From The Coshocton Tribune
Sunday, September 20, 1931

JACKSON CO. JURY ONCE MORE 
SAVES MAN FROM CHAIR
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Jackson, O., Sept. 19. -- Carrying out a Jackson co. custom of refusing to send a murderer to the electric chair, a jury tomight found Charles Patrick, 38, guilty of the first degree killing of James Gilliland, 35, of Oak Hill, but recommended mercy.
   The verdict means that Patrick doubtless will be sentenced to life imprisonment in the Ohio penitentary.
   Members of the jury brought in their guilty verdict with a recommendation of mercy, after four hours of deliberation. In all its history, Jackson co. has not sentenced a man to the electric chair.
   A grudge of three years duration ended in Gilliland's death from a shot fired by Patrick, according to testimony presented at the trial.
   Gilliland, former Oak Hill marshal, and Patrick engaged in their first dispute when Gilliland sought to arrest Patrick on an intoxication charge. Following up the quarrel, Patrick shot Gilliland on July 10, it was charged.

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