Kate's Notes: The following is a series of articles about the 1917 shooting of Hughey (aka Huey, Bevy and Beverly) Gilliland by the Meldick brothers. Somehow, he miraculously survived the shooting and lived to a fairly ripe old age, dying in Jackson in 1983, but I don’t know what happened to the Meldicks. At the time of this shooting, I believe Hughey, son of Hugh and Elizabeth Jane (Crabtree) Gilliland, was living with his sister Rachel Gilliland Conkel and her husband David. He later married Estella J. "Stella" Walls.
    Any portions of the text in doubt have been placed within brackets.

from the Portsmouth Daily Times
Tuesday, May 8, 1917

Gun Victim Is In Bad Shape

    Physicians who have been attending Beverly Gilliland, young man from Mabees Corner, Jackson county, who was waylaid and shot by two men last Saturday evening, are planning to move their patient to either the Hempstead hospital or one at Columbus so that an operation may be performed and two of the bullets removed.
    The young man is complaining of considerable pain through his chest, where one of the bullets is lodged and is suffering a great deal. His condition is serious.
    Following the shooting, Esta and Edward Meldick, the two young men alleged to have been the assailants, left Mabees Corner in a Ford and came to Portsmouth. Early Sunday morning Esta was captured and Edward made his escape, the officer claims.
    Gilliland was shot three times. One bullet entered the neck, another the left breast and the third in the left hip.
    Esta Meldick was arraigned before Squire T. J. Edwards, Jackson county, Monday, and was held to grand jury on a $300 bond on a charge of carrying concealed weapons.

***************

from the Portsmouth Daily Times
May 9, 1917

To Probe For Bullets;
Gilliland Is No Better

    Beverly Gilliland, young man from Mabee’s Corner, who was waylaid and shot last Saturday while en-route home from work by two men, was taken to Jackson Wednesday morning where he will undergo an operation. His condition is serious.
    Esta Meldick, one of the alleged assailants, was recently held to the Jackson county grand jury on a [$300] bond for carrying concealed weapons. Ed Meldick, brother of Esta, made his escape into Kentucky before the authorities reached Portsmouth.
    Information furnished the authorities by the injured man indicates that Edward Meldick was the one who fired five shots, three of which struck Gillen.[sic]
    The trouble originated at an entertainment which was held at a school house two weeks ago. Gilliland’s father, Hugh Gilliland, requested the Meldick boys to be quiet during the program, it is said, and the boys objected. A quarrel followed.
    Then Saturday evening Beverly Gilliland was waylaid, struck with a rock and blackjack, after which he drew a knife and was then shot three times.

***************

From the Portsmouth Daily Times
May 10, 1917

Gun Victim Has Sister Living Here
     
    Mrs. E. S. Kent, of 1319 Spring avenue, this city, is at the bedside of her brother, Beverly Gilliland, of Mabees Corner, who was shot and perhaps fatally injured while on his way home from work last Saturday.

***************

    This last article was contributed by Bill Gilliland. As the small, original clipping was found tucked in an album belonging to his grandmother, Alma Howe Gilliland, the date as well as the  paper in which this was published are unknown at this time. It is quite curious that at least two Gilliland kin, Oscar Gilliland and F. M. Dever, were among the men who gave bond for Meldick, but Oscar was married to Mary Meldick. Note that in the previous articles Hughey B. Gilliland is referred to by his middle name, Beverly.

Ed Meldick Gives Up

    Ed Meldick who is charged with shooting Hugh Gilliland came to Jackson Tuesday morning and gave himself up. He was taken before Squire T. J. Edwards and placed under $2000 bond. He gave bond signed by Messrs. Oscar Gilliland, F. M. Dever and Ed Cochran. The parties in the affray will appear before Squire Edwards on May 17th.