Kate’s notes:
Several unflattering articles on Washington A. Gilliland, my great-grandfather, regarding an incident near Harrisonville (now known as Minford) where he was accused of driving his team of horses while drunk and running area citizens off the road.

THE PORTSMOUTH TIMES 
JANUARY 29, 1881

WASH’S WICKEDNESS!
___________

Young Lady Thrown Down a 
Twelve-Foot Embankment
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All from the Drunkeness and Cuss-
edness of Wash Gilliland.
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   The more peaceably disposed citizens who reside in Harrisonville and vicinity greatly complain about the cussed conduct of a lot of drunken rowdies and loafers, who infest that section of Scioto County. These “duffers” come to Portsmouth, saturate their hides with bug juice, and annoy the citizens of that vicinity as much as they possibly can. One of their favorite pastimes is to crowd buggies and parties on horse-back off the pike, generally selecting a place where there is a twelve or fifteen foot embankment for their devilment.
   Wash Gilliland is one of the troublesome “citizens”. Wash keeps a store at Mabee’s Corner, Jackson County, and also runs a peddling wagon. Last Saturday, Wash filled his tank with bad whisky and started homeward. About three fourths of a mile, this side of Harrisonville, on the Portsmouth and Munn’s Road Pike, where the grade is narrow and the embankment twelve feet high, he was met by John N. McCurdy, brother of W. H. McCurdy, County Commissioner. Wash gave a whoop and yell, whipped up his horses and ran into Mr. McCurdy’s buggy, frightening Mrs. McCurdy, and nearly throwing their buggy down the embankment. Mr. McCurdy stopped his horses and looked after Gilliland. The latter had gone a very short distance when he met Miss Jessie Morris, an estimable young lady residing at Flat Woods. She turned her horse’s head and made a desperate attempt to get out of Gilliland’s way, who pulled his team toward her, making the situation still more dangerous. The left front wheel of the wagon struck Miss Morris’ horse on the hip, knocking the animal down the embankment, a distance of twelve feet and throwing the rider against the fence. Gilliland applied the whip and put his team at the height of their speed. Mr. McCurdy came back and went to the young lady’s assisstance. She was bleeding at the mouth and complained of suffering great pain about the chest and shoulders. Her injuries at the time appeared to be serious, and she was taken to her home. How the accident finally terminated, we have not been informed up to this writing, though we hope the young lady did not receive injuries that will be permanent.
   Mr. McCurdy beckoned some persons just ahead of Gilliland to stop the reckless driver, when he woud have put the wicked Wash through an athletic training that he would have remembered for many a day.
   This is not the only complaint that has come from this quarter, and granting a man the constitutional right to drink, when he becomes dangerous, he ought to be punished accordingly. A few arrests would probably stop such recklessness, and make life and property more secure.
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THE PORTSMOUTH DAILY TIMES
Saturday, Febrary 12, 1881

Wash[ington] Gilliland called at the Times office Monday, and stated that our informant was in error when he said that Gilliland was intoxicated and purposely ran into a buggy and a lady on horseback, as related a few issues ago. Mr. Gilliland states that his team was heavily loaded, and while he was arranging some of the heavy articles, one of the lines got under the [tongue]. Just then the team started down grade, and it was impossible to check them until he reached the first hill. He states that he is not in the habit of drinking much, which is also corroborated by John Riegel, of Front street. He tried to avoid the accident, but under the circumstances could not.

THE PORTSMOUTH DAILY TIMES
Saturday, Febrary 19, 1881

A Bad, Bad Man

Editor Times -- The Tribune of the 10th undertakes to vindicate Gilliland, who behaved so badly on the road a few weeks ago, which your paper has already given to the public. Now for the facts of the case. He says he was on a down grade at the time, and it being so icy he could not control his team. I will state that this is false, and refer you to Caleb Crull and Robert Scott, who saw the said Gilliland. He also went through the village of Harrisonville* calling some of the citizens g--- d--- --- ---.  He got as far as Nelson White’s, on the Dever Pike, when he vomited like a dog, as he is, and then hired a son of John Fultz to take him home. They got as far as L.A. Dever’s, when the bug juice deadened him, and he left the wagon at said Dever’s. When he met me, as referred to, he slapped his horses with the lines and hallooed: “Clear the track, God damn you; I am coming!” He is a bad, bad man.
John M. McCurdy
Feb 11, 1881

*Harrisonville is now known as Minford