Transcribed from 'The Summerside Journal'. January 22, 1902
Terrible tragedy at Alberton. On Friday last, about noon or shortly after, a shooting affray occurred at Alberton, by which Archibald Graves lost his life at the hands of George Gillian. The tragedy was the outcome of ill feeling existing for some time between the parties. An inquest was held in the Alberton Court House Friday evening before Mr. James Barclay, Coroner, and jury consisting of Messers. George R. Montgomery, foreman, John Crockett, John Agnew, Thomas Wilkinson, George Harvey, Joseph Leonard and George White. The evidence of Avit Gaudet, Hector Currie, John Fielding, Vera Clark, John T. Profit and Dr. Ross was taken. Mr. Currie saw the men in a scuffle near Myrick's store and young Gaudet trying to separate them. They broke hold and Gillian ran into Myrick's store and threw off his coats and laid them on the shutters. He went into the store and then came out, apparently excited, and fired two shots, after which the men heard another clinch, Graves getting the better of it for a time, but Gillian finally getting the mastery. Mr. Fielding corroborated this and also said that Graves ran after Birch, who was passing in a sleigh, and wanted him to fight. He considered Graves pretty drunk but Gillian was sober. Avit Gaudet said: After the man was shot I saw George Gillian jump on him with his knees. I told him not to kill him for God's sake. He caught him by the throat and threw his whole weight upon him. I heard only one shot fired. I picked up Graves and carried him to the store of William Clark. I only saw my boy pull Gillian off him. After taking him into the store I bathed him with cold water and sent for doctor and priest.
Mr. Profit's evidence corroborated the foregoing. He also said: when Gillian came out of the store Graves went towards him. Gillian stepped two or three paces towards Graves and pulled the revolver out of his pocket. They were now about one foot apart. When Gillian fired, Graves made a jerk back, then a second was fired. They then clinched, Gillian throwing him. Gillian was on his left side, and was trying to kick at him. Gillian then struck him three or four times with his right hand, holding him with his left. I sang out to Gillian, who got up and kicked Graves twice, Graves lying apparently lifeless. Stepping back a few feet, he then jumped on graves with both feet. Gillian was caught off guard by Fred Gaudet, while Avit Gaudet carried Graves towards his own house. Graves was pretty drunk.
Vera Clark's evidence was as follows: I saw the commencement of the affair. Graves was in our shop when he saw Gillian at Myrick's warehouse. He said: "I guess I'll go and have a talk with Gillian." I told him not to go two or three times. He said he would go, but would be back in a few minutes. He went over and said to Gillian, "Good-morning. What grudge have you against me?" Gillian said none. I think Archibald caught Gillian by the coat collar. Gillian also caught him. Gillian called for help and Fred Gaudet came to his assistance. Fred separated them. Gillian got up and went over to Myrick's store and took off his coat. He rushed for Graves, but turned and went over to Myrick's platform and felt all the pockets of his coat. Graves was across the street near Gaudet's house. Gillian came out of Myrick's. I saw Graves rush towards him. They cinched. Gillian had his arm around Graves neck. He took a revolver from his pocket with the other hand and fired two shots at Graves. Graves fell at the first shot. After the second shot Gillian jumped on Graves with both feet, also striking him on the head with his revolver. I heard Fred Gaudet tell Gillian to go home. I heard Gillian say "I'll fix him," and he called him bad names. Archibald didn't clinch Gillian till after the shooting. Graves fell at the first shot. They had hold of each other the first shot, I think. Dr. Ross found Graves unconscious when he was called in. He was in a state of collapse. He ordered him to be taken home, as the store was cold. He was taken home and died about fifteen minutes after reaching there. Dr. Ross performed an autopsy, and found a wound in the abdomen, about two inches from the hipbone. He found two wounds in the spleen, and the abdomen was filled with blood. He was of the opinion that death of the deceased was due to internal hemorrhage from the wounds in the spleen.
The jury returned the following verdict: "The deceased, Archibald Graves, came to his death by shots fired from a revolver in the hands of George Gillian."
The deceased, Archibald Graves, kept a beer saloon in Alberton. He was about twenty-eight years of age. Gillian is about fifty years of age, and is a widower, with several children. He is a constable, and the trouble between him and Graves arouse out of Scott Act matters. Gillian gave himself up to Stipendiary Magistrate Tweedle Friday evening. His preliminary examination took place before Mr. Tweedle Saturday afternoon, the evidence being much the same as that given at the inquest, Mr. James E. Birch giving additional and corroborative evidence. The Stipendiary, at the conclusion of the evidence, sent Gillian up to the Supreme Court for trial, on the charge of murder. He was brought to Summerside Sunday evening, by Mr. W.D. White, and lodged in jail to await trial at the June term of the Supreme Court in Summerside. He came quietly and peaceably, bidding a number of his friends in Alberton good-bye.
Conclusion
George Gillian's trial was set for the 1902 June term of the Supreme Court in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. He was found guilty of Manslaughter, he appealed the decision and was granted another trial. That trial occurred in the 1902 November Term of the Supreme Court, he was again found guilty and sentenced to Dorchester penitentiary.