The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-12-16
UNCLE GEORGE TILLMAN.
The Crime of his Early Career and The
Way he Expiated it In Jail.
Ne1U York Sun.

New York Sun.
ROME, GA, November 27.-Captain
B. F. Clark, resident of this city,
was in his younger days a neighbor of
the famous Tillman family, and knew
both Benjamin R. Tillman and his
brother, George Tillman, until recent
ly member Of Congress from South
Carolina. George was by far the most
promising and is several years older
than Ben.
''When he was a young man in 1858,
I Think" said Captain Clark, "he was
candidate for the State Senate. He
had served for several years in the
lower house, and when he offered him
self for the Senate there was no man
who stood a better chance of winning
than George Tillman. He was elo-
quent and active, and had inspired in
the minds of the people of the district
the highest idea of his ability and in
tegrity, so that no one doubted that
he would be elected. He was stump
ing the district, ard during his tour
he stopped one night in the town
where I lived, and after supper start
ed out for little amusement.
"In that day and time, I am sorry
to say, gambling was considered one
Of the ordinary vices Of a gentleman,
and very little attention was paid to
the saloons where poker, roulette, faro
and other games were INDUCED in by
the young bloods of the country as
fashionable sport. George Tillman
entered saloon and took seat at a
table and was soon absorbed in the
game. The play proceeded quietly
enough for while, and then dispute
arose and hot words followed. The
dealer was directly opposite Tillman,
and held in his hand an ivory knife
used in putting up the counters.
"Tillman was very nearsighted, and
as the lie passed between him and the
dealer he saw the latter raise the pa
per knife, and, mistaking it for bowie
knife, drew his pistol and shot the
man dead. In the confusion that fol-
lowed he quietly slipped out of the
room. and, mounting his horse, rode
away at full speed. The man whom
he had killed was not thought much of
in the community, being regarded as
rather sorry citizen, and not much
effort was made to apprehend Tillman,
who soon found means to get out of
the country.
she went to Nicaragua and served
with the ill-starred Walker in his ro-
mantle career in that country until af
ter his downfall, when he went further
south, visiting various South Ameri
can countries. Finally he went to
Cuba and fought with the Cuban pat
riots, but when their efforts for free
dom ended in disaster, he decided to
return to the United States. He had
gone through so many hairbreadth es
capes and thrilling adventures that he
grew weary Of the wild life, and came
back to stand his trial and to trust his
fate to jury.
"His promising public career had
been suddenly cut short by that un-
fortunate affair in the gambling sa-
loon, but he still had many friends in
Edgefeld who were willing to partial
ly condone his youthful offence. He
was tried, and confessed to the kill
ing, but disclaimed any malice in the
matter. [ heard his statement in open
court, and he said that he thought
that Christian, the man whom he
1, was advancing on him with an
bowie knife, and believing that
his own life was in danger, he fired in
self-defence.
"The jury was disposed to be lenient
with him and he was found guilty of
manslaughter. The Judge imposed
the lightest penalty under the law for
the crime, two years in the common
jail of the county. A cousin of mine
was jailer, and he knew Tillman we'll,
and had great deal of respect for
him. They were both Free Masons,
and when Tillman was sent to Jail to
serve out his sentence he made
proposition to my cousin, the jailer.
He told him that if he would permit
him to occupy certain room on the
ground floor of the Jail he would fit it
up comfortably and remain in there
during the two years of his sentence.
He gave the jailer his word as Ma
son and a gentleman that he would
never set foot on the ground during
his term of Imprisonment. The jail
er took him at his word, and he pro-
ceeded to furnish the apartment in
comfortable style. He had a lot of
books carried to the Jail, and in his
room for two years he lived, receiving
occasional callers and transacting a
good deal of business as legal advis-
er to those who chose to avail them
selves of his skill and knowledge as
lawyer.
"But he never crossed the threshold
of that room. The door stood open
when the weather was fine, and the
outer gate of the prison was frequent
ly left unclosed, so that he might have
walked out at almost any time without
molestation while the jailer was occu-
pied with his duties about the prison;
but George Tillman had given his word
that he would not set his foot on the
ground until his term expired, and he
valued his promise too highly to vio-
late it in the slightest. have seen
him sitting on the porch with his feet
dangling over the edge; but he never
let them 60 any nearer the ground.
He was hard student, and during the
two years of his incarceration he read
great deal great deal, and acquired a
vast fund of information. He had
travelled so extensively that with the
large fund Of book learning he was one
of the best informed men in the State
when he came out of prison.
''When the two years were out he
packed up his things and left the
place where he had resided more like
an honored guest than like state con-
vict, and resumed his law practice.
People seemed to have lost sight Of the
fact that he had served term in Jail,