The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-27

The Crime OF His Early Career and the
Way He ExPiated It in Jail.

Way He Expiated It in Jail.
ROME. Ga, Nov. 26.-Capt- B. F.. Clark. q
resident OF this city, was. in his younger days,
a neIEhbor of the noted Tillman family, and
knew both Benjamin R. Tillman and his
brother. George Tillman. until recently q mem
Der of Congress from South Carolina George
was by far the moro promising and is several
years older than Ben"
when he was 4 young man, in 1858, I
think" said Cant. Clark. "hc was : candidate
for the State Senate. He had served for SOW
eral years in the lower House, and when he
offered himself for tho Senate there was no
man who stood a better chance OF winning
than George Tillman. He was eloquent and
active, and had inspired in the minds of tho
people of the district the highest idea of his
ability and integrity. no that no one doubted
that he would be elected. He was stump!ng
The district. and during his tour he stopped one
night in the town whore ! lived. and after sup
per started out for q little amusement.
In tn t day and time. / 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 roker. roulette.
faro. and other games were INDUCED in by the
young bloods of the country az a fashionable
sport. George Tillman entered q saloon and
took a seat nj a table and was soon absorbed in
the game. Tho play proceeded quietly enough
for n while. and then n dispute arose and hot
words followed. The dealer was directly oppo-
site Tillman, and held IN his hand an ivory
knife used in putting UP the counters.
"Ttllman, was very, nearsighted. and as the
lie passed between him and the dealer he saw
the latter raise the papSr knife, and. mistaking
the man dead. In the con infusion that followed
he quietly slipped out of the room. and, mount
ing his horse. rode aw ay Mt full speed. The
man " hom he had killed was not thought much
of In the community. being regarded as rather
to apprehend Tillman, who soon found means
to get out OF the country.
"He v ent to Nicaragua and served with the
ill-starred Walker in his romantic carer in
vent further South. visiting, various south
and fought with the Cuban patriots. but whom
their efforts for freedom ended in disaster, he
decided to return to the United States. He
had gone through so many hairbreadth escapes
and thrilling adventures, that he grew weary
OF the wild life, and came back TO stand his trial
and TO trust his fate TO II jury.
His promising public career had been sud-
denly cut short by that unfortunate affair in
the gambling saloon, but he still had many
friends in Edgclleld who were willing to par
TALLY condone his youthful offence. He was
claimed any malice in the matter. heard his
statement In open court and he said that he
.houGht that Christian; the s man whom he shot.
knife. and believing that his wn life was in
danger, he fired IN self-defence.,
The jury was disposed to be lenient with
him, and he was found guilty of manelaughter.
The JIdge imposed the lightest penalty under
tho law for the crime. two years in the com
Jail r, and lie knew TIllman well. and had a
great fres M dSs5 81 r SS% when fSr NH! TiIim nhey yS were rsD both u
Jail 10 serve out his sentence he made a PROPOSE
ton to my cousin, the jailer. He told him tnat
room on the ground floor of the Jail he would At
Il up comfortably and remain in there during
tho two years of his sentence. lie gave the
taller his word as a Mason and u gentleman
that he would never set foot on the ground dur
Ing his term Of Imprisonment. The taller took
the apartment In comfortable style. He had a
lot of books carried to the Jail, and in hts room
for two years he lived, receiving occasional
callers and transacting n good deal of business
as q legal adviser TO those who chose TO avail
Of his skill and knowledge as a lawyer.
but never did he cross the threshold OF that
room. The door stood open when.the weather was
walked out at almost any time without mo-
lestation;while the taller was occupied with his
had given his word that he would not set his
foot on the ground until his term expired, and
the slightest. / have seen him sitting on the
porch with his feet dangling. over the edge.
Round p%s He was a hard student ia" and " during t ths
two years of his Incarceration he read q great
deal, and ACQUIRED a vast innd or Information.
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 I'm
his things and left the place whore he had re-
sided more like an honorcd guest than like
State convict, and resumed his law practice
People seemed TO have lost sight OF the fact
that he had served a tern, In Jail, and he soon
established himself In the estimation OF the
community, and It was not long before he was
nominated for Congress and elected with very
little opposition, For sixteen years he repre-.
fered his fret defeat. His has been one of the
most remarkable careers in the history OF this
country. lie las surmountcd every obsta sIe
that fate has thrown in his way. and has over,
come some dtiiiculties.that must have debarred
other men of less determination and strength of
character, but that experience in Jail, OF which
Ishad personal knowledge before the war, WAS
think. without TSra2'-ST Y the prison history
Of the county," - II