The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-08
UNCLE GEORGE TrLLMAN.
The Criine OF His Early Career and
the Way He Expiated it in Jail.

INV O<EthO Vi Akt1 ~ W.
n Way He Expiated it in Jail.
From the New York Sun.
ROME, Ca, Nov. 27.-Capt. b. F..
Clark, a resident of this city, was in
his younger days q neighbour of the
noted Ti1lman family, aud knew both
Benjamin Il. Tillman and his brother,
George Tillman, until recently a
member OF Congress from South Caro-
lima. George was by far the most
promising and is several years older
than Ben.
"When he was a young man in 1858,
| think" said Capt. Clark, "he al a
candidate for the State Senate. He
had served for several years In the
lower House, aud when he offered
himself for the Senate there was no
nan who stood g better chance of
winning than George Tillman. He
spired in the minds of the people of
the district the highest idea OF his
ability and integrity, SO that no II
doubted that he would be elected. He
was stamping the district, and during
his tour he stopped one night in the
town where L lived, and after supper
started out for a little amusement.
sin that day and time, l am sorry
to say, gambling was considered n
VI NIX oIuthuiy NlCSo VI BShUiCihdh,
and very little attention was paid to
the saloons where poker, roulette,
faro ut other games were INDUCED in
by the young bloUds Of the country as
Questionable sport. George Gilman
entered o saloon and took q seat at Il
table and was soon absorbed in the
game. The play proceeded quietly
enough for a while, and then a dispute
arose and hot words followed. The
dealer las directly opposite Tillman,
n held in his hand an ivory knife
used in putting up the counters.
"Tillman was very nea~r-sighted, and
as the lie passed between him and the
dealer be saw the latter raise the pa
per knife, and, installing it for a
bowie knife, drew his pistol and shot
the man dead. In the confusion that
followed 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 q sorry citizen, and not much
effort was made to apprehend Tillman,
who soon found mean to get out of the
country.
He went to Nicaragua and served
with the ill-starred Walker in his ro-
mantle Are in that country until az
ter his downfall, when he went fur
Their south, visiting various South
American countries. Finally he went
to Cuba and fought with the Cuban pa
triots, but when their efforts for free
dom ended in disaster, ne decided to
return to the United States. He had
gone through SO many h~airbreadth es-
capes and thrilling adventures that he
grew weary OF the wild life, aud came
back to stand his trial and to trust mis-
late to a jury.
ILLS promising public career had
been suddenly cut short by hat unfor-
tunate affair in the gambling saloon,
but he still had many friends in Edge
field who were willing to partially con
done his youthful offence. He was
tried and confessed to the killing, but
disclaimed any malice in the matter.
l heard his statement in open court,
and he said that he thought that
Christian, the man whom he shot, was
advancing on him with an open bowie
knife, and believing that his own life
"a in danger, he fired in ~self-defence
The jury vas disposed to be lenient
with him and he was found guilty OF
manslaughter. The Judge imposed
the lightest penalty under the law foI
the crime, W years in the common
was jailer, and he knew Tillman well
and had IL great deal of respect iol
him. They were both Free Masous,
and when Tillman was sent to Jail tC
serve out his sentence he made a prop
osltlon to my cousin, the jailer. He
told him that if he would perm + him
to occupy Il certain room on the GROUND
floor OF the Jail he would fit IL up com
fortably and remain in there during
the two years Of his sentence. HI
gave the jailer his word as a Mason
N M N n,fl,rNn - tlnf No rn,,ll ,A,r..
set foot on h ground during his tern
OF Imprisonment. The jailer took him
at his word, and he proceeded tC
furnish the apartment in comfortabi,
style. He had II lot Of books carried
to the jail, and in his room for two
y5ars he lived, receiving occasional
callers aud tr~8nsacting a good deal o
business as a legal adviser to those who
chose to avail of his skill and know
ledge as a lawyer.
but never did he cross the TIRES
hold of hat room. The door STOOD
open when the weather was fine, anC
the outer gate Of the prison was fire
quently left Enclosed, SO thai he nigh
have walked out at almost any time
without molestation while the jailel
was occupied with his duties abOuI
the prison, but George Tillman hat
given his word that he would not sci
his foot or the ground until his Tern
expired, and he valued his promise toe
highly to violate it in the slightest.
have seen him sitting on the porch
with his feet dangling over the eGge
but he never let them get any nearer
the ground. He was Il hard student
and during the two years Of his in
generation he read q great deal, and
acquired q vast fund OF information
He had travelled so extensively that
with the large fund of book learning
he was one of the best informed mer
in the State when he came out o!
prison.
When the two years were out he
packed up his things and left the place
where he had resided more. like ar
honored guest than like q State con.
vict, and resumed his Law practice
People seemed to have lost sight oil
the fact that he had served a term 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 six
teen years he represented his district,
and only recently he suffered his first
defeat. His has been ono of the most
remarkable careers in the history OF
this country. He has surmounted
every obstacle that fate has thrown In
his way, and has overcome some diff
fculties that must have debarred other
men OF less determination aud strength
of character, but thai experience in