The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-02-03
UNCLE GEORGE TILLMAN.

The Crime of His Early Career and
the Way He Expiated 1t in Jail.
Rome Ga, Capt. B. F. Clark, a re-
sident of this city, was in his young
er days neighbor of tue noted Till
man family, and knew both Benjamin
R. Tillman and his brother, George
Tillman, until recently member of
congress from South Carolina.
George was by far the most promis-
ing and in several years older than
Ben.
"When he was young man in IS
5s, I think said Capt. Clark, che
was candidate for the state senate.
He had served for several years in the
lower house, and when he offered
himself for the senate there was no
man who stood a better chance of
winning than George Tillman. He
was eloquent and active,and had in
spired in the minds of the people of
the district the highest idea Of his
ability and integrity, so that no one
doubted that he would be elected.
He was stumping the district, and
during his tour he stopped one mig ht
in the town where I lived, and after
supper started out for little amuse-
ment.
"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 porker, roulette,
faro and other games were indulged
in by the young bloods Of the coun :.
try as fashionable sport. George
Tillman entered a saloon and took
seat at table and was soon absorb
ed in the game. The play proceeded
quietly enough for while, and then
dispute arose and hot words follow
ed. The dealer was directly opposite
Tillman,an held in his hand an ivory
knife used in putting up the. coun-
ters.
"Tillman was very nearsighted, aud
as the lie passed between him and
the dealer he saw the latter raise the
paper knife, and mistaking it for
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
be had killed was not thought much
of in the community, being regarded
as rather a sorry citizen, and not
much effort was made to apprehend
Tillnan, who soon found means to
get out the country.
"He went to Nicaragua and served
with the ill-starred Walker in his ro-
mantle career in that country until
after his downfall, when he went fur
ther south, visiting various South
American countries. Finally he went
to Cuba and fought with the Cuban
patriots, but when their efforts for
freedom ended in disaster, he decid-
ed to return to the United States. He
had gone through so many hair
breadth escapes and thrilling adyen-
lures 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 lie still had many friends in
Edgefeld who were willing to parti-
ally condone his youthful offence.
He was tried and confessed to the
killing, but disclaimed any malice in
the matter. I 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 be-
Ilieving that his own life was in dan
Ger, he fired in self defence.
'sThe jury was disposed to be len
lent with him and be was found gull
ty of manslaughter. The Judge i'm.
posed the lishtest 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 Till
man well, and had great deal of re-
spect for him. They were both Free
NIasors, and when Tillman was sent
to iail to serve out his sentence he
made proposition to my cousin, the
taller. He told him that ii he would
permit him to occupy certain room
on the ground floor of the jail be
would fit it up comfortably and re-
main in there during the two years
Of his sentence He gave the jailer
his word as Mason and gentleman
that he would never set foot on the
ground during his term of implison-
ment. The jailer took him at his
word, and he proceeded to furnish
the apartment in comfortable style.
He had lot of books carried to the
Jail, and in his room for two years he