The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-14
State did not cross-examine Mrs.

Mr. Jesse Manahey followed. Mr..
Mahaffey is member of tie House
from Spartanburg. He is also a hu-
morist. 1t seems that he saw the
neck Of a bottle in Mr.. Tillman's
pocket about the same time Mr.. Lam
catser, who swore for the State that
he saw a pistol there. Mr.. Mahaffey
occasioned quite deal of laughter by
his comments upon bottles and their
contents, the one in Mr.. Tillman's
pocket being the one around which
his wit played.
Then Capt. J. A. White, an old
Confederate soldier, who was door
keeper of committee room in the
State House, was sworn Capt.
White told Of a man whom he was
subsequently informed was Mr.. Con-
zales, speaking to him at the Capitol.
He came to the door where he sat,
looked in and asked where was mis-
"boss," meaning Mr.. Tillman. The
man subsequently said he had made
Mr.. Tillman show the white feather
once and that he would do so again.
Capt White told Mr.. Tillman of the
incident, which he tstifed took place
the day before the tragedy.
The next witness was Mr.. r. H.
Holsenbach, an Edge6eld farmer. Mr..
Holsenbach was Interesting in many
ways. He was put forward in dual
capacity-to corroborate Capt. White
and as an eyewitness for the defence.
He testified that he cannot read nor
write. His mission IN Columbia was
to get position in the State House.
He described the incident and the
language sworn to by Capt. White.
When Mr.. Tillman and Senators Tai
bird and Brown walked down from the
Capitol the day Mr.. Gonzales was kill
ed Mr.. Holsenbach was behinda them.
When be shooting took place, accord
ing to him, he and Mrs. Melton were
standing almost side by side. He saw
Mr.. Gonzales plainly. Nj. Tillman
had walked between Messrs. Brown
and Talbird. When Mr.. Gonzales cut
across the pavement he thrust his
hand into his pocket.
These are, I think, the significant
points in the evidence of Mr.. Holsen-
bach. The witness, his character, his
conduct and his story were vigorously
assaulted by Mr.. Bellinger. The con-
hict between them was at times most
exciting. Mr.. Belllinger left no
doubt of his meaning. Mr.. Holsen-
bach was self-possessed, ready with
his answers, vigorous and emphatic.
More than once his resentment Of the
implied charges called fonrth from
him threats of personal violence
against his questioner, and so the
| combat bteween them was waged long
and ferecely. That Mr.. Bellinegr
showed discrepancies in the testimony
| Of the witness will not be denied, but
that he "broke him down" in essen
tial particulars is equally untrue. It
is understood that Mr.. Holsenbach' s
reputation for veracity will be attack
ed later, and it is also said that his
cre ,bility will be vouched for by wit
nesses for the defence. So there you
are.
Mr.. Bellinger had another battle
royal with Mr.. M. G. Lorick, a mill
emlpoyee in Columbia. Mr.. Lorick
claimed to have been standing in front
of the Opera House, just across the
street, when the shooting took place.
When he came to rehearse his testi
mony before Mr.. Bellinger there was
much excitement, the sum total o!
which was that the evidence given by
Mr.. Lorick may not be received
though it is one of the strong feature:
of the defence. The witness himsel.
displayed much resentment of Mr.. Bel
linger's treatment of him. More
than once he threatened his tormento1
from the stand, and he did so agai1
as he passed down to take his seal
among the spectators.
The witness who Immediately pre-
ceded Mr.. Tillman himself on the
stand Was Mr. E. B. Wilson, CLERK
in the Office of the Comptroller Gen
eral. He, too, was an witness
but at distance of some fifty yards
Both the State and the defence pro
fessed entire satisfaction with the &C
count of the tragedy given by Mr.
Wilson, 80 he should think himself ar
exceedingly fortunate man.
! Walking near the monument be
looked up Main street and saw Mr..
1 Tillman in the act of firing. Mr..
Tillman was about two and one-hal1
feet from the outer edge of the side
walk, and another man presumably
Senator Talbird) was in front of him
and partially hidden from the view OF
Mr.. wilson. At that time he did not
see Mr.. Gonzales at all, nor does be
recall the knot of persons composed
of Mr.. Brown, Mrs. Melton and Mr..
Holsenbach, who, according to their
testimony were just behind Mr.. Till
man. Tie full reach of Nh. Tillman's IS
arm was before the vision of Mr.. Will
son.
The State holds that Mr.. Wilosn's
description of the attitude of the men
substantiates it's own claim, while Mr..
Nelson intimated that the defence at
taches particular significance to the
manner in which he placed Mr.. Till
| man.
1t remains to be seen what applica-
tion each of them will make of the
atter.-John Marshall, in News and
Courier
JAMES H. TILLMAN TESTIFIES.
Col. Tillman, after being sworn,
took the stand, and, after stating that
ho 49, n