The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-02-25
words spoken by either Gonzales or
Tillman. Z. NJ. Lide.

Personally appears Emma c. Melton,
who says on oath: am employed as
clerk in the engrossing department. OF
the legislature Of South Carolina; that
in the afternoon of the 18th Of Jan
uarv, 1903, shortly before O'Clock, l
left the State house on my way up
town. walked down the steps on
the left hand side of the capitol build
ing. but crossed over to the right Or
east side because it was very cold
and I wanted to walk in the sunshine.
AS l was passing over Geryais street,
where it intersects with Main street,
I noticed that | was walking behind
three members Of the legislature,
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman being on the out
side of the pavement, Senator Brown
on the inside; l did not know the
gentlemen walking between them at
the time. but afterwards learned that
it was Senator Talbird. These three
gentlemen retained that positian after
they Gro. sed over GervalS street into
Main. | have no doubt about this,
because I knew Gov. Tillmau perfect
II and Senator Brown was an old
friend. I was walking rapidly in order
to reach the bank before it closed, and
for that reason it was my purpose to
pass said three gentlemen, when saw
Mr. n 6. Gonzales approaching. coming
diagonally across the outside OF the
pavement On Main street to the inside
this was after the three gentlemen
named had entered Main street and
were about at the transfer station on
the corner, at the intersection OF Main
and Gervais streets. Thinking that
we ,ir. Gonzales and myselfl would
plss them at the same time, to AVOID
The crowd, l waited for Mr.. Gonzales
to pass first. AS l was looking at him,
expecting him to pass, my friend Sena-
tor Brown turned and looked at me,
but before he could speak | heard the
report of pistol shot. was walk
ing behind these three gentlemen and
towards the inside OF the Main street
pavement. / was very near thcm and
could almost have touched Mr.. Con
Zales at the moment oil the shot. l
have alway noticed that MI Gonzales
walked with his hands in his pockets.
II was a habit Of his. | saw nolling
UNUSUAL dJUlC liL.4 IlidC aSty AAio a. 49,
were down. pressed close To his side,
and he certainly did not move them in
any way up to The moment the shot
was fired. I saw nothing and heard
nothing after that moment was so
near Gov. Tiilman (obliquely to The
right OF him as he walking north on
the outside of the pavement) that l
thought it an explosion under the
pavement, the noise was so near ana
50 great. I glanced down in q flash,
and seeing nothing wrong 1t then oc-
Cured to me that it was a pistol shot;
so I ran. not knowing who had tired
the shot. Ny friend Senator Brown
came to my assistance, taking me
across the street. l was looking at
Mr.. GonZale; until the shot wa. hred
with a view Of speaking to him. He
did not look in the direction OF MI.
Tillman, he was looking directly at the
opening between the inside gentleman
iSenator Brown and the transfer
station, to which opening he was walk
inc and to which / had slowed up to
let him pass. Mr.. Gonzales face was
perfectly p acid: he had no scoWl on 1t
nor was be glaring at any one. l was
looking at him to speak to him when
the shot was tired. I had no thought
then of danger, was perfectly cool and
selfpoSSesSed until the shot was nred.
Mrs. Emma G. Melton.