The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-29
lLLMAN
ON TRIAL
FOR MURDER
Rapid Progress Made on
the First Day.
JURY SECURED
AND CHARGED
Prisoner Arraigned Pleads
Not Guilty in Firm Voice.
BRILLIANT ARRAY
OF LEGAL TALENT
Able Men Represent Both the State and
the Defendant--C courthouse Filled
With People Interested I'M Trial,
but There is No Crowding.
Several Witnesses Have
Been Heard.
BRILLIANT ARRAY
OF LEGAL TALENT
tDy Associated Press.l

LEXINGTON, S. c.. Sept 2S.-James
H. Tillman. former Lieutenant Governor
CT South Carolina, was placed on trial
rere to-day in the Circuit Court Of Lex
.iigton county under an indictment chars-
ng him with the murder of n. c. Coli
zalcs, editor Of the Columbia State.
Judge Frank 3. Gary presided. 1t was
II o'clock when the prosecutor for this
circuit. j. NJ. Thurmond, announced that
the State was ready to proceed with the
trial Of the case, and by the time the
midday recess was taken at 100 z. M,
the defendant had been arraigned, a jury
drawn and charged. and all was In read-
ness for the Introduction of testimony.
There had been every indication earlier
that jury could not be secured to-day.
The court-room was well filled, but not
crowded
Probably never In the history OF this
judicial circuit has there been so great
an array OF counsel engaged In the trlai
Of case as in the trial OF the former
Lcutenant-G Governor. The solicitor Is ass
sisted by five attorneys.tyw wh lie the, de-
fendant has eleven lawyers, with ",
G. w. Croft, representative In Congress
from Aiken, as chief counsel, conducting
the defense.
Mrs j. II. Tillman and the mother of
the defendant were present at The OPEN
ing OF court, and remained throughout
the days session, occupying seats within
the railing.
A vigorously contested legal battle is in
prospect. In fact, 1t was manifested at
the very outset OF the trial that every
inch Of the ground Is to be contested.
Nevertheless the case proceeded rapid
~ to-day. Immediately upon reconvenng
at 3 p. NJ, the examination of witnesses
was begun and when court adjourned. six
witnesses had testified. Beginning to-
morrow court will sit early and late, and
the trial pushed to n conclusion at tho
earliest possible date.
The defense having announced Its readi-
ness to go to trial. the defendant, who
was in an ante-room. where he had been
in consultation with his attorneys prior
to the calling OF his case, was brought
into court and directed to stand In the
dock, when he was ari'aigned In ac-
cordance with the law and custom of this
court He was calm, and when asked
to plead, replied in clear and firm
voice: mot guilty"
JURY SECURED.
The indictment charges the carrying OF
concealed weapons as we'll as the more
serious violation of law. Mr.. Tillman
took a seat close to his attorneys where
he listened intently to the proceedings,
When the court directed the impanclling
of a jury. a slx-year-old boy drew from a
hat In which had been placed the names
Of those composing the panel, a Slip OF
paper bearing the name of Juror, who
was called and accepted. 1t was not until
p. NJ. that n second was secured and
there was every indication that jury
could not be secured to-day, but In the
next fifteen minutes the jury, was coin
pleted The jury will not be permitted
to separate until verdict is rendered.
Men from the country and from the
mills compose the jury. The State OBJ
jected to five of the panel and the de-
fense to ten.
G. Boland, member Of the Columbia
police force, was the first witness called
by the State. He said he took Tillman to
the police station In Columbia from the
scene of the shooting on January 18TH
describing how Tillman was standing IN