The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-21
Mr.. Nelson lsnouness the Alleged
lhuss Of the Defendant by the
State Press in General and
The Dead Editor in Par
tieuIar.
Mr.. Crawford Calls the Homicide
"a Bloody Brutal Murder . Due
TO The Malice TilIman Bore
Gonzales.

James II. Tilln1an will close tomorrow.
Et will then be for the jury to render.
It's verdict.
The closing scenes Of the trial have
been intensely interesting.
Great crowds have been here all day
listening to the splendid arguments OF
counsel on both sides, and several
times during the day there were inter
ruptions while seats were being pro-
yided for the visitors.
The special train from Columbia was
crowded with people who wished to
hear the closing arguments and the
midday trains broght increasing
crowds.
A great many ladies from Columbia
came this morning to hear the argu-.
ments and both OF the law classes OF
the South Carolina College were given
The opportunity of coming here to hear
the arguments of, as distinguished law
yars as are practicing in the criminal
Courts Of the State.
It was intended that the argument
should close tonight, but the frequent
recesses and interruptions took so
much OF the time of the Court as to
make it impracticable to finish TO-
night. and consequently Judge Gary
directed that he would allow an hour
IN the morning for the closing OF Col.
Crofs,s argument and two hours for
Gen. Bellinger to close the case for
the State.
The arguments that we're printed
very full in The News. and Courier Of
today, and viii appear tomorrow, show
the positions Of the prosecution and OF
the defence very clearly, and on that
account have sought to give very full
reports. It will be noticed that the
State is not mincing It's words nor
making q lukewsrm presentation, but
for some reason it seems that the de-
fence is decidedly on the defensive.
The attorneys for the defence seem
TO be measuring their words, while
on the part of the prosecution is far
more boldaess.
The State, as was evidenced in Col
Crawford's address, spoke Of the kill
ing as bloody, brutal murder, - and
shat Mr.. Gonzales 'swas ruthlessly
slain without warning and while
thrown of his guard by greetings OF
Col. Tillman. y The State is insisting
that Col. Tillman. shot Mr. Gonzales
because of the malice that he bore him
on account OF the editorial crusade
that was waged against Col. T1lIman's
candidacy for Governor.
The prosecution insists that Col
Tinman simply hunted for Mr.. Con
zales to kill him and did not give him
the chance of ''mad dog because
of the editorials, and that the plea Of
self defence and Of any demonstration
on the part o. Mr. Gonzales are the
veries5 rot.
The defence, On the other hand, does
not seem to be giving so much OF It's
attention to developing any demon.
stration'' or overtact on the part Of
Mr. Gonzales, but is devoting great
deal more Of its time and attention to
the editorial fight that was made on
Col. Tillmn by Mr.. Gonzales in the
State.
They have vigorously attacked the
policy Of Mr.. Gonzales and have urged
that he was actuated by vindictiveness
and rule-or-ruin policy. and that he
was an element Of discord aad ire
brand in the State.
Then they go On to say that Col.
Tillman stood more than almost any
other man would have stood. That he
was goaded on to desperation and that
: he was slandered and abused and out
RACED as no other man had ever been
in this State.
The defence argues that this crusade
of SANDER and abuse and villi6cation,
as they call it, was not political, but
was the result Of resentment and
malice on the ppart Of the dead editor.
Tillman, they. say, upon repeated oc-
casions, undertook TO show that he
had no animos;ty toward Gonzales,
and to emphasize this state of mind
they made much of the letter Col. Till
man wrote to Mr.. Gonzales in 1892.
thanking him for the help that had
been given Col. George D. Tillman's
unsuccessful campaign for Congress.
The defence today has made much
of the fact that the dying declaration
of Mr.. Gonzales, which was dictated
to Mr.. Latham his private secretary,
was not offered in evidence by the
State, and claimed that it was with
held for some reason, and that fair
Dlay and Justice. demand that all the
evidence be presented to the jury.
This is the Identical dying declara
tion that was presented by DR.. j. ".
Babcock. and the State takes the posi-
ton that to have produced it again
would have been merely to duplicate
il. and that for Mr.. Latham to have
presented it would have given the de-
fence an opportunity to criticise it as
coming from the private secretary and
confidential friend Of Mr.. Gonzales.
The defence also undertook to make
capital out Of the fact that Dr.. Cow
ard. the first physician called, was
mot presented as witness.
The State replies to this by stating
4hat ;t was DR.. Griffith who first ad-
n1;nistered drugs and gave medical at
tsntion to Mr.. Gonzales, and that he
had testified.
. The State is especially emphasizing
the fact that Nj. Gonzales was un-
.aned and is developing this by the Sc
ries of witnesses who testified to this
fact and then it is urged how absolute
" foolish it would have been for Mr..
Go.a.Ioe 70 have "gone down. into