Americus times-recorder., 1903-10-16
JURY HAS ACQUITTED
JAMES H. TILLMAN
Noted Case In South Carolina
Has Come to a Close.
JURY WAS OUT "a HOURS.

Counsel for Defense Moved Defendant's
Discharge From Sheriff, and No Oh
lection Being Raised, Court Mad:
Order.
Lexington, S. c.. Oct 15.-The jury
in the case of J. H. TilIman today
found him not guilty.
The jury announced at 10: As that
a verdict had been agreed upon. Thc
defendant and attorneys were sent
for and the jury then fled into the
court room and the verdict was read.
A demonstration followed the an
announcement, friends of the defend
ant giving vent to their feelings in a
shout. The court previous to the
reading of the verdict had admonished
the spectators to refrain from any dem
onstration.
The counsel for the defense moved
the defendants discharge from the
sheriffs custody. No objections be-
ing made by the state, the court made
the order.
The jury was out about 20 hours be.
| for returning a verdict. The defen-
dant shook hands with the judge and
members of the jury and left the court
room accompanied by his friends and
counsel.
There was great uncertainty when
fCl f0
verdict would be reached.
The court was practicing with civ
il business and aside from some at
torneys of the local bar and number
of newspaper men and court officials,
there were but few in the court room.
In a moment all were astir That
was the first sound coming from the
room since the jury retired yester-
day afternoon. A hasty summons was
sent out and with as little loss of Eime
as possible the court had the jury's
announcement thus terminating this
important case which was begun 18
days ago.
Soon after the jury retired ballot
was taken, the result being ten to two
for acquittal. After some delibera-
tions one of the two went over to the
side of the acquittal, but it was not
until 20 minutes before the jury sent
word to the court this morning that
an agreement had been reached tSat
the twelfth man yielded. Very few
of the jurors got any sleep during
the night. The long delay caused ap-
prehension that a mistriaI would re-
suit. The jury could not have stayed
out beyond Saturday night, midnight
The count in the indictment charging
me carrying of concealed weapons
was lost sight of in the trial, and was
not considered.
The wife and mother of the defend
ant, who have attended the trial daily,
were not in the court room when
the verdict was announced, but the
latter was on her way to the court
house, having heard the news, when
her son walked out and met her on
the street. His wife awaited him
the hotel, having been informed of
the verdict in advance of his coming
Senator Tillman was not present to-
day, having returned to his home yes
terday, where his wife is recovering
from injuries received in a runaway
accident. A telegram was sent him
Immediately after the verdict was an
nounced.
James H. Tillman after his acquit-
tai made the following statement to
The Associated Press:
Il feel very grateful at the result
of the verdict but at no time did
apprehend any serious consequences.
|, of course, deeply regret the death
of Mr.. Gonzales, but I was forced to
do what l did. l have never appre-
hended a conviction, for 1 felt that |
did no more than any man would have
done under the same circumstances,
and what was compelled to do. My
position was fully stated in the testi-
mony I gave on the stand.
Il did not ask for a change of ven
ue because was convinced on account
of prejudice in Richland county that
could not get a fair and impartial
trial in that county. I felt sure that
as soon as my case could be present
ed to an impartial jury | could be vim
dicated. The verdict has justified the
correctness of my judgment Lex
ington county was selected by the
nrOcacutiOn