The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-16
GONZALEZ SHOT BY
JAMES T|LLMAN
Shoot Again You Coward"
Cries Gonzalez.
HIS CONDITION Is GRAVE
Lieutenant Governor cf South Carolina Nephew
Of Senator Tillmar, in Jail for Firing
Upon Editor Of the Columbia
Safe.
(By the Associated Press

(By the Associated Press)
Columbia S. c., Jan. 15.-At o'clock
this afternoon N. G. Gonzales, editor of
the State, was shot by Lieutenant Gov
ernor James H. Tillman, nephew of Sen
ator b. r. Tillman. There were no words
passed before the shooting Mr.. Con-
Zales was quietly going to dinner and
Colonel Tillman was coming from n
session of the Legislature. hen Tillman
fired he said something about having re-
ceived message from Mr.. Gonzales.
The latter faced Tillman and declared:
Shoot again you dirty coward
Tillman is IN Jail.
Mr. Gonzales condition at 6 o'clock
was critical. The ball passed entirely
through the body. puncturlng abdominal
organs and intestines.
There appears to be no conflict of test
mony as to the essential features of the
tragedy. MIR. N. G. Gonzales was going
home alone from his office to his lunch.
He had to go down Main street TO Ger
Was and then turn east and go down
that street. Mr.. Gonzales was, as usual.
walking
Lieutenant Goernor Tillman left the
State House just after the adjournment
OF the Senate, He had presided at the
session and remained around the Senate
chamber for a while. AS he came out
of the State House he was accompanied
by Senator Talbird, of Beaufort avne
Senator Brown, of Darlington, and ~
was joined on his way up town by Cen
orc oil
Representative Dominick The ting
was just at the turn of Main GER
vais street on the north sid f tho
street, just at the street car
station. There was no encounter. r. fha
touched the other. Lieutenant c erOnr
Tillman, the testimony now al seems SIS
be. simply drew his Revolver ana fr a
into Editor Conzales BIosG OF lose
who saw the affair say Roth-
ing said, until after ta. sa. one of
Lieutenant Governor T. ans escorts
says he thinks, thoura vi certain, Mr..
Tillman said:
Il received your message" and then
fired. The other escort OF Mr.. Tillman
says he did not nar anything and did
not see the affair, but thinks he would
have heard any words, as he was very
near. Two or three others say they heard
nothing until after the firing of the pis-
tolls.
Mr. Gonzales himself gave a perfectly
plain and explicit statement OF the whole
affair prior to being put under anesthe-
ties and he was very emphatic in saying
that he had not sent any message to
Lieutenant Governor Tillman at any
time and that Tillman said nothing until
after he fired and then after the shot
he said nothing about taking him (Gon-
zales) at his word Mr.. Gonzales took
this to mean that Mr.. Tillman told him
that ne was settling old issues face to
face with him. Mr.. Gonzales is certain
that nothing was said until after the shot
was fired. After the first shot Mr.. Con
zales tottered to the transfer station.
against which he leaned. Tillman was
still pointing mis- pistol at him. where
upon Mr.. Gonzales said:
Shoot again, you coward
Lieutenant Governor Tillman lowered
his pistol and walked away. There was
only one shot fired and that entered the
right side between the eighth and ninth
ribs and passed through The forepart OF
The body, coming out just above the ribs.
The bullet was picked UP on the pave
ment. 1t was from what is said to be
long range German make magazine
pistol, IA present to Tillman from his
brother, who is an army officer.
Editor Gonzales and Lieutenant Gov
ernor Tillman have passed each other in
full view since the opening OF the pres
ent session of the General Assembly on
Tuesday, but there had been no recog-
milton of an- kind. Lieutenant Governor
Tillman was perfectly cool and collected,
sober and mexcited, to all appearances.
Mr.. Gonzales was unarmed. Mr. Con
zales IS man or robust health and
strong physique which are in his fa-
vor.
AS he fell against the nearby transfer
station to steady himself Mr.. James
Sims and Mr. Gainewell Motto came rush
ing up and gave Mr.. Gonzales support
and helped him to the business office
of the State There with his head rest
ing on bundle OF newspapers he re-
quested that his wife be sent for, and to
stricken friends. most of whom were in
tears, he told the story of the tragedy.