The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-02-27
BENNETTsvILLE S. q, TRIDAY FEBRUARY 81, 1903.

a matter in any way; that Mr.. Tillman
repeated what he had said, and said,
81 would be glad If you would give
him that as message from me"; that
deponcnt repeated lie would not take
such a message, and Mr.. Tillman being
called went out into the office Of the
secretary of state to attend the meet
in the presence Of the members OF tho
board saw Dir. Tillman in the Office
Of the secretary Of state, but no further
reference was made to the cOnversa-
tiOn above referred to; that depOncnG
have never seen Mr.. Tillman to speak
TO him since; that deponcnt paid no
attention to the matter at the time,
Us he had heard Mr.. Tillman make u
remark during the summer that he
had stood all lie intended to stand;
that dcponent said nothing OF the
not to Mr.. Gonzales. Depolcnt never
at any time intimated to Mr.. Gonzales
anything in regard to the matter; that
he had no other reason for refusing to
take Il message to Mr.. Gonzales than
his determination, long formed, never
to take u message of such character,
knowing Mr.. Gonzales disregard Of
any kind OF a threat; he would not
have borne the message feeling that
in SO doing he would be in the position
OF being used simply to revive condl-
ist; that SO far as dcponcnt is aware
nothing appeared in the editorial
columns OF The State in regard TO
Tillman from the time OF the con-
versation with Mr.. Tillman above re-
ferrcd 70; that the conditions Of the
threat had never been fulfilled so far
us dcponent knows; that deponant
never saw Mr.. Tillman after tile day
i'll November until the opening of the
session Of the general assembly, when
while statlding in the lobby of the
hall OF the house OF representatives,
depOncnt, who WAS talking with Mr.
Gonzales near one Of the committee
rooms, saw Mr.. Tillman enter the lob
by and stand some feet away, engaging
in conversation with several gentle
men; that dcponent and Mr.. Gonzales
alter Il short time passed out Of the
lobby and went to the senate chamber.
e. j. Watson.
Personally comes c. NJ. Lide, who
being duly sworn says: l am Il broth
er-in-law OF Prof. Wardlaw Of the
South Carolina cpllcgc, who lives on
South Sumter street, in the city Of
Columbia, and there deponcnt lives
also: That on Thursday, January
10Th, 1903, was going down Main
street towards my home, which led
me past the transfer station of the
street railway, at the northeast corn
er Of Gervais and Main streets, city or
Columbia. Walking along some feet
In front Of me was Mr.. n. G.. Gonza-
les, editor OF The State newspaper; 1
also noticed coming from the direction
Of The State house, and meeting said
Gonzales, Lieut. Gov. Tillman with
two other men. l did not notice the
two men accompanying him at once to
recognize them, but did observe that
Gov. Tillman was walking on tho out
side OF the three as they came along
up Main street from across Geryais
street and that he maintained that
position with his hands in his over
coat pocket until just before he had
fired the .shot, hereinafter described.
l was not close enough to hear any
Thing that was said, either by Gov.
,Tiilnan or by Mr.. Gonzales, both of
whom [ am informed invariably spoke
in Il low voice. They Gonzales and
'rillman) approached each other, Con
zalcS going south, Tillman coming
north. Gonzales turl.ed when about
20 feet in front Of rillman to the in
side OF The pavement, Tillman being
on the outside, when just as he was
going around the three, on the inside
Of the pavement, Tillman being on
tho outside Of the three and near the
QUEER edge Of the said pavement, and
having both hands in his overcoat
Pocket, the latter, that is Tillman,
suddenly fired his pistol. / just no.
ticcd that he threw up his pistol and
fired. | do not know where he drew
his pistol from. | only know that lie
drew it up and fired instantly. Con
zales at the time had both hands in
his ovcrcoat pockets. could see that
much from the rear view | had. AS
Tillman shot Gonzales turned immcdi.
ately and then L saw that his thumb
was projecting from his overcoat pock-
cts. did not stop on my way and rs
advanced OF course 1 came nearer to
the parties. When Tillman fired the
muzzle OF the pistol was several feet
from the body OF his victim. | saw
Gonzales distinctly and l say that he
made no motion whatever or any dem
onStratiOn whatever up to the time
that Tillman fired upon him; and |
say further that if the shot had been
delayed for another step taken by Con
zales, Tillman would have shot him in
the back. AS Soon as 'Fillman fired
one of the men with Tillman threw
himself between I'illman and Con
Zalcs turned square around and looked
Tillman in the face. He then turned
towards the corner column. OF the
transfer station and leaned his head
over. Tillman still had his pistol up
as if he meant to take another shot:
he still he'll the pistol up over the
shoulder Of the man who got between
them. Mr.. Gonzales then turned
again and faced Tillman. Mr.. Sims
then went up to him, afterwards Mr..
LaMottc coming from Bonds bicycle
shop, and they almost simultaneously
took him by his arm. They asked if
Gonzales was Shot and he replied, yes,
through the stomach, whcreupon one
OF item asked where he wished to be
carried: he answered, to The State
Office and there they supported him.
AS soon as Gonzales turned to walk
around the corner into Gcrvais street
going east Tillman, sided OF 10 Ills
left and had gotten to about the first
street car track on the brick crossing