The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-10-13

Lexington, s. c., October 1O.-The
last witness to be heard in the trial
OF James H. Tillman, charged with the
murder of Editor Gonzales left the
stand at o'clock this afternoon, thus
concluding the taking of testimony i'm
"hat promised to be a much longer
trial than this will be- On Monday
and Tuesday, counsel will address the
jury, seven hours being given to each
Tor arguments. On Wednesday morn-
ing, Judge Gary will charge the iurv
and place the case with it for DELHI
GRAFTON and determination. This pro-
sramme was decided upon by court
and counsel and announced by the
court, just prior to adjournment to-
day.
Counsel for the defense proposed
that the case be submitted to the Jury
without argument, the state suggest
Ing that three hours be devoted to
each side, but the court proposed a
DAY each, which was accepted by the
attorneys on both sides The employ
ment OF expeditions methods has ma
terlally fastened the end of this i'm
portant case. A vast number of wit
nesses have been heard and a, great
volume Of testimony for and against
the defendant, has been placed before
the jury for it's consideration. Never
was case in this state more closely
contested than this one has been.
The testimony of character witnesses
offered by both the state and the de-
tense and arguments by counsel on
disputed points consumed the time of
two sessions today. only one witness
being on the stand at the afternoon
session. One of the character wit
nesSes for the state today was asked
as to his support for n certain repub-
lican candidate for congress. Counsel
for the state objected, General Bell
niger saying in the course Of his re-
marks that that was calling attention
| to his political standing. Judge Gary
| in ruling that the question was COM
| petent said:
( "Generally speaking Mr. Bellinger,
| | think your view the correct one but
| under the peculiar conditions down
| here 1t may affect a mans charac-
| ter
The state placed witnesses on the
| stand today attacking the veracity OF
! two witnesses for the defense.
I w. H. Geer a travelling representa-
/ tive of The State said today that he
| did not make the statement that Mr.
| Gonzales had a pistol for Mr.. Till
| man and that he CTillman) had better
| not tackle MIN WIN n SUCK because
| he would get - shot out of him, a
| remark which a witness for the de-
| fense testified he made.
| BY agreement Of counsel It was ad-
mitted that Mr.. Gonzales eye sight
was defective and that he habitually
| wore glasses, thus rendering it un-
| necessary to put on witnesses from
| Columbia sent for when the court an
| nOunced this morning that testimony
relative to this excluded yesterday
would be admitted
| The state offered in evidence certain
| records of the street railway company,
| to show the hours during which A J.
| Flowers who testified that he over
| heard a conversation had by Mr.. Con
| zales. had run cars in the summer OF
| 1902 but on insDection. finding that
| the records sustained him as to the
| time, they were asked to be with
| drawn.
| The defense IN rebuttal put on up
ward of twenty witnesses to testify
to the good character Of r. Fl. Holson-
back one OF their witnesses who
| testified relative to the shooting.
| In fixing the programme so as TO
| send the case to the jury Wednes-
day morning. Judge Gary said he did
| that so the jury would have full day
before it for the consideration of Its
verdict. instead Of sending it out at
/ night. Court adjourned shortly be-
fore q m, until $50 a. m, Mon