The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-10-09

lexington. ). c., October line de-
Tense in the case of J. H. Tillman has
entered upon the presentation of its
side of the case, Solicitor Thurmond
having announced when the trial was
resumed today that the state would
rest. No further testimony was Of
fered by the state. Nine witnesses for
the defense were heard today. 1t is
estimated that the defense will con-
sumo the remainder of the week with
Its witnesses. Juror Sharpe who has
been sick for the past three days was
able to sit through today, although
court was adjourned an hour earlier
on his account.
The defense first renewed the mo-
ton to have the jury instructed to
disregard all testimony relative to the
possession of a weapon by the defen-
dant previous to the shooting, con-
tending that no connection had been
shown between that and the shoot
ing. The court ruled that the testi-
mony was competent, in view of 9TH
er testimony given by witnesses for
the state.
Editorials from the Columbia State,
relating to 3. H. Tillman were then
read and offered in evidence by the
defense.
In ruling on a point in controversy,
affecting the Introduction Of editorials,
the court stated that the purpose for
which the editorials was admitted was
to show the feelings existing between
the defendant and n. G. Gonzales.
The first witness called today by
| the defense was T. D. Mitchell, who
was resident of Columbia in 1902
He was asked if he had had any con-
| verSation with n. G.. Gonzales in
| 1902. in which the name of ]. H. Till
/ man was mentioned. He replied in
| the affirmative, saying:
| II think it was some time in Sep
| tember, just after one of those edi-
| torials In his paper. was published
| Witness said he met Mr.. Gonzales ir
the street and asked by counsel tC
| detail the conversation, said among
| other things, that he asked Mr. Con.
zales if he did not think 1t about
| time to let up on old Jim.' giving Mr.
| Gonzales reply, witness said, he saiC
| j can slap his face and he would moi
! resent it. ;" The witness further
| stated that Gonzales said If he ever
| bats his eyes at me. I'll fill him so full
| Of lead he can't tote it off, The wit,
ness said he told Mr.. Tillman of thu
| conversation.
On cross-eXaminatiOn, witness sai(
| he forced the converse ton on Mr.
| Gonzales; also that he knew Mr.. Con
| gales by sight, but never was intro
| duced to him. and further that he haC
| been told a few days after the shoot
| ing that the conversation would bt
| good evidence for the defendant H,
| said he had sympathized with Am
| brose E. Gonzales.
| A j. Flowers. a street railway con
| ductor in Columbia. in 1908 in an
| swer to counsel for the defense saic
he had heard u conversation had b!
| Mr.. Gonzales during the summer o
| 1902. He said Mr.. Gonzales and thre,
| other men were riding on his car il
Columbia. Asked to state the conver
| sation. the witness said:
Il had a big load of passengers am
was going collecting fares and help
ing the ladies and children off and
got pretty close to them collectin
! fares and they We're discussing poll
tics. the three men and Mr.. Con
zales. and l just overheard what
did hear"
Mr.. Nelson: He was not talking t
you?"
NO. sir the witness replied. "
heard him tell them tnat if ha did 10
j succeed in defeating Mr.. Tillman i
the governors office. that he woul
! never be seated. because he would ki
the rascal" He said ne did not thin
anything of the rema rks at the time
and on cross-eXamin1rion said it wa
! not until two months ago that h
: told this. and IN answer to furthe
: questions. said he wrote to the &c
, fendant. The letter was introduce
~ counsel for defense and in il th
witness said he would appear rs
: witness if ne could be of any servic
, He was a member of Col. Tillman
, re-iuent
p. w. Hughes of Warrenton. sal
he was in Columbia IN 1902 and viii
walking down Main street with fou
r'en. whom no named. they met NJ
Gonzales. a Mr.. Stroud of the
number he said. was asked by NJ
Gonzales about the mill vote He sai
no asked Mr. Gonzales if he didn
: 'h,nk he had done Mr.. Tillman a gres
iriustice. 20 which he said Mr.. Cor
Zales renlied that he Would e,
~rea ter Injustice after election and
= ought to be lead"
a August Blalock testified that
was with Mr.. Hughes at the time ar
that he heard this conversation.
n. B. Cheshire, a printer on an Al