Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-10-22
TILLMAN is NOT GUILTY
THE SENATOR GETS HIS LIBERTY
AFTER REMARKABLE TRIAL.

Columbia, on January Is last, ended
in an acquittal. THE jury be-
fore which Gilman has been on trial
since September %, brought in a YER.
dict Of not guilty, thus ending
judicial hearing which has engrossed
the attention OF the public Of South
Carolina as none other has in the
last quarter OF century. The jury
was out for twenty hours before ar
irving at verdict. Never was a
case in South Carolina courts more
vigorously contested than this. The
solicitor was assisted in the proSecu-
tion by four other lawyers, while the
accused was defended by seven law
yeIs, an exceptional array Of counsel.
More than hundred witnesses gave
testimony, about as many on one side
as on the other, and nine lawyers
argued before the jury.
Mr.. Tillman left on an afternoon
train for his home in Edgefield, ac-
companied by his wife and friends
llOlb Ilo LULU COuulJs
Not a sound had emanated from
the jury room, when Judge Gray con-.
vened court at $3.50 O'Clock to
indicate that-an agreement had BEEN
reached. Civil business was taken
up and more than an hour had
elapsed before word came that the
jury had determined upon verdict.
The jurors filed in and took the
seats they had occupied fer so many
days. The defendant occupied bisl
customary position among his law
yers, facing the jury.
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon
a verdict" was the time worn inquiry
made by the clerk. The foreman re-.
piled in the Affirmative, and at the
same time handed the verdict to thei
clerk. 1t took but an instant to read
it, and when the words "not guilty"i
were heard, some Of the friends oil
the defendant gave vent to their feel.
ings in a shout, though the court had'
previously admonshed those present
not to make any demonstration.
The motion by counsel for the de-
Tense for the discharg Of the defend
ant was Immediately signed by Judge
Gary, the solicitor asserting, and
Tillman was at liberty. When the
legal formalilies had been gone
through with, TiIlman walked up to
the bench and shook hands with the
Judge after which be shook the
hands Of each Of the jurors and later
was surrounded by his friends, who
extended their congratulations.
He left the court room in company
with his attorneys, but parted with
them at the front door to go across
the street to the Jail, visiting that
institution for the last time to gather
up his effects. He has been in GUS
tody since January Is, his application
for bail having been refused.
Mrs. Tillman and the defendants
mother were not in the court room
when the verdict was announced, but
the former had been apprised of an
agreement and was at the Jail to
await the announcement and met her
husband there. The mother had
heard at her hotel, some two blocks
away, that the jury had come in and
was Fastening her way to the court,
house when she met her son coming
put on the street. Learning the re-
suit she threw her arms around his
neck. Later all gathered at the
hotel where they received their
friends and relatives. Senator Till
man was not present having gone to
his home at Trenton, where his wife
is recovering from injuries received
in a runaway accident. A telegram
was sent him advising him of the
outcome.
The court in the indictment charg-
ing the carrying Of concealed weap-
ons was ignored during the trial and
the jury took no action on it.
After the verdict was announced
the clerk held up the pistols which
had figured in the trial and offered
them to the defendant who waved
them off, saying: "They are not
mine"
James II. Tillman, after his ac-
uuiItal made the following statement
to the Associated press:
81 feel very grateful at the result
of the verdict, but at no time did
apprehend any serious consequences.
i, of course deeply regret the death
Of Mr.. Gonzales, but l was forced to
do what l did. l have never appre-
hended conviction, for l felt that
| did no more than any man would
have done under the same circum-
stances and what / was compelled to
do. Ny position was fully stated 10
the testimony l gave on the stand,
81 did not a FOR change OF
venue because ] was convinced that
on account OF the prejudice in Rich
land county that | could not get
fair and impartial trial in that
county. l felt sure as soon as my
case could be presented to an impair
tial jury, could be 7indicated. The
verdict has justified the correctness