Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-01-28
Mistellaneu,1s geadimg.
TALBIRD'S STATEMENT.

Story Of IN Eye Witness of the Con-
xales Tragedy.
Testimony was taken last Thursday
at the inquest into the cause Of the
death Of N. G. Gonzales, who was kill
ed in Columbia on the afternoon Of
January 15 The most direct and strik-
ing testimony was that Of Senator Ial-
bird His testimony was as follows:
Coroner Green-"Mr. Talbird, you
are senator?"
Eyes, sir"
From what county?"
Beaufort"
Please state to Mr.. Foreman and the
gentlemen of the jury what you know
about this matter.
Senator Talbird-"Governor Tillman
and myself started down from the
state house. Governor Tillman was IN
the middle, Senator Brown was on the
inside and I was on the outside. When
we got opposite the transfer station
I saw Mr.. Gonzales approaching, COM
ing in the direction as II going up the
street. (Called down the street in Co.
lumbia.) We were going down and we
were meeting him. I did not see him
until he was in about ten or thirteen
feet of US. He had on his overcoat,
buttoned up and his hands IN the
pockets of his overcoat."
I'm his overcoat pocket?"
Eyes, sir, both hands in his pockets.
When he approached little nearer
heard Governor Tillman say: How are
you, Mr.. Gonzales or something to
that effect. Mr.. Gonzales, without
paying any attention to the remark, OBJ
liqued to the left, as If to pass us on
the inside. I did not notice him any
further until he got nearly on line
with us and I heard the remark ut
tered by Governor Tillman, I received
your message, and (snapping flngers)
the shot was fired almost simultaneous
ly with the remark. I then rushed
across the sidewalk to Mr.. Gonzales.
I said, This thing must STOP. Got up
to his side. My face was turned to
him and my back was to Governor TILL
man, who, I think, went Off into the
gully; he went in that direction. Mr..
Gonzales then said, If he made step
forward'-I am not sure as to that, but
that is my impression-ands said: Here
I am; finish me- I then looked across
the street I saw Governor Tilman
walking across the street with pistol
in his hand, pointing down; pistol IN
his right hand with his eyes turned IN
our direction. Mr.. Gonzales then turn
ed and walked down Meeting street and
turned up Garvais street, I with him.
After he got on the corner he turned
around and said: I am shot In the
stomach; send for a DOCTOR 1 re-
marked that"
did you say Meeting street or Main
street,"
"Oh, Main street, I suppose; I meant
to say Main street. I am shot IN the
stomach; send for a DOCTOR remark
ed: I do not think you are shot In the
stomach I said, I do not think 80.
He said, Yes, am shot in the stom-
ach; send for a DOCTOR Two gentle
men came up, on each side OF him;
took his arm and walked him down to
his office"
"Mr. Talbird, about what time in the
day was this?"
"I would say 1t was in the neighbor-
hood Of o'clock. 1t may have been
little before or little after"
Juror-"Senator Talbird, you say you
saw Mr.. Gonzales with his hand in his
overcoat pockets?"
Eyes, sir"
Juror-"Did you see any part of his
hand outside of his coat pocket?'
II do not particularly notice that;
did not notice it. I was looking more
at his face than at his hands. 1 was
not expecting anything"
Juror-"When Mr.. Tillman said,
.Howdy do. Mr.. Gonzales he walked
on?"
He took no notice of it; he obliqued
TO the leIt. III,
Juror-"At that time were you still
on the outsider"
"Yes, sir, I was still on the outside.
Juror-"He was next to Mr.. Gonzales
Governor Tillman was next to Mr.
Gonzales?"
"Of course, I do not know. My I'M
preston at the time was that Senator
Brown was on the inside, but he claims
that he dropped back.
Juror-"Senator, when you say Gov
ernor Tillman, do you mean L1euten-
ant Governor Tillman-James n. ILL
man."
Yes, sir" ,,.
Juror-"Have you ever noticed MT:
Gonzales walking along the street at
other times with his hands In his pocK-
ets-that is his habit?' .
"I think that is his habit, sir; put
do not recollect. That Is the llrst tilHe
I have met him since l have peeh up
here" ,....
Juror-"senator, one Of the jurors
wants to know, when you turned
around and looked at Mr.. Gonzales,
did he still have his hands IN MS
pockets?'
Juror-"After the pistol was Dred!
AFTER the pistol was fired. VI
course. that Is my impression"
,Juror-"Did you hear any remark OIL
Mr.. Tillman after the shot?'
"He did not make any remark.