The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-10-08
Jim Tlllman'S Crooked Careers Now
on Trial For His Life.

on Trial For His Life,
After two continuances and change
of venue James II. Tillman, son Of for
mer Congressman George d. Tillman
and nephew Of United States Senator
Tillman, will be put on trial in Lex
ington tomorrow for the murder of N.
G. Gonzales editor of the State, the
chief newspaper of middle and upper
Carolina AT the time the editor was
slain, Tillman was Lieutenant Gov
ernor of the state, having been elected
for two years in 1900. His term of Of
flee expired five days after the tragedy
when Tillman was in Jail.
On the day of the shooting, January
10 last, Mr.. Gonzales left his office
about 2 O'Clock in the afternoon and
was walking home to luncheon. 1t
was cold. He had on an oyercoat and
carried his hands in his pockets, with
the thumbs on the outside, acustomary
position with him. At the same time
the Lieutenant-Govern who had just
taken off the flowing purple robes worn
by the Lieutenant Governor IN South
Carolina, in his capacity as president
of the senate, left the State House
with two friends. Gonzales and the
Tillman party met just at the intersec-
tion Of the street down which Mr..
Gonzales was about to turn. When
directly opposite him Tillman extend
ed his arm and fired, the bullet enter
ing one side and passing out at the
other.
At the application for bail, which
was refused, Tillman said that he had
been notified that Gonzales had made
threats against him, and that he saw
tue editor thrust bis hand down in his
pocket. Thereupon he shot. In an
ante-mortem declaration Gonzales said
he had sent no message, made no
threat, was unarmed and expected no
trouble. Tillman used a German
magazine pistol having great penetra-
tion. He also had another revolver of
large caliber in his pocket at the time.
Two men, one doorkeeper appoint
ed by Tillman and friend of the door
keeper Of the same class, confirmed
Iillmans story. He is contradicted
by we'll known woman of this city,
and neither of the friends with whom
he was walking saw any hostile move
ment. A building contractor and sew
eral other persons known in this COM
munlty, eye witnesses, contradict Till
man. All the evidence on the subject
is that Editor Gonzales was not armed,
and had not carried a pistol for many
years.
1t is the opinion Of good many
people that the intention of Tillman
was known to several Of his intimate
friends several days in advance and de-
yelopments along this line may cause
sensations.
The published reports that Tilman
and Gonzales were political rivals or
had any interest in common or without
foundation. Their spheres in life were
wide apart They never met socially,
and had no mutual friends. Tillman's 's
, nearest approach to obtaining a social
foothold was when, through the politi-
cal influence of his uncle, he was ap.
pointed lieutenant colonel Of regi-
ment organized for the Spanish war.
On the death of its commander he be-
came colonel. He was known as q
patron Of cock fighting, taking promi
nent part in the mains, and was an IN
innate in gambling circles, where hi
was lucky.
There were hundreds of stories, mos
of them substantated, told about Till
mans career in the army and his home
life that have never appeared in print
In fact, despite the many published
statements to the contrary, he wal
never attacked Sin his private rela
tions." But these things being ii
;, the air" and talked about by all men
when the name of Tillmen was pro
posed as a member of the South Caro-
lima Society, the organization tha
gives the estate BALI each year, tn
J proposer withdrew it on assurance
that Tillman credited this to Gonzales
he and his brothers being members c
that society.
, When Tillman ran for Lieutenant
- Governor in 1900 there was very al
: sorbing contest in the gubernatorii
race, and as several we'll known me
were making the race against Tillma
his election was considered such I,
mote possibility that no attention VIZ
paid to him. Nofght was made. Th
u country people knew nothing of Il
charges against him. Being a goc
speaker and possessed of accura
knowledge of the preiudices of Il
. people in different sections, he We
easily.
II, During the session of the legislatu
fourteen months ago, Tillman a
nounced his attention of being a cand
date for governor in the primaries du
mt ing the approaching summer. Abol
. the same time he made a ruling on