The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-10-08

uSuU against lllllnen sOlely aS mhI-
ter Of duty; that it happened that the
state had more information about his
character than any other paper in the
state, and it was necessary for some
one to take the initiative and show him
up as he had "literally lied himself in
to office two years ago." 1t was un
pleasant, he said, to expose himself to
verbal attacks, but his course was
prompted by sense of duty to South
Carolina.
On September 3, more than one hun
dred days before he was shot, Mr..
Gonzales made his last reference to
Tillman. This was in reply to a state
ment in another paper that Tillman
said if Gonzales would call him liar,
drunkard and gambler to his face he
would resign his Office to resent it. To
this Editor Gonzales said he had no
desire for the molo-dramatic; that it
would be fiat and stale to repeat the
DeCamp performance; that he was
very well satisfied with theresult of the
election, and that certainly he had no
grievance. Those were the States last
words.
1t has been reported that Mr.. Con
zales accused Tillman of misappropri-
ating funds belonging to the Confed-
crate monument at Edgefeld. This is
an error. The woman president of the
association wrote letter to the State
for publication saying that Tillman
had collected money from several per-
sons, including $50 from William G.
Whitney, for the fund and would not
hand it over. Mr.. Gonzales declined
to publish the letter, because the
woman didn't wish to sign her name.
Tie president of the association then
went 10 the State office and repeated
the story in person, saying she had
been to Tillman several times and he
had put her off, Subsequently she re-
signed her Office without collecting the
money. The Gaffney Ledger, having
heard the current rumors, made the
charge against Tillman. The State, in
commenting on the matter, which was
then mentioned for the first time, asked
if the money from Whitney had been
paid. Tillman produced telegrams
from the new president, saying he had
paid her $50 for Whitney and $25 fol
himself, but not giving dates of pay
ment.
There are several coincidencies in
connection with the trial. The father
of the defendant, Col. George d. Till.
man, killed a man in a gambling room
before the war, and for this he served
a term in Jail. Former Congressman
George Johnstone, who is one of thC
counsel for Tillman, killed fellow
lowyer in the court room in Newberry
sey eral years ago. He was acquitted
Solicitor Thurmond, who is state OF
ticer, will prosecute the case, killed {
} young merchant in Saluda severa
} years ago. He was tried for murdeI
and defended by James Il. Tillmal
and Col. George Croft. Tillman is nov
prosecuted by Thurmond and has TO
his chief counsel Col. Craft, VIII,
helped him secure Thurmonds acquit
al.
This solicitor is assisted by Duncal
G.. Bellinger, who was Attorney len
: eral of the state while Tillman wa
Acknowledgements, aud by Judge An
: drew Crawford. Bellinger attaine
= distinction when he was solicitor by
vigorous prosecution of the "Broxto
Bridge" lynchers. These we're whit
men who killed egro.~The case wa
pushed despite the fact that the solic
3 tors life was in danger.
4 Judge Crawford is a criminal law
. yer of exceptionally high ability. Til
D man will be represented by five Law
yers. Senator Tillman has twice visite
: his nephew in Jail and is expected
+, attend the trial and give counsel th
: benefit of his ideas. He has not bee
1 on good terms with his nephew fC
: many years, but is sticking by him b.
e cause Mr.. Gonzales was always b
r open political opponent The senate
: it is believed, has Lad to furnish SON
Q Of the funds necessary for the manag
o ment of the case. Columbia Core
pondence to New York Sun.