The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-10-14
The Taking Of the Tes.
timony Completed
Saturday.
CHARACTER WITNESSES.
Testing Credibility Of
Men Put Up BY
the Defense.
ANOTHER INCIDENT OYER
THE MENTION OF POLITICS.
Witness Mitchel1's Manner To-
ward Mr.. Bellipger Such That
He Expresses Himself
Forcibly and Clearly.
by w. w. BALL.

%exingto Oct. THE eighth day
of the trial OF James III. Tiliman sa"
the development of a large part OF the
case for the defense. The witnesses
examined were as O rule put upon the
stand to prove threats or expressions
alleged to have been employed by MI
Gonzales. One or two witnesses also
were examined with the view to break
ing down the testimony of certain wit
nesses~for the State.
AS has been said before in these re-
ports, an accurate estimate OF this
trial, it's incidents, it's issues and what
thew involve may best be had and can
only be had from the stenographic
notes which are being published daily
in this paper. Intelligent South Caro-
linians ought to read them carefully
and perseveringly, until the trial is
over. The fate of the prisoner at the
bar is a matter of profound, extraor-
binary importance-to the prisoner at
the bar and his friends; but to the
State of South Carolina, or In other
words, the people OF Carohha'
prosecuting this case larger issues are
involved. Never before perhaps has a
criminal trial including so many prin-
ciples of first Importance TO the pup
lie been seen or heard in South Caro-
lima. The journalism of South Caro-
lima is to a degree involved, for utter
ances of q large proportion or the
newspapers of the State are actuali
in evidence and the duty of an editor
to his readers, with it's limitations. Is a
subject of searching inquiry, inces-
sanity cropping out. The methods OF
S$he lawyers, for the one side or the
her, are brought into a relief incom-
Jparably sharper than In most cases
The history of South Carolina Tor a
period OF years is intertwined with tine
cause and more to the point, the his
tory of the State for years to come
may be involved in it. For these
numerous other easons, readers or rms
newspaper are urged to peruse with
attention the necessarily
story that the stenographer's hotes
tell.
Applying generally to the witnesses
examined yesterday az well as the ones
heretofore examined, 1T may De CD.
served that they were with rare, IL
any exceptions, friends, comrades IN
arms, connections, clients or political
supporters of the prisoner. This does
not necessarily affect their credtbility;
1t is quite possible that others with no
such relations to the prisoner may be
presented; but SO far the prisoner mas
been in the hands OF his friends, BY
no means was the same true OF the
witnesses for the State. At least three
or the latter, men like State Senator
Talbird, Representative Bowling and
DR.. 70. l.. Adams testified to a close
friendship with the late lieutenant
governor. Barring h gentlemen con-
nected with The State newspaper and
one or two witnesses like Dr.. j. w.
Babcoek, those presented by the pros
ecution had no direct interest way
or anther in the personality of Mr..
Gonzales or the prisoner. Lancaster,
King, Cause, Aiken, Bomar, together
with nearly all the eye-witnesses, are
witnesses wholly because 1t was their
fortune or misfortune to be. Take the
case OF Mrs. Emma G.. Melton, q wo-
man of intelligence, a woman OF Gull
ture, q woman whose virtues entitle
her to tine honorable position she oc-
cupies In private hfe-does 1t not seem
q mysterious dispensation OF Proyi-
denceV that she should have been Sc
1ected to occupy at the moment OF he
tragedy a spot from which, in her w
words, she could AVE almos reached
out and touched" It's victim? How
strange, how passing strange, that Of
all persons It should have been
left to her in the thronged
streets of Columbia at this busy
Lime to have been the observer
Nearer than all other close observers to
se and describe the doomed editor,
With his countenance perfectly pla-
with no scow1 there seemingly
absorbed in his thoughts at the In
n before the bullet from the Ger
1k1n magazine pistol pierced his body
afough and through
ome of the devoted friends OF the
#oner have testified against him.
10y of his devoted friends Ind some
INJECTIONS AVE testified for him. A
s4n, however humble, may have no
aerior as O teller OF the truth. This
no time or place to impugn any
Y'g veracity. Nevertheless. veracity,
putation for veracity, helps to lift
into positions OF trust among their
ahd at least two OF the three OF
Prisoners friends who were States
QSesas are senators or members OF