Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-10-24
TILLMAN ACQUITTED
Slayer OF Gonzales Pronounced Not
Guilty Ry Jury
WERE OUT FOR NUMBER OF HOURS
Closing SC ne I'm n Famous Trial
Judge and Jurors Thank ID Jsoiss
81. Tn,man Released.

The first trouble between Tiuman
and Gonzales begun in 1892. renewed
during the Spanish American war Ia
iS9S. became violent in contest for
Lieutenant Governor in 1900.
The relations became absolutely
strained In gubernatorial campaign in
1902
Tinman shot Gonzales January IS.
1903.
Gonzales died Monday. January IS.
1903.
Coroner's inquest brought in charge
OF murder against Tillman January 20.
1903
Application for oail made i'm New
berry IN February 1893. was refused.
July. 1908. term OF court IN Column
bia trial was postponed on account OF
absence OF witnesses.
Chang OF venue TO Lexington cOulty
granted az same term OF court
Defendant arranged in Lexington
September 81. 1903.
bate OF trial fixed for September IS.
1898
Tinman plead not guilty september
IS 1908.
Jupry secured and taxing OF te.r-
mOny begun September IS. 1908
Prosecution closed October 3. 1903.
Defense begun. out court adjourned
ON account OF legal public sales Mon
day October 9Th.
Another adjournment neccssiiatcl on
account or Hines. OF Juror sharpe
I Tuesday. October 9Th.
Defense begun its testimony Wed
nesday. October 7. 1908.
Tilman on stand October Sth and
I 9Th. 1903.
Defense closed on afternoon Octooer
| ?. 1908
Rehuttal witnesses FOR both sides
I heard October 10. 1903
Argument Aesun October ~. 1903.
Jury charged October IA. 1903.
I Tulman acquitted October 10. 1908
Lexington. 5. c.. specisl-Tho trial
I or James n. Tillman fog tnc murder %
4 -. q. Gonzales. has come q an enc.
/ resulting in an acquittal The jury be-
+ Gore which he has been on trial since
/ tho cSth OF September. Thursday
/ brought ia verdict 81 mot
/ guilty thus ending . judicial hearing
I which has cnErcssed the attention OF
+ the public OF South Carolina As none
+ ether has in q quarter OF ccuturS.
I The jury was out for "a hours before
arriving at verdict Never WIS a
case I'm South Carolina courts more
/ vigorously contested than this The
+ solicitor was assisted In the prOsecu-
. ton by four other lawyers. while Oh,
accused was defended by seven law
. yers an exceptional array % counsel
/ More than a hundred witnesses gave
testimony. about as many on one side
as ou the other. and nine lawyers ar
gucd before the jury.
Not a sound had emanaied from the
+ lory room when Judge Gary convened
indicate that an agreement had been
( reached Civil bushes was taken up.
I and more than an hour had elapsed be-
fore a knock was heard cn the door
leading into the jury room The halln
+ announced that the jury desired 20
+ come into court. but the deep s.guid-
canoe OF the sound had already been
i appreciated and all eyes turned toward
ile The jury room. Judge Gary d.
le.ted She bailir 90 ascertain II an
agreement bad been reached. when the
Novd came from within that the jury
was returning with verdict. E1ccpt
fcr the cour, officials. members of the
local bar and the newspaper men VINO
have followed the trial throughout. the
court room was practically deserted.
SgmmCnses was sent FOR the attorneys
in the case. and the sheriff was de
rected 90 bring the accused into court
The word soon spread up and down tine
street that the jury was about TO re-
port. bringing ln others. The jurors
nled In and took the seats they had
occupied for so many days. but us al
the attorneys had not arrived. there
was a delay OF few moments before
their decision was announced. The few
minutes elausing between The coming
In OF the jury and the announcement
OF its verdict We're anxious ones. The
defendant occupied his customary po 81
s.iion among his lawyers. facing The
jury Not al the attorneys had come
In when the court Inquired If there
would be- any objection 90 having the
verdict announced without waiting,
calling attention 90 the strain SO APP
parent throughout the room. no oOjCc-
ton was Offered.
Gentlemen. have YOU agreed upon q
vcrdict2" was the timc-wCrn inquiry
made by the clerk OF the court the
foreman replying in the affirmative
and al rhe same time hading the ver-
diet Go the clerk IL took but an in
slant 10 read IL and when the words
Not guilty" were read some o. the
friends OF the defendant gave vent "a
their feelings in shout The previ-
ous admonition OF the court did not
prevent the demonstration.
The motion OF counsel for the de-
Tense FOR the dismissal OF the defen-
dant VAS Immediately signed by Judge
Gary. the solicitor asserting. when Mr.
Tllm2n was at liberty TO walk from
the court room and 90 where he pleas
ed. When the legal fOrmalities had
been gone through with. Mr.. Tillman
walked up 10 the bench and shook
hands with the Judge. after which he
shook the hand OF each o. the jurors