The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-02

Will be Contested.
Lexington, S. c., September 2S.-Jas.
H. TilIman, former lieutenant govern-
or of South Carolina, was placed on trial
here today in the circuit court for Lex-
ington county, under an Indictment.
charging him with the murder of n. G..
Gonzales, editor of The Columbia State.
Judge Frank B. Gray presided. 1t wasI
II o'clock when the prosecutor for thisI
J. NJ. Thurmond, announced that
the state was ready to proceed with thel
trial of the case. and by the time thel
midday recess was taken at 1:30 p. M
the defendant had been arraigned. al
jury drawn and charged and all was inl
readiness for the introduction of testi-I
mony. There was every indication earl
lier that a jury could not be secured to-
day.
A GREAT ARRAY OF COUNSEL.
The court room was we'll filled, but
not crowded. Probably eve in the
history of this judicial circuit has there
been so great an array of counsel en-
gagged in the trial of a case as in the
trial of the former lieutenant governor.
The solicitor is assisted by five attor-
neys, while the defendant has eleven
lawyers. w. G. w. Croft. a representa-
tive in congress from Aiken, as chief
counsel, conducting the defense.
Mrs. ]. H. Tillman. and the mother of
the defendant We're present at the open
ing of court and remained throughout
the days session, occupying seats with
in the railing.
a vigorous contested legal battle is
in prospect. In fact it was manifested
at the very outset of the trial that every
inch of the ground is to be contested.
Nevertheless the case proceeded rapidly
today.
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES BE-
GINS.
The defense having announced its
readiness to go to trial, the defendant
who was in IN ante room where he had
been in consultation with his attor-
neys, prior to the calling of his case,
was brought into court and directed to
stand in the dock, when ne was ar
raigned in accordance with the law and
custom of this court. He was calm and
when asked to plead. replied in a clear
and firm voice:
Not guilty"
The Indictment charges the carrying
of concealed weapons. as we'll as the
more serious violation of law. Mr..
Tillman took a seat close to his attor-
neys, where he listened intently to the
proceedings.
THE JURY DRAWN.
When the court directed the impanell-
ing of a jury. a six year old boy drew
from u hat in which had been placed
the names of those composing the panel,
Il slip of paper bearing the name of a
juror who was called and accepted. 1t
was not until 1 p. m. that a second was
secured, and there was every indication
that a jury could not be secured today.
but in the next fifteen minutes the jury
was completed. The jury will not be
permitted to separate until a verdict is
rendered. Men from the country and
from the mills compose the jury. The
state objected to five of the panel and
the defense TO ten.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
q. E. Boland a member of the Column
| bia police force, was the first witness
called by the state. He took Tillman tc
the police station in Columbia, from
the scene of the shooting on January
18th. describing Tillman as standing II
the street with reference to Gonzales
He testified that Tillman said to him.
II received Gonzales message"
The witness said he asked Tillman:
Did you shoot Gonzales?" To which
he said Tillman replied that he did. h
! said the defendant carried a pistol ir
his hand and that another was found
in his pocket, When the station vas
reached. TiIlman, he said. wanted tC
keep the pistol until the station was
reached. for his protection, but witness
| insisted on taking it. He said TiIlmar
was walking d~iagonally cross the
| street. when he first say h m and look.
ing towards Gonzales. The two pistols
We're exhibited to the witness for tbs
purpose of naturalization One was ar
automatic pistol, the one which witness
said Tillman held in his and On cross
examination, he said Tillman submitted
quietly TO accompanying him to the
station.
". H. Coleman, sheriff of Richland
county. in which Columbia is located
identified the pistols as those turned
Over to him.
]. F. Walker. clerk of Richland coun-
ty, was asked to demonstrate to the
jury the working of the automatic pis-
toll An overcoat and a suit of clothes
were exhibited, which were identified