The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-16
FOUND NOT GUILTY
,vAN GOES FREE OF MURDER
OF GONZALES.
TWO WERE FOR CONVICTION.
o,yCE<LY CHANGED AND ONLY
one HELD OUT OVER NIGHT.

limit sent For - Tillman
,,.ieuds Cheered When Verdict
M. Announced-Defend Shook
hands with Judge and Jury.
saws He Has Had No Fear of
trials Acknowledgements Death of
GONZALES.
lexington. S. c., Oct. 15.-The trial
g lanes H. Tillman, who was charged
with the murder of N. G. Gonzales,
EDITOR OF The State, in Columbia on
Ian Is, last, has come to an end, re-
smiling in an acouittal.
The Jury before which he has been
m trial since Sept. % to-day brought
IN verdict of not guilty, thus end
;rg judicial hearing which has en-
crossed the attention of the public of
South Carolina as none other has in
me last quarter of a century. The
mrv was out for twenty hours be-
fore arriving at a verdict.
Never was a case in South Carolina
courts more vigorously contested than
This The solicitor was assisted in the
prosecution by four other lawyers,
while the accused was defended by
seven lawyers, an exceptional array
Of counsel More than a hundred wit
nesses gave testimony, about as many
on one side as the other and nine
LAWYERS argued before the jury.
There was a general exodus to-day
from Lexington, the population of
which has been materially increased
during the trial. Practically every one
attending had come from other parts
Of the state. Mr.. Tillman left on an
afternoon train for his home in Edge
field accompanied by his wife and
friends from his home county.
Had Reached Verdict.
Not sound had emanated from the
jury room when Judge Gary convened
court at $50 o'clock to-day to indi-
cate that an agreement had been
reached. Civil business was taken up,
and more than an hour had elapsed be-
fore a knock was heard on the door
leading into the jury room. The bail
if announced that the jury desired to
come into court, but the deep signifi-
canoe of the sound had already been
appreciated, however, and all eyes
turned toward the jury room. Judge
Gary directed the bailiff to ascertain
if an agreement had been reached,
when the word came from within that
the jury was returning with a verdict
Except for the court officials, men,
bers of the local bar and the news
pap x.-l,o +-io
through, the court room was practical
ly deserted Summonses were sent for
the attorneys in the case, and the
sheriff was directed to bring the ac-
cused into court.
The word soon spread up and down
the street that the jury was about to
report bringing in others. The jurors
MED IN and took the seats they had
occupied for so many days. but as all
Inc attorneys had not arrived, there
was a delay of a few moments before
their decision was announced. The few
minutes elapsing between the coming in
OF the jury and the announcement of
It's verdict were anxious ones. The de-
fendant occupied his customary posi-
uon among his lawyers, facing the
jury. Not all the attorneys had come
III When the court inquired if there
would be any objection to having the
verdict announced without waiting,
calling attention to the strain so appar-
ent throughout the room. No objec-
ton was offered.
IiIlmnn's Friends Shout.
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a
Vefdict?' was the time-worn inquiry
made by the clerk of the jury, the
foreman replying in the affirmative,
anu al the same time handing the YER
u'ct to the clerk. 1t took but an in
slant to read it, and when the words,
Not guilty" were read some of the
friends Of the defendant gave vent to
'nelr feelings in shout. The previous
auinonition of the court did not pre-
vent the demonstration.
me motion of counsel for the de-
fence for the discharge of the defend
ant was Immediately signed by Judge
odfy the solicitor asserting, when Mr..
!"linan was at liberty to walk from
the court room and go where he pleas
Gu When the legal formalities had
oeeh gone through with Mr. Tillman
walked up to the bench and shook
hands with the judge, after which he
SHOOK the hand of each of the jurors
o"u later was surrounded by his
friends who extended their congratu-
lations.
ne Iett the court room in company
"''h his attorneys, but left them at
'le 'front.' door to go across the street
~ the Jail, visiting that institution for
,'e last time. Gathering up his eff
'T''S at that place which had been his
p'ole Tor many weeks he babe it good
~ e lie has been in custody since Jan.
49, ms application for bail having
been refused.
"lfe and Mother Absent.
1iS' Illlman and his mother were
AZ III the court room when the YER
was announced but the former had
zen apprised of an agreement and
~ At the Jail to await the announce
~ ana meet her husband there.
mother had heard at her hotel
~ Two blocks away that the Jury
'''u come in and was fastening on
.s way TO the Court House when
one met her son con,irs -, 49,. -...ot
continued on Fifth Page.