Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-06-27

followed by Mr.. P. H. Nelson, for. the
defence, who also devoted himself
largely to the law Of the case. Mr.. G..
Duncan Bellinger, formerly attorney
general, next addressed the court for
the prosecution, first answering the
arguments on the other side. Solicitor
Thurmond closed for the prosecution
in a clear-cut. speech. :.
The sensation Of the day followed,
when ex-Judge o. w. Buchanan, the
defendants brother-in-law, addressed
the court. 1t was not thought that
Judge Buchanan would speak, espec-
tally as the defence had left only about
fifty minutes Of the time allotted that
side, which, it was presumed would
be occupied by Congressman George
w. Croft, Tillman's law partner. But
Judge Buchanan spoke for thirty min
ues and delivered bitter arraignment
of the. press; the commercial interests
and the people Of Columbia generally.
He asserted that commercialism had
supplanted the old southern standards.
and that the press was now at liberty
to abuse and villify any man who
spoke his honest convictions. He
charged that the State had goaded the
defendant to desperation by its abuse
of him, and said the State had now
cracked its whip and lashed the citi-
zens Of Columbia into signing affidavits
for the prosecution under fear Of the
States power. He charged that the
capitalist interest and the press were al
lied, and that men had been intimidated
into signing those aff1davits, lest their
position or their business be injured.
by grabs" exclaimed Judge Buch-
anan, " If they don't like this let them
lump it,
Judge Townsend interrupted the
speaker to say that he was consuming.
the time Of the defence and leaving
none for Mr.. Croft.
Mr.. Buchanan then took his seat and
court adjourned for dinner, with fifteen
minutes remaining Of the allotted
time. This was extended and Mr.. Croft
closed the argument, after dinner, In.
a strong speech Of about twenty min
utes. 1.
At the close the court announced
it's decision to grant the motion and
asked counsel for suggestions concern
ing the place to which the case should
be transferred. Mr.. Croft suggested
Saluda, but to this Solicitor Thur,
mond objected on the ground that Sa-
luda court house is fourteen miles
from the railroad and accommodations
are too meagre to entertain the two
hundred witnesses who would have to-
be transported there.
Mr.. Crawford also spoke in objection
to Saluda, saying that the defendants
father, the late Congressman George.
D. Tillman, was the father Of Saluda
county and that until recent years Sa-
luda was a part Of Edgefield, the de-
fendant's home.
Mr.. Nelson spoke strongly In favor
Of sending the case to Saluda, alleging
that the defendant was entitled to a
speedy trial and this could not be had
unless 1t was sent to either Saluda or
Edgefeld, as court for this, term has
been held in other counties Of this
circuit.
Mr.. Bellinger replied to the remarks
of Messrs. Croft and Nelson with much
vigor asserting that to transfer the
case to Saluda would be unwsse and
unjust to the prosecution as we'll as
inconvenient. He said that the defend
ant had waived his right to a speedy
trial by asking for continuance at the
last term Of court, when the prosecu-
tion was anxious to proceed. There
were several lively tilts between
Messrs. Nelson and Bellinger.
Mr.. Croft closed the argument, as.
serting that there were ample accom-
modation at Saluda and that it Is not
a Tillman stronghold. Judge Town
send then instructed the attorneys to
draw up an order for change of
venue and leave the county blank.