The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-06-24
CASE OF JAMES \. TILLMAN,
Charged With the Murder of Ed
itor N. G. Gonzales.
Motion Made for Change of Venue on
the Ground That Fair Trial Cannot
be Obtained in Richland County.

Motion Made for Change of Venue on
the Ground That a Fair Trial Cannot
be Obtained in RichIand County.
Columbia, June 22.-The Circuit
Court, Judge D. A. Townsend presid-
ing, today took up the case of James
H. Tillman, charged with murder,
and a motion for change of venue was
heard. On January Is Tillman, then
Lieutenant Governor, shot and killed
N. G. Gonzales, editor of The State,
who had repeatedly denounced him
when Tillman was a candidate for
Governor last year.
The defence today produced about
500 afidavtis to show that fair trial
could not be had in this county be-
cause of prejudice against the defen.
dant. The majority of the signers OF
these afidavits are not prominent
citizens, and the principal a6idavits
were made by the defendants counsel
and friends, who asserted that the
Columbia newspapers and preachers
had melted feeling against Tillman
by their reference to the case. The
prosecution presented about 400 afi-
davits in reply. Practically all the
ministers of Columbia asserted chat
they have made no reference to the
case from their pulpits. Newspaper
men, including Messrs W. E. and A.
E. Gonzales, respectively editor and
publisher of The State, stated in afi-
davits that the Columbia papers had
conspicuously and carefully refrained
from infammatory denunciations of
the defendant. These assertions we're
backed by statments from bank presi-
dents, lawyers, physicians, college
professors, merchants and men in all
lines of business, including many
citizens of the county outside of Co
lumbia. The reading of these afi-
davits was not concluded when Court
adjourned until tomorrow morning.
The argument will doubtless con-
sumo all of the day. Counsel on each
side today contested very heartily
every point and several eloquent
speeches were made. The prosecution
is conducted by Solicitor j. VIM.
Thurmond, assisted by -Messrs. G.
Duncan Bellinger, formerly Attorney
General; Andrew Crawford and VIM.
Elliott, Jr. The defence is represent
ed by Geo. W. Croft, of Aiken, the
prisoners law partner; Ex-Judge 0.
W. Buchanan, the prisoners brother
in-law; B. P. Nelson, of Columbia,
formerly solicitor; George Johnstone,
ex-member of Congress, and George
r. Rembert, of Columbia.
Tlllman's mother, wife and child
were in Court part Of the time, as
was his uncle, Senator B. R. Tillman.
Mr.. Nelson read the afiadvits, the
first being by W. Z. Martin, which
set forth that he has heard many OF
the people of the city and county dis
cuss the shooting, and he believed
that their prejudice against the defen-
dant has beer Influenced by the news
papers of the city, which have pub
lished editorials and clippings en-
deavoring to mould public opinion,
and that articles signed by public men
have appeared calling Tillman an as
sassin and Gonzales martyr. Mr..
Martin further says that he was elect
ed director on The State, but declined
to serve on account of the bitter at
tacks made by Editor Gonzales upon
people who differed with him.
Mr.. George r. Rembert attorney at
law, stated that as an attorney for
Congressman Lever he was constantly
brought in contact with registered
voters and does not believe that fair
trial could be obtained.
The affidavit of John T. CASTOR was
substantially the same as that of W.
T. Martins, the statement being
made that he has interested himself in
securing afhdavits for change Of
venue, and that many people would
have signed them but we're afraid that
it might influence their business.
The afidavits of James F. Troy, resi-
dent of Columbia; W. D. Caughman,
resident of the county; J. A. Martin,
of Columbia, and N. E. Frick, of the
county, were practically the same,
they simply stating that public opin.
ion in this county was prejudiced
against Tillman.
ss.The aEHdavit of Senator Sharpe, of
Lexington, was next read. It stated
that the senator often visited Coium-
bia and was here on the day Of the
shooting and that in the discussion Of
the case the people often denounced
the defendant as an assassin and muir
derer. He also swears that the news
papers of Columbia have called atten-
tion to the raising of monument to
Mr.. Gonzales and articles signed by
eminent men have appeared calling the
defendant a murderer and holding up
Mr. Gonzales as martyr.
The affidavit of Ed. Marsh, resi-
dent of the county, states that soon
after the killing the minister's of the
county preached sermons condemning
Tillman and calculated to prejudice
the people of the county against the
defendant.
Affdavats were presented on the
same order as that Mr.. John Z. Gas
ton, being signed by W. H. William
son, Geo. II. Connel;ey, 0. T. Chap
pell, J.. ". Bunch, j. Espotono, D.
H. Goble, e. P. Hayes, E. C. Shull,
S. NJ. Duncan, j. Fl. Cotton, Il. W.
Dixon, M. e.. Moore, j. B. Heriot,
S. Rogers, D. p. Smith, j. B. Elkin,
M. W .Rawls, E. S. Owens, W E.