The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-14

GIlal.
One additional witness was sworn by
the State this morning who declared
that be woud not believe Holsonback
on his oath. The Importance Of
Holsonback to the defense Of James
Fl. Tillman can scarcely be overesti
maed. Before the shooting he saw
Tillman "about at Gervais street. "
The witness was then at the State
house steps. While Tillman and his
companions we're crossing Gervais
street, that is, just as they crossed to
the corner of the transfer station, Hol-
sonback overlook them, walking rapid
ly or trotting," as he said. Such
was his testimony. The defense pre-
sented about 20 witnesses from Edge
field and the Johnston neighborhood,
with one from Vaucluse in his behalf.
Meanwhile Mark Toney, Lewis
Holmes, Tillman r. Denny and others
declare that they would not believe
him on his oath. Others swear that
he made to them statements about the
shooting which do not square with his
testimony at this trial 1t seems un-
fortunate that the witness who claims
to have heard "the white feather"
threat, who claims to have told Mr..
White that the man who made it was
Nj. Gonzales, that the witness who
told Tillman about it and that the
witness who is the principal eye-wit-
ness for the State, the only witness ex-
cept Lorick and the prisoner who
claims to have seen the showing in of
the hands of Mr. Gonzales, and who
does not know whether MI. Gonzales
wore gloves or not, though he is sure
his thumbs were exposed, is man
whose character for truth is not i'm
.pregnable in and around his home.
To know as much about case as Hol-
sonback claims to know, one should
have reputation for veracity above
the average Of the best. AS the conf
dante Of Mr.. Gonzales on one day and
the witness protective of the prisoners
case of self-defense the next, Holson-
back demonstrated versatility, at least.
When tie defense announced thatits
testimony in reply to the attacks on
the character Of their witnesses was
concluded one of the attorneys for the
defense announced that the defense
would propose that the case be sub
mitted to the jury without argument
if the prosecution would agree. This
suggestion MI. Bellinger promptly and
emphatically declined, reminding ths
prosecution that Mr.. Johnstone had a
few minutes before declared that the
defease would "'force the State to the
jury and lash it to the gladiatorial
sands.s' Nh. Thurmond suggested that
each side have three hours for argu-
ment and then Judge Gary suggested
that each have day.
On its face, the suggestion of elm
mating argument from the trial would
appear fair to all sides. The prosecu-
tion in declining it probably had in
mind that a full week has elapsed
since it's case was before the jury.
Ordinarily even murder trial con-
sumes one or two days, possibly three,
and the impressions of the States tes-
timony are not so likely to fade in that
time. This trial is unique in the
courts of South Carolina as to time
consumed, and the States account Of
the killing was given by witnesses in
the irts week of the trial. Between
the practical closing of the States case
ana Ine beginning OF GnaJ OF tno oe-
fense an intermission of three days
elapsed, when the case was not daily
and directly before the jury. Hence
the State would have been at a dis
tinct disadvantage in going to the
trial without argument to .freshen the
States side Of the controversy in the
minds Of the l2 Jurors.
Special to The Daily Item:
Lexington, S. c., Oct 12.-The Till
man case is now being argued before
the jury this morning. 1t was deter
mined to give one day of seven hours
to each side. The State opened with
an argument by Solicitor Thurmond,
who spoke one hour and three quar-
ters. He was followed by Geo. Rem
bert for the defense. Mr.. Rembert, in
closing, made an appeal to the jury in
behalf of prisoners uncle, Ben. Till
man, his mother, wife and daughter.
VIM. Elliott, Jr., spoke in behalf of
the State. Kohn.