The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-20
vordict Rendered After Alb
sence Of twenty Hours
From Courtroom.
INF CONTEST VIGOROUS
r. cotci,or Mas Assisted by Four Other Law
..,s While Inc Accused Was DEFENDED by
c,y.r---Nore Than a Hundred Wi
nssses Gave Testimony.
2v the Associated Press.)

1ay5ngton. :. c., Oct. 15.-The trial OF
,.~a. Fl. Tiilman, who was charged with
.A, murder Of \. G.. Gonzales. editor of
~h. State in Columbia, on January 18Th
las. has come to an end, resulting IN IN
~,,or-ttal. The jury before which he has
,..r ag trial since September IS, today
sronrht in a verdict of not guilty, thus
or7,rz a judicial hearing, which has en-
crossed the attention of the public of
c,n-h Carolina as none ether has in the
last quarter of a century.
The Jury was out for twenty hours be-
fore arriving at a verdict. Never was a
case in south Carolina courts more Wig
oouslv contested than this. The solicl-
tar 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
witnesses gave testimony, about as many
on one side as the other. and nine law
vers argued before the jury.
There was a general exodus today from
lexington, the population of which mas
been materially increased during the trial.
Practically every one attending had come
from other parts of the State. Mr.. Till
man Iett on an afternoon train for his
home in Edgefeld, accompanied by his
wife and friends from his home county.
Not q sound had emanated from the
jury room when Judge Gary convened
court at 9:30 o'clock today. to indicate
that an agreement had been reached. Civil
business was taken up and more than
all hour had elapsed before a knock was
hear on the door leading into the jury
room. The bailiff announced that the
jury desired to come into court, but the
deep significance of the sound had al
ready been appreciated. and all
eyes turned toward the jury room. Judge
Gary directed the bailif to ascertain if
ali agreement had been reached when
word came from within that the jury was
returning with a verdict.
Except for the court officials, members
Of the local bar and the newspaper men
who have followed the trial the court
room was practically deserted. Sum-
mOnseS were sent for the attorneys in the
ease and the sheriff was directed to bring
the accused into the court. The wore
soon spread up and down the street that
the jury was about to report. Tae jurors
fled in and took the seats they had oc-
upied for 80 many days but as all the
attorneys had not arrived there was a
delay Of a few moments before their de-
csion was announced. The few MINUTES
elapsing between the coming in of the
jury and the announcement Of its verdict
were anxious ones. The defendant occu-
pied his customary position among his
lawyers, facing the jury. Not all the
1+40rqea,-- hCI oo-o~ - 1-Io-, +hn ,o,,r
a,Eed if there would be any objection
to having the verdict announced without
waiting. calling attention to the strain
50 apparent throughout the room. No OBJ
lection was offered.
1t took but an instant to read the ver-
dcJ and when the words mot guilty
were pronounced some OF the friends Of
the defendant gave vent to their feelings
IN a shout.
The previous admonition of the court
dd not prevent the demonstration.
The motion of counsel for the defense
tor the discharge of the defendant was
immediately signed by Judge Gary, the
solicitor asserting and Ny. Tillman was
at liberty. When the legal formalities
mad been gone through with, Mr.. Tillman
walked up to the bench and shook hands
with the Judge after which he shook the
Aand Of each Of the jurors, and later was
surrounded by his friends who extended
uelT congratulations.
lie departed from the court room IN
company with his attorneys out left them
d. the front door to go across the street
" The jail for the purpose of gathering
Up nj! affects. He has been IN custody
since January -, his application for bal
having been refused.
Mrs. Tillman and his mother were not
| e"e court room when the verdict was an
houncad. but the former had been ap
b'5e1 OF an agreement and was at tn;
Ja-l 10 await the announcement. The
mother mad heard at her hotel, some tWi
''0cas away, that the jury had come il
ana vas Fastening on her a to tn
1oIr1 house when she met her son coming
0"s on the street. Learning the resui
cue threw her arms arounu his necl
s"' manifested her joy in silence. La
al were at the hotel, Wher'
'l-. .i.aan met friends and relative
@'a Also had a long talk with his alto
.eEs. Senator Tillman was not preser
'.f#. having gone yesterday to his HON
i~'ehio1, where his wife is ~recoVerln
.''- injuries received in a runaway acc
80 'iSSldh Was hastily ScHb III
'aZl. tag him of the outcome.
lh' long drawn out deliberations of tt
g'.. ."" The failure to report into coul
r''.'- Yesterday afternoon or through tt
"'74. intensified the strain on those WI
@,'0 "~@a'tlng the result. Soon after tt
,of went nut yesterday afternoon a bale
"Art, which resulted in ten to tN
'h "'luital, Shortly after one of tt
'"..y Joined the majority, leaving OF
standing out. lie held to his view
Kept the jury out all night. In fat
a. "'' only about twenty minutes befol
hn'fk was heard on the jury roo
'H.> morning that he yielded. MAJ
r"' jurors got no sleep at All drril
r, '""a0F hours they were locked up.
H." count in the Indictment chargir
for 'E4og OF concealed eapon was II
vs, ''H. consequently the charge we
+"' action. After the verdict. was 4
"0'' the clerk held up the pistols al