The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-16
FREEDOM FOR J. H. TlILLMANl Slayer of Gonzales is Ac- quilted.
 THE JURY OUT 20 HOURS
 The First Ballot Taken Stood l0toz. Soon Juror Changed, But Other Held Out to Within 20 Minutes of Time the Verdict Was Read in Court.

Lexington, s. C., Oct. 15.-The trial of James H. Tillman who was charged with the murder of N. G. Gonzales, edi- tor of The State in Columbia on Jan. IS. last. has come to an end resulting in an acquittal.
 The jury before which he has been on trial since Sept. 2s to-day brought in a verdict of not guilty, thus ending a ju- dicial hearing which has engrossed the attention of the public of South Carolina as none other has in the last quarter of century. The jury was out twenty hours before arriving at verdict. Never was Q. 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 law yers. an exceptional array of counsel. More than hundred witnesses gave tes- timony. about as many on one side as the other and nine lawyers argued before the jury.
 Exodus From Lexington.
 There was general exodus to-day from Lexington, the population of which has been materially increased during the trial. Practically every one attending
 
 State. Mr. Tillman left on an afternoon train for his home in Edgefield. accom- panied by his wife and friends from his home county.
 Not sound had emanated from the jury room when Judge Gary convened court at s:so o'clock to-day. to indicate that an agreement had been reached. Civil business was taken up and more than an hour had elapsed before q knock was heard on the door leading into the jury room. The bailiff announced that the fury desired to come into court, but the deer significance of the sound had already been appreciated, however, and all eyes turned towNr.- the jury room. Judge Gary directed the hailim to ascer- tain # an agreement had been rsacned. when the word came from within that inc jury was seturnsns wi4n seEqiets < Fsxcept for the court olIiefa{4, members sz xi,r rormR has mn1 41 &xz1p9NeFssa ssaazas who have followed the trial throughout, the court room was practically deserted. simmons were sent for the attorneys In the case, and the sheriff was directed to bring the accused into court, The Jury Comes in.
 The jurors filed In and took the seats they had occupied for so many days, but as all the attorneys had not ,arriveds. there was delay of a few moments before the decison was announced. Not all the attorneys had come In when the court inquired if there would be any opr lection to having the verdict announced without waiting, calling attention to the strain so apparent throughout the room No objection was offered.
 -"Csentlemen, have you agreed on yer. dict?" was the time-worn inquiry made by the clerk of the jury, the foreman re-l plying in the affirmative, and at the same time handing the verdict to the clerk. It took but an instant to read 1t, and when the words mot guilty were read, some of the friends of the defend ant gave vent to their feelings in shout. The previous admonition of the court did not prevent the demonstration.
 The motion of counsel for the defense for the discharge of the defendant was immediately signed by Judge Gary. the solicitor assenting; and MT. Ttllman was at liberty. When the legal formalities had been gone through with. MT. Tiilman walked up to the bench and shook hands with the judge, after which he shook the hand of each of the jurors. and later was surrounded by his friends who extended their congratulations.
 Tillman Visits Jail
 He left the court room in company with bta attornevs but left them at the front | door to go across the street to the jail visiting that institution for the last time. Gathering up his effects at the place which had been his abode for many weeks, he bade 1t good bye. He has been in custody since Jnuary 1b, his appilca- lion for bail having been refused.
 Mrs. Tillman and his mother were not | in the court room when the verdict was announced but the former had been ap- prised of an agreement and was at the jail to await the announcement and meet | her husband there The mother had heard l at her hotel some two blocks away that | the jury had come in and was hastening | on her way to the court house when she l met her son coming out on the street. | Learning the result, she threw her arms | around his neck and manifested her joy in silence. Later all were at the hotel. where MT. TilIman met friends and relatives, also had a long talk with his attorneys. Senator Tillman was not present today. | having gone yesterday to his home at | Trenton, where his wife is recovering l from injuries received in a runaway &C., | cident. telegram was sent him ad- | vising him of the outcome.
 The long drawn out deliberation of the | jury and the failure to report into court | afternoon or through the night 1 intensified the strain on those who were | awaiting the result. Soon after the jury went out yesterday afternoon, ballot was taken which resulted in ten to two l minority Joined the majority. leaving one Juror standing out. He held to his views and kept the jury out all night In fact. 1t was only about twenty minutes before the knock was heard on the jury room door this mornig that he yielded.
 Jurors Had no Sleep.
 Many of the jurors got no sleep at all during the twenty hours they were locked up.
 The count in the indictment charging the carrying of concealed weapons was not considered. consequently the charge went without action. After the verdict was announced, the clerk held up the pistols and offered them to the defendant, who waived his hand, saying: They are not mine.'
 This was the first case in which Mir. Gary had presided as a judge and 1t was with a sigh of relief that he heard the verdict rendered in a case of such inn portance and one in which so much was required of the one sitting on the bench. With the continuation of the Tillman trial the court house was soon deserted.
 As an indication of the deep interest