The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-09
STORY OF TRAGEDY
TOLD BY T|LLMAA
He Takes the Stand in His
Own Behalf.
HIS STORY JUST BEGUN
Believed That He Will Consume The Greater
Portion Of Today With His Narrative Of The
Circumstances Attending The
Crime.
(By the Associated Press.)

Lexington, S. c., Oct. S.-James n
Tillman went upon the stand today as
witness in his own behalf 1t was just
enc hour before adjournment that his
counsel asked that the defendant be call
ed iWht perfect composure he arose
from his seat among his attorneys and
placed himself at the clerks desk to take
the oath Although he was on the stand
an hour he has only fairly begun to get
over the vast amount of ground he must
necessarily cover 1t is predicted that
he will be on the stand all OF tomorrow
The defense has still more witnesses Thir-
teen of their witnesses were heard today
James Davis, the first witness tor the
defense today, said he was riding on a
train with the defendant from Johnston
TO Columbia. The witness said he did not
near Mir Tilman make any threats against
Gonzales.
Cole l.. Blease who says he has been
member of the Legislature and that he
was with the defendant throughout the
campaign of 1902. testified that he was
in the defendants room in hotel III Co
lumbia on the night Of the goth or 2lst OF
August, 1902, when Dr.. Adams was there,
and was reading some OF the editorials
from The State that he might be in po-
stion to reply to them III his speech. Wit
ness said Dr. Adams advised Mr.. Till
man Ito go down to The State office and
fight Gonzales, and that the defendant
said he was lieutenant governor and
could not afford to have a difficulty, that
he would be impeached,' and, added the
witness. somebody about that time made
n remark about something which Gonzales
had said about what he would do to Col
onel Tillman. Colonel Tillman said: You
needn be uneasy about that-you boys
needn't be uneasy about that: If he under
takes to attack me, | will snuff his light
out with this "
Witness testified that when a part of an
editorial referring to mock theatricals was
read Mr.. Tillman said "If he attempts
to carry out one of his threats. I will make
it the tragedy that has ever hap
pened in South Carolina.
The witnes said that the pistol in Mr..
Tillman's room at the hotel in Columbia
was there, because we expected trouble at
the opera house, adding 1--WE expected Col.
onei Tlllman to be attacked by Mr.. Con
zales." - ga -
j. A. White, of Edgefeld. appointed b.
Mr.. Tillman as door-keeper in the State
Senate at the last session of the Legs
laure, said that while he was sitting in
the lobby of the Senate a man, whom lie
was told was N. G.. Gonzales, came up to
him and asked where Mr. Tillman was
and among other things said he had made
L 4 l.. e. H. &,0-,r.
and would do it again. The witness re-
ported this to the lieutenant governor.
Richard H. Holsonback, also of Edge
field. told of the conversation which he
said Mr. Gonzales had with MIR. White
relative to making Mr.. Tillman show tie
white feather. The witness said he told
Mr.. Tillnan that night what had been
said
Witness said he was just behind Senator
Talbot. Lieutenant Governor Tillman and
Senator Brown as they approached the
transfer station in Columbia on the way
down from the State House on anuary
18th. He said as he crossed Gervais street
he saw Mr.. Gonzales coming in the OPP
posite direction on the outside of the
pavement He said Mr.. Gonzales crossed
obliquely to the left. He could have
passed on the outside he said, instead of
cutting diagonally across to the inside.
Witness said he heard Mr.. Tillman say:
Il got your message" He said that Nj.
Gonzales thrust his hand down deep in
his pocket and added that he thought MI
Gonzales was going to shoot Mr. Tillman.
He heard the shot. but said he did not
see where Mr.. Tillman drew the pistol
from. He said Lieutenant Governor TIL
man was in the middle.
Ne. C. Lorick testified that he saw Mr.
Gonzales coming up Main street nd Mr..
Tillman and two other men coming in the
opposite direction, the defendant being in
the middle He said that when Mr.. Con
zales got within four or five steps from
Mr.. Tillman he changed his course
obliquing to the left The witness said
Mr.. Gonzales had his right hand in his