The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-01
TIE EXPECTED HIS HAPPENED.
1 Change Of Venue Granted in the
TiIInan Trial.
the SENSATION OF The DAY

shE SEMSktEUM uf lfiE Daa
Vas Ex-Iudge 0. W. Buchanan's
Trade Against the Press,
Tie Commercial Interests and the Peo-
ole Geaeraliy of Columbia
Columbia, S. c., June 24-Argu-
nnent on the motion for change Of
venue in the case of James u. Till
man, indicted for the murder OF n: y.
Gonzales, was concluded at 5 O'Clock
this Afternoon, and Judge townsend
at once announced his decision that
tie change should be grnated. Coun-
sci disagreed concerning the county
where SHefcase should be sent and this
mas lefssulGdeeided Cor the present e..
The days proceedings opened with
Che argument of Mr.. Andrew Craw-
ford. for tke presecuSion, against the
motion. He spoke For an hour and q
3 half. aud ms presentation OF che law
was hisiriy compfin1gnted, He was
followed by Mr.. z. a. Nelson. for
Che defence, who also devoted himself
lsrgely Co the law of the case. Mr..
G. Duncann BelEnger, formerly At
Sorney General, next addressed the
Court fors the. prosecution, first ans
Eering the arguments on the other
side. Solicitor Thurnond closed for
the prosecution in clear-cut speech.
The sensation Of the day followed,
when Ex-Judge0., w. Buchanan, the
defendants brother-in-law, addressed
the Court. It was not thought that
Judge Buchanan would speak, especial
" as the defence had left only about
Sfty minutes of the time allotted that
side, which. 1T was presumed, would
/ be occupied by Congressman George
~. Croft, Tillman's IS law partner. But
Judge Buchanan spoke for thirty min
uses and delivered bitter arralgn-
rnent Of the press, the commercial in
terests and the people generally OF
Columbia. He asserted that COM
anerciaIisnn had supplanted the old
Southern standards, and that the press
vas now sst7 liberty to abuse and vllilfy
any man who spoke his honest convic-
Sions. He charged that the State had
goaded the defendant TO desperation by
tS abuse Of him, and said the State
llad now cracked its whip and lashed
She citizens Of Columbia into signing
.andaFiSss for the prosecution under fear
OF the States power. He charged
that the, capitalist interest and the
press were allied, and that men had
been intimidated into signing those
.affdayits, lest their position or their
business be injured.
By grabs, exclaimed Judge Buch-
anan, ssiif if they don t like this let them
lump IT,
.Jadge Townsend interrupted the
speaaser TO say that he was consuming
she time of Che defence and leaving
none for Mr.. Croft.
Mr.. Buchanan then took his seat
anu Court adjourned for dinner with
fifteen, minutes remaining of the al
.sotSed time. This was extended, and
-r. Croft closed the argument, after
diurar, in strong speech Of about
cHeEsy minutes.
sc Ses close the Court announced its
decision 80 grant the motion and ask
ed counsel for suggestions concerning
iEssne Race to which the case should be
S-ansferraa Mr.. Croft suggested
Saluaa, Dut to this Solicitor Thur
aaond objected on che ground that
ssalnaa Court House is fourteen miles
rom fhe railroad and accommodations
are tco gnsag-e to entertain the two
saandrss Witnesses who would have
ssoshe gyansported there.
,,Jepr Crawford also spoke n ob5ec-
s;on to S,aluda, saying that the defen-
Ssnt,s father. the late Congressman
George ID. Tillman, was the father OF
Saiuda County and that until recent
years Saluda was part or Edgenelo,
Ehe defendants home.
Ar. Nelson spoke strongly IN favor
IF sanding the case to Saluda, alleging
that the defendant was entlsieo 70
sgsedy trial and this could not De hao
mnless il: was sent to either Saiuoa OF
Edgs6eld, as Court for this term mas
oesn held in other counties OF this
Mr. BelIinger replied to the remarks
of Messrs. Croft and Nelson with much
vigor. asserting that to transfer the
case TO Saluda Wouii be unwise and
r1nrinss TO the prosecution as well as
snconyenieat. He said that the defen-
.dant had waived his right to speedy
trial by asking for continuance at
the last term Of Court, when the pro m
secution was anxious to proceed. There
we're several lively tiits between
Messrs. Nelson and BeLinger.
Mr. Croft closed the argument, as
Sertino that there were ample accom-
nodations at Saluda and that it is
not Tillman stronghold. Judge Town
send then instructed the attorneys to
draw up an order for change OF
vepue and leave the county blank for
she present 1t is supposed ne will
announce his decision On that point
tomorrow. -.
The case must be tried in the Judi
c;al circuit, in which there are flve
esnnties. This county, Richiand, IS
new eliminated by today's decision;
Edgeseld is the defendants home and
counsel for defence admittd that they
did. not expect it to go there, al
slough counsel for the. prosecution
ossfesred EdgeGeld to Saluda. saluda
IS raw county, cut off seven years