The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-09
TILLMAN IN His own DEFENCE
TELLS OF CHALLENGE TO DUEL
HE SENT GONZALES.
Says Gonzales Boosted He Had Tillman
Blackballed ut Club-Witnesses for
Defence Say Gonzales Had Hands Deep
in Pockets When He Met Tillman.

Defence Say Gonzales Han HANDS l1eep
in Pockets When He Met Tillman.
LEXINGTON, 8. c., Oct. s.-James H. Till
man, charged with the murder OF N. G,
Gonzales, took the stand to-day to testify
in his own defence. Replying to questions
by Congressman Croft his law partner and
leading counsel he reviewed his relations
with the editor whom he shot. His account
OF the shobting was not reached to-day.
Tillman was calm in his bearing, and his
deep voice could easily be heard throughout
the courtroom. He said that he was born
June ~, 1860. He related that in 1890 in
Winnsborough. s. c., he published in a
newspaper, over the pseudonym Fair
Play" letter correcting misstatement5 OF
N. G. Gonzales about his uncle, B. r. Till
man, then candidate for Governor.
Gonzales wrote to the editor, demand
ing the name Of the writer. and Tllman
declined to send it, but when Gonzales
printed bitter attack upon him he did
publicly acknowledge the authorship.
A few months later, when he desired
to join the South Carolina Club, which gives
the annual State ball during fair week
would be blackballed, and Tllman with
drew his name.
He then sent George S. Legare, now Men,
Der Of Congress from the Charleston dis
trict, to Gonzales, inviting him orally
to meet him in Georgia, but Gonzales re-
quired that he should put tho invitation in
writing. He would not do this, because
he did not wish to violate the anti-duelling
laws, but nevertheless went to Georgia
and waited two days for Gonzales, who
did not come.
He told Of various attacks made upon
him in the State. continuing until after last
years campaign. and denied charges con-
tanned in them.
II think Gonzales's paper has been pretty
we'll devoted to me and members Of my
family since 1t was established" he said.
Referring to the cause Of the trouble
he was gathering the best information
possible for the papers he represented
after the manner adopted by newspaper
men generally. adding, with something
like sneer, except by those In South
Carolina"
James A White Of Edgeaeld. Senate
doorkeeper appointed by Tillman when he
approached him during the session Of the
Senate the day before the shooting, In
auired where Tillman was and said that he
had made Tillman show the white feather and
would make him show II again. Dick
Holsenbach of Edgefield was present
and told him that the man was Gonzales. and
he Immediately afterward related the in
cident to Tillman.
Holsenbach, a farmer OF Edgefeld county
corroborated the story OF White. He said
that he saw Tillman. Talbird and Brown
when they were about to cross Gervais
street. He wished to speak to Tiflman
about getting him appointed as doorkeepsr,
steps behind them when the shooting oo-
Cured.
He saw Gonzales approaching, was ex.
pectin ing Gonzales to fire upon Tillman and
watched him closely. Gonzales had hie
hands in his pockets with his thumbs out
and rammed his right hand deep into hif
pocket at the moment before Tillman fired
The witness voluntarily remarked during
the cross examination that he could not
read.
NJ C. Lorick, a mill operative. was another
eye witness sworn who professed to have
seen Gonzales ram his right hand down
into his coat pocket before Tillman fired
He swore that Tillnan was arrested on
the opposite side Of the street from that on
which the arrest actually was made, and
the defendants attorneys recalled him to
the stand and let him correct his state
ment.
Mrs. NJ. A. Evans. an elderly woman
estified that she met Gonzales near the
State Office just after she had passed Till
man. Gonzales, she said, "had a vindictive
set expression on his face" his hands were
in his coat pockets, and though she couldn't
see his hand, 1t looked as though he had q
weapon In it within the pocket.