The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-11
The Last Witness Heard in
the TiIIman Case.
COUNSEL OPEN MONDAY
Seven Hours Given to Those on Each Side.--
on Wednesday Morning Judge Gary
Delivers His Charge to The
Jury.
(By the Associated Press.)

exington, S. c., Oct. 10.-The last wit
ness to be heard in the trial of James H.
Tillman, charged with the murder of Gdi-
tor Gonzales, left the stand OF four
o'clock this afternoon thus concluding the
taking of testimony in what promised
to be a much longer trial than this will
be On Monday and Tuesday counsel VIII
address the jury, seven hours being gwen
to each for arguments. On Wednesday
morning Judge Gary will charge the jury
and place the case with it for deliberatiop
and determination. This program was
decided upon by court and counsel and
announced by the court just prior to ad-
jcurnment today.
Counsel for the defense proposed that
the case be submitted to the jury with
out argument, the State suggests that
three hours be devoted to each side,
but the court proposed day each when
was accepted by the attorneys on Doth
sides. The employment of expedition
methods has materially FASTENED the end
of this important case. A vast number
of witnesses have been heard and a
great volume of testimony for an argu-
ment against defendant, has been placed
before the jury for its consideration.
Never was a case in this State more
closely contested than this one has been.
The testimony of character witnesses
offered by both the State and the de-
Tense and arguments by counsel on dis
puted points consumed the time of Two
sessions today, only one witness being
on the stand at the afternoon session.
One of the character witnesses Tor the
State today was asked as to his sup
port of a certain Republican candidate
fo- Congress. Counsel for the State OBJ
jected, General Bellinger saying IN tn
course of his remarks that that was
calling attention to his political stand
ing. Judge Gary in ruling that the ques-
t1on was competent said:
Generally speaking, Mr.. Bellinger, /
think you view the correct one, but under
the peculiar conditions down here 1t
may affect a mans character
The State placed witnesses on the stand
today attacking the veracity of two wit
nesses for the defense. w. FL. Ger, a
travelling representative of The State
said today that ne did lot make the
statement that Mr.. Gonzales had a pis-
tol for Mr.. Tillman and that he (Tillman)
had better not tackle him with a stick
because he would get hell shot out of
him, a remark which witness for The
defense testified he made.
BY agreement of counsel it was adm {
ted that Mr.. Gonzales eye-sight was de-
fectiye and that he habitually wore
glasses, thus rendering it unnecessary TO
put on witnesses from Columbia sent for
when the court announced this morning
| that testimony relative 20 this. excluded
yesterday would be admitted.
The State offered in evidence certain
records Of the street railway company %
show the hours during which A. j. Flow
ers, who testified that he overheard a
conversation figured in by Mr.. Gonzales,
had run cars in the summer of 1902, but
on inspecting finding that the records 3ce-
tanned him as to the time, they We're
asked to be withdrawn.
The defense in rebuttal put on up
ward of twenty witnesses to testify as
to the good character of r H. Holson-
back one of their witnesses who testified
relative to the shooting
In fixing the program so as 10 send
the case to the jury "Wednesday morning
Judge Gary said he did that SO the jury
would have a full day before it for the
consideration of it's verdict instead of
sending it out at night. Court adjourned
shortly before 5 p m, until 9:30 a. N ,
Monday