The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-10-14

Gary was considerate and watchful
of his health throughout the day
and noticing that he appeared fatigued,
adjourned the court at 5 o'clock, one
hour before the usual time.
1T Is not believed that as much time
will be consumed in hearing the testi-
mony for the defense as was consumed
by the prosecution, but this is mere
conjecture.
Lexington, Oct. Sat six minut to
8 o'clock this afternoon, James III. Till
man, charged with the murder of N.
G. Gonzales, took the witness stand to
testify in his own defense. This was
the leading event of the days pro-
ceedings SO far as public interest was
concerned, but of little comparative
Importance as bearing upon the case,
for the reason that the prisoner did
not reach his story of the shooting or
the incidents Immediately preceding it.
He will resume this morning. The
prisoner bore himself with calmness
and his replies to Congressman Croft,
his law partner and leading counsel,
were well expressed, so far as the use
of words is concerned. His resonant
voice was easily heard throughout the
/ SootS oOA - AAhhNo III aSNNAhN VI ohN
ter sarcasm appeared in his answers,
as for example, when saying that he
gathered and published news as q cor
respondent i'm Washington after the
methods generally employed by news
paper men, he added Except South
Carolina" His demeanor appeared as
that of one who deemed himself a
greatly prosecuted man and at the
same time was still r%esentful. What
he said yesterday related for the most
4 n ta t1,n nnntrNxnrotno hatuynnn IN,
self and Mr.. Gonzales of former years
together with references to newspaper
attacks of The State at various times.
Mr.. Croft announced at $40 o'clock
that a new line or. phase of the ex-
animation would be entered upon this
morning inc the court adjourned.
Just before the adjournment the
question arose as to whether or not
the prisoner could testify concerning
editorials in The State bearing upon
Mr.. Bellinger objected that the edito-
rails themselves were the best evil
dence. Mr.. tombstone stressed the ar
gument that the prosecution had in
possession the files extending over the
| years of the newspapers e%xistence;
that they were not in the possession
of the prisoner.
Have you asked for them as you
did for others? You could have had
them with pleasure" observed Mr.. Bel
linger.
1--WE did ask you to bring them here"
exclaimed MI. tombstone, land you
ravished them from u.s."
That's right" quietly replied Mr..
Bellinger.
The Introduction of the editorials of
The State for an entire year, for twice
the length of time requested by the
defense In It's subpoena duces tecum,
seems to nave been one Of the sur
| prises of the trial. 1t Is not for q lay
man to inquire the reasons from the
viewpoint of the legal tactician and
advocate but to the newspaper man it
would seem to have been inevitable.
The Columbia State during the editor
ship of N. G.. Gonzales presented a case
against Lieut.. Gov. Tillman, candidate
for governor. 1t was presented with
-Xe BIlIu5A uoqqId enIa-9mn 6IaA9
has seldom been equalled in the col
umns of a newspaper. While Tillman
was a candidate and Gonzales was
alive, was the case answered? Was
an answer ever seriously attempted?
Under the law, the truth of the edi-
torial expressions is not an issue in the
pending trial. The time was. how
ever, when their truth and the truth
of similar expressions from the ma
jority of the newspapers OF South Car
olina were conspicuously in issue. The
opportunity existed for the candidate
to demolish them IL they were false in
origin. If they were not demolished,
why not? AS was said yesterday, the
case of James III. Tillman is being tried
before two juries-that larger Jury of
the people of South Carolina from
whom the Columbia State is not ex-
cluded. In behalf of the editor who is
dead, whose life twas snuffed out" by
the German magazine pistol Of Luger
contriyance, what stronger, more tell
Ing or fitting weapon In the self de-
1 fQnGp nf hid OnnH nnfpnn ot1 hNrN,o III
memory than his own masterfui rea-
soning and luminous argument could
be offered? Who in South Carolina,
even among his enemies, would deny
that N. G.. Gonzales you'd hesitate to
rest his case before the patriotic and
truth loving and fair dealing people
of South Carolina upon his own ex~
preston of the truth as he saw 1t?
Regardless of the minutiae of legal
procedure in Lexington, right and
proper In evidence as the editorials
may be there. there can be no ques-
ton of their fitness before the world
and before the public of South Caro-
lima when the liberty of the South
Carolina press is imperiled.
The defense yesterday introduced q
number of important witnesses-some
witnesses upon whom 1t has been pop
ularly supposed that it's case mainly
depends. One of them was Richard
H~olsenback. This witness occupies q
peculiar, because q dual or even treble
position. To begin with, he is one of
the two or three e~ve-witnesses pre-
scented by the defense. Again, he is
one of those upon whom the defense
leans to support the theory that Mr..
Gonzales was a man who made threats
and selected Edgefieid citizens with
whom he, had an acquaintance thai
was limited to say the least to con-
fde in-when he casually met them In
public places. In the third place, Mr..
Holsenb9ck has upon him the added
weight of all the testimony OF Cept.
j. A. White. Capt White did not know
the gentleman who accosted him in III
lobby leading to the senate chamber.
Had not he been informed by Holsenback
that 1t was Mr.. Gonzales, his testimony
possibly would not have been intro
duced. The witness Holse nback may
lbe q truthful man. but ID the