The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-16
FOUND NOT GUILTY.
Continued from First Page.

She threw her arms around his neck
and manifested her joy in silence.
Later all were at the hotel, where
Mr.. Tillman met friends and rela-
tives, also had a long talk with his
attorneys. Senator Tillman was not
present to-day. having gone yesterday
to his home at Trenton, where his
wife is recovering from injuries re-
ceived in a runaway accident. A tele-
gram was hastily sent him advising
him of the outcome.
The long drawn out elaboration of
the jury and the failure to report in
to court during yesterday afternoon
or through the night intensified the
strain on those who were awaiting
the result. Soon after the jury went
taken which resulted in ten to two
for an acquittal.
Soon after one of the minority join
ed the majority, leaving one juror
standing out. He held to his views
and kept the jury out all night. In
fact, it was only about twenty min
utes before the knock was heard on
the jury room door this morning that
he yielded. Many of the jurors got
no sleep at all during the twenty
hours they were locked up
Refused the Pistols.
the carrying Of concealed weapons was
not considered, consequently the
charge went without action. After the
verdict was announced the clerk held
up the pistols and offered them to the
defendant, who waved his hand, say
ing: "They are not mine"
This was the first case in which
Judge Gary had presided as a Judge
and it was with a sigh of relief that he
heard the verdict rendered in a case of
such great importance and one in
which so much was required of one
sitting on the bench. With the culmi-
nation of the Tillman trial the court
house was soon deserted.
AS an indication of the deep interest
manifested in this trial locally and
abroad it need only be said that it re-
quired some eight or ten telegraph
wires to accommodate the newspaper
correspondence.
The trial ended just eighteen days
from the day the jury was drawn and
court was in session thirteen days out
of that time, with the addition of the
short time consumed this morning in
receiving the report of the jury and in
going through the brief legal formali-
ties closing up the case.
TiIlman'S Statement.
Mr.. Tillman after his acquittal made
the following statement to the Asso-
ciated Press:
II feel very grateful at the result Of
the verdict, but al no time did 1 appre-
bend any serious consequences. /, OF
course, deeply regret the death of Mr.
Gonzales, but was forced to do what l
did. l have never apprehended a con-
viction for 1 felt that 1 did no more
than any man would have done under
the same circumstances and what I
was compelled to do. My position was
fully stated in the testimony 1 gave
on the stand.
II did ask for a change of venue be-
cause l was convinced, on account of
prejudice in Richland county. that 1
could not get a fair and impartial trial
in that county. 1 felt sure that as soon
as my case could be presented to an
impartial jury I could be indicated
The verdict has justified the correct
ness of my judgment. Lexington
county was selected by the prosecution.
Its people are law-abiding and have
long been noted for the correctness Of
their verdicts and have been praised by
the press"