The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-10-22
TILLMAN ACQUITTED
SLAYER OF Gonzales Pronouaced Not
Guilty By Jury
WERE OUT FOR NUMBER OF HOURS
Closing Scene In . Famous Trial
Judge and Jurors Thank ID James
II. Til.man Released

1902.
Tillman shot Gonzales January IS.
1903
Gonzales died Monday. January IS.
1903
Cogoner's inquest brought in charge
OF murder against Tillman January 20.
1903.
Application for bail made in New
berry in February 1903. was refused.
July, 1903. term OF court in Colum-
bia trial was postponed on account nf
absence OF witnesses.
Chang OF venue 10 Lexington county
granted at same term of court
Defendant arranged in Lexington
September q. 1903.
Date of trial fixed for September IS.
1903.
Tillran plead not guilty September
%, 1903.
Jupry secured and taking OF tesu-
mony begun September 2S. 1903.
Prosecution closed October 3. 1903.
Defense begun, Dut court adjourned
on account of legal public sales Mon
day October 5th.
Another adjournment necessitated on
account of illness of Juror Sharpe
Tuesday, October 9th.
Defense begun its testimony Wed
! nesday. October Z, 1908.
Tillman on stand October Sth and
| 9th. 1903.
Defense closed on afternoon October
| 9. 1903
| Rebuttal witnesses for both sides
| heard October 10, 1903.
| Argument begun October IL, 1903.
| Jury charged October IA, 1903.
| Tillman acquitted October is. 1903.
Lexington, S. c.. Special.-The trial
! of James H. Tillman for the murder OF
n. G. Gonzales, has come to an end.
resulting in an acQuittal. The jury be-
fore which he has been on trial since
the 2Sth of September. Thursday
brought in verdict Of not
guilty, thus ending judicial hearing
which has engrossed the attention OF
the public of South Carolina as none
| ether has in a quarter of century.
The Jury was out for "a hours before
arriving at a verdict. Never was
case in South Carolina courts more
vigorously contested than this. The
solicitor was assisted in the prosecu-
ton by four other lawyers, while the
accused was defended by seven law
yers, an exceptional array OF counsel.
More than hundred witnesses gave
testimony, about as many on one SIDE
as on the other, and nine lawyers ar
gued before the jury.
Not a sound had emanated from the
jury room when Judge Gary convened
court at nine o'clock this morning 10
indicate that an agreement had been
reached. Civil busines was taken up.
and more than an hour had elapsed be-
fore a knock was heard OIL the door
leading into the jury room The balin
announced that the jury desired to
come into court, but the deep signif1-
canoe of the sound had already been
appreciated and all eyes turned toward
the the jury room. Judge Gary oi-
rected the baiHff to ascertain II ar
agreement had been reached. when the
word came from within that the jury
was returning with a verdict. Except
for the court officials, members OF the
local bar and the newspaper men wht
, have followed the trial throughout. thu
court room was practically deserted
Summonses was sent for the attorney:
! in the case, and the sherin was di
rected to bring the accused into cour
The word soon spread up and down tn
street that the jury was about to re
, port, bringing in others. The juror
filed in and took the seats they ha'
+ | occupied for so many days. but as al
! the attorneys had not arrived, ther
. was a delay Of few moments befor
. their decision was announced. The fe'
! minutes elapsing between the comm
in OF the jury and the announcemen
q of it's verdict were anxious ones. IN
:. defendant occupied his customary po
! sition among his lawyers, facing Tn
Jury Not all the attorneys had com
e in when the court inquired IL ther
= would be any objection to having tn
e verdict announced without waiting
n calling attention to the strain so al
! parent throughout the room, no o6Je'
It tion was Offered.
It "Gentlemen. have you agreed upon
d verdict" was the ume-worn inquir
y made by the clerk of the court, tt
d foreman replying in the amrmativ
e and at the same time hading the We
dict to the clerk 1t took but an i:
slant to read it and when the wore
Not guilty" were read some OF Il
friends Of the defendant gave vent
/ their feelings in a shout. The prev
i ous admonition of the court did n
,s prevent the demonstration.
The motion of counsel for the d
K fense for the dismissal OF the defe
IN dant was Immediately signed by JUDI
o. Gary. the solicitor asserting, when
W Tillman was at liberty to walk fro
ed the court room and go where he plea
q. ed. When the legal formalities HI
lg been gone through with. Mr.. Tilim;
~ walked up to the bench and sho'
20 hands with the Judge, after which
> shook the hand Of each o. the Ju!oi
rs and later was surrounded by l
en | friends who extended their congra;ul
on | lions. He left the court room In col
D. pany with his attorneys. but left the
cir at the front door to go across the strs
to the jail. visiting that institution
the last time. Gathering up his ene'
at that place which had been his abe
"a, for many weeks, he bade it good-b,
He has been in custody since Janua
It's Is. his application for bail having be
IS refused.
IA James H. Tillman, after his aequ
tai made the following statement
hs the Associated Press: Il feel ~
ri grateful at the result OF the yerdi
lss but at no time did apprehend any
u rious consequences. l, OF course. de
s.- " regret the death OF Gonzales. bu
=on was forced to do what l did ] b.
never apprehended conviction. 70
felt did no more than any man wo