The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-21
Mr.. Nelson Benounees the Alleged
abuse Of the Defendant by the
State Press in General and
The Dead Editor in Par
iieaIar.
Mr.. Crawford Calls the Homicide
ga Bloody Brutal Murder . Due
TO the Malice TiIIman Bore
Gonzales.

James II. Illlman Will Close GOmorToW.
It will then be for the jury to render,
It's verdict.
The closing scenes of the trial have
been intensely interesting.
Great crowds have been here all day
listening to the splendid arguments OF
counsel on both sides, and several
times during the day there were inter-
ruptions while seats were being pro-
Fided for the visitors.
s. The special train from Columbia was
crowded with people who wished to
hear the closing arguments and the
midday trains broght increasing
crowds.
A great many ladies' from Columbia
came this morning to hear the argu-
ments and both of the law classes OF
the South Carolina College were given
The opportunity Of coming here to near
the arguments OF as distinguished law
yers as are practicing IN the criminal
Courts Of the State.
It was intended shat the, argument
should close tonight, hut the frequent
recesses and interruptions took so
mnch Of the time Of the Court as to
make is impracticable to finish TO-
NIGHT. and consequently Judge Gary.
directed that he would allow an hour
IN the morning for the closing of Col.
CrofS's argument and two hours for
Gen. BeIlinger TO close the case for
the State.
The arguments that were printed
very full in The News. and Courier OF
today, and will appear tomorrow, show
the positions Of the prosecution and OF
the defence very clearly. and on that
account have sought to give very full
reports. It will be noticed that the
State is not mincing it's words nor
making lukewarm presentation, but
for some reason it seems that the de-
Sfence is decidedly on the defensive.
The attorneys for the defence seem
to be measuring their words, while
on the part Of the prosecution is far
more boldEess.
The State, as was evidenced in Col.
Crawford's address, spoke Of the kill
ing as a sbloody, brutal murder, - and
that Mr.. Gonzales was ruthless!y
slain without warning. and while
thrown of his guard by greetings Of
Col. Tillman. The State is insisting
that Col. Tillman shot Mr.. Gonzales
because Of the malice that he bore him
on account OF the editorial crusade
that was waged against Col. Iillman's
candidacy for Governor.
The prosecution insists. that Col.
Tillman simply hunted for Mr.. Con-
zales to kill him and did not give him
the chance of ''mad dog, because
of the editorials. and that the plea Of
self-defence and OF any demonstration
on the part Of Mr.. Gonzales are the
ysriest rot.
The defence, on the other hand, does
not seem to be giving SO much Of its
attention to developing any demon.
stration'' or overtact on the part OF
Mr.. Gonzales, but is devoting 3 great
deal more of its time and attention to
the editorial fight that was made on
Col. Tillmn by MI. Gonzales in the
State.
They have vigorously attacked the
policy Of Mr.. Gonzales and have urged
that he was actuased by vindictiveness
and a rule-or-ruin policy, and that he
was an element Of discord sad fire.
brand IN the State.
Then they go on TO, say that Col
TilIn1an stood more than almost any
other man would have stood. That he
was goaded on to desperation and that
he was slandered and abused and out
RACED as no other man had ever been
in this State.
The defence argues that this crusade
sof SANDER and abuse and vlilihcatlon,
as they call it, was not political, but
was the result Of resentment and
malice on the ppart OF the dead editor.
Tillman, the say, upon repeated oc-
casions, undertook to show that he
had no animosity toward Gonzales,
and to emphasize this state of mind
they made much of the letter Col. Till
man wrote to Mr.. Gonzales in 1892,
thanking him for the help that had
been given Col. George D. Tillman's
unsuccessful campaign for Congress.
The defence today has made much
of the fact that the dying declaration
OF Mr.. Gonzales, which was dictated
to Mr. Latham his private secretary,
was not offered in evidence by the
State, and claimed that it was with
held for some reason, and that fair
play and Justice demand that all the
evidence be presented to the jury.
This is the identical dying declara-
ton that was presented by DR.. j. W.
Babcock, and the State takes the posi-
ton that to have produced it again
would have been merely to duplicate
#. and that for Mr.. Latham to have
presented it would have given the de-
fence an opportunity to criticise it as
coming from the private secretary and
confidential friend Of Mr.. Gonzales.
The defence also undertook to make
capital out of the fact that DR.. Cow
ard. the first physician called, was
not presented as witness.
The State replies to this by stating
that Il was DR.. Griffith who first ad-
rnn;nistered drugs and gave medical at
tention to Mr.. Gonzales, and that he
had testified.
The State is especially emphasizing
the fact that Mr.. Gonzales was un-
,amed and is developing this by the Sc
res of witnesses who testified to this
fact. and then it is urged hoyS2, ,slute-
" foolish it would have PIX Mr..
Gonzales to have "ge - into