Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-15
T|LLMAN ACQUITTED
End of Noted South Carolina
Murder Trial.
JURY OUT "a HOURS
MAKES STATEMENT
TO THE PUBLIC.
Regrets His Victims Death, but De-
clares He Was Forced to Do
What He Did.

LEXINGTON, S. c., October 15-The
jury in the case of ]. H. Tillman has found
him not guilty. The jury announced at
1915 am that verdict had been agreed
upon. The defendant and attorneys were
sent for, and the jury then filed into the
court room and the verdict was read.
A demonstration followed the announce
ment friends of the defendant giving vent
to their feelings in a shout The court
previous to the reading of the verdict had
admonshed the spectators to refrain from
any demonstration.
Counsel for defense moved the defend
ants discharge from the sheriff's custody.
No objections being made. by the state,
the court made the order
The jury was out about twenty hours
before returning a verdict. The defendant
shook hands with the judge and members
of the jury and left the court room, ac
companied by his friends and counsel.
Verdict Was Unexpected.
There was great uncertainty when court
convened today as to whether a verdict
would be reached. The court was proceed
ing with civil business, and aside from
some of the attorneys at the local bar and
a number of newspaper men and court Of
ficials there were but few in the court
room when a loud rapping was heard on
the door leading into the jury room. In
moment all were aStir. That was the first
sound coming from the room since the
jury retired yesterday afternoon. Hasty
summOnSeS were sent out. and with as lit
tie loss of time possible the court had
the jury'S announcement made, thus ter
minating this noted case, which was be-
gun eighteen days ago.
Soon after the jury retired yesterday
ballot was taken the result being ten to
apuuittal After QellDeratlOn
one of the two went over to the side of
acquittal, but it was not until about twenty
minutes before the jury sent word TO
the court this morning that an agreement
had been reached that the twelfth man
yielded.
Jurors Got Little Sleep.
Very few of the jurors got any sleep
during the night. The long delay caused
apprehension that a mistriel would result
The jury could not have stayed out eyond
Saturday night at midnight. The count
in the indictment charging the carrying of
concealed weapons was lost sight of in
the trial, and was not considered.
The wife and mother of the defendant.
who have attended the trial daily. were not
in the court room when the verdict was
announced but the latter was on her way
to the court house having heard the news
when her son walked out and met her on
the street. His wife awaited him at the
hotel, having been informed of the verdict
IL advance of his coming. Senator Till
man was not present today, having re-
turned to his home yesterday, where his
wife is recovering from injuries received
in a runaway accident. A telegram was
sent him Immediately after the verdict was
ammo unced.
Tillman Makes a Statement.
James Fl. Tillman, after his acquittal.
made the following statement to the Asso-
ciated Press:
Il feel very grateful at the result of the
verdict, but at no time did apprehend any
serious consequences. L, of course, deeply
regret the death of Mr.. Gonzales, but 1
was forced to do what did. 1 have never
apprehended a conviction, for l felt that I
did no more than any man would have done
under the same circumstances and what l
was compelled to do. My position was
fully stated in the testimony / gave on the
stand.
II did ask for change of venue because
/ was convinced on account of prejudice in
Richland county that l could not get fair
and impartial trial in that county. l felt
sure that as soon as my case could be pre-
Sented to an impartial jury could be vim
dicated. The verdict has justified the cor
rectness of my judgment. Lexington coun-
ty was selected by the prosecution. Its peo
pie are law abiding and have long been
noted for the correctness of their verdicts
and have been praised by the press"