Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-01-16
EDITOR IS SHOT
DOWN IN Street
Lieut.. Gov. Ti|Iman Of South
Carolina Shoots Editor Of
Columbia State.
VICTIM WAS NOT WARNED
When tho Men Met Tillman Drew Eis
Revolver and Fired at Close Range
The Wound Il IN Ugly One and May
Prove Fatal.

Atlanta, Ca, Jan. 16.--A long
distance telephone message from
Columbia, s. c. says:
While walking home to lunch yes.
terday Mr.. N. G. Gonzales, the editor
by Lieutenant Governor Tillman and
two state senators. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Tillrnan stepped close to Mr..
Gonzales and drawing his revolver
placed the weapon close to him and
fired. Mr.. Gonzales staggered but was
caught by two men.
The offices of the State are on the
same block as the scene Of the shoot
ing and 1t took but few moments
for great throng to assemble in front
OF the newspaper.
The excitement on the streets was
intense. Mr.. Gonzales was taken to
the office of the State, where physi-
clans pronounced his wounds very
dangerous and probably fatal.
Policeman Boland Immediately after
the shooting arrested Lieutenant Gov
ernor Tillman and took him to the po-
lice headquarters, where he was re-
lieved of two pistols-the one with
which he shot Mr.. Gonzales and
second larger revolver of 80 calibre.
From the police station he was taken
to the county jail, where he Is held.
The only attributed cause for the
shooting Is that during the recent pri-
mary election MT. Gonzales bitterly
opposed Lieutenant Governor Tillman
in his candidacy for governor.
During the progress of that CAM
paign Mr.. Gonzales in his fight to de-
feat Mr. Tillman, editorfally called
him debauchee and BLACKBOARD, de-
nounced him as criminal candidate
and proven liar"
It was this and other such editorials,
1t is supposed, that goaded Mr.. Till.
man to the desperate deed OF yester-
day. Since the first primary, August rs.
1902, Mr.. Gonzales has had nothing to
say about Mr.. Tillman except to COM
ment upon the result of the primary.
There appears to be no conflict of
testimony as to the essential features
Of the tragedy. Mr.. Gonzales was
walking home alone from his Office
to his lunch.
Lieutenant Governor Tillman left
the state house just after the senate,
over which he presided, had adjourn
ed. He came out of the state house
accompanied by Senators Talbord OF
Beaufort and Brown of Darlington, and
was joined on his way up town by
Congressman-elect Wyatt Aiken a.sa
former Representative Dominick.
the meeting with Gonzales was just
at the turn of Main and Gervais
streets, on the north side of the street.
There was no encounter, no fist fight.
Tillman, so far as the violence dis
closes, simply drew his revolver and
fired at Gonzales. Most of those who
say the affair sax there was nothing
said until after the shooting. One OF
Tillman's escorts says he thinks Till
man said:
II received your message" and then
fired.
He is not certain of this, but
thinks SO.
The other companion Of Mr.. Till
man says he did not hear anything,
but he thinks he would have heard
any words If they were spoken.
, Two or three others say they heard
nothing until after the firing Of the
pistol.
Golzales himself gave an explicit
statement of the affair prior to being
put under anesthetics. He was very
emphatic in saying that he had not
sent any message to Tillman at any
time and that Tillnan said nothing I'm.
til after he had fired. After he had
shot he said something about taking
him (Gonzales) at his word. Gonzales
took this to mean that Tillman told
him that he was settling old issues face
to face with him. Gonzales is certain
that nothing was said until after the
shooting, when he tottered to the
street car transfer station, where he
leaned. Mr.. Tillman was still point.
ing his pistol at him, whereupon Con.
zales said: "Shoot again. you COW.
ard" Lieutenant Governor Tillman
lowered his pistol and walked away.
There was only one shot fired anu
that entered the right side between
the eighth and ninth ribs and passed
through the forepart of the body, COM
ing out just above the free border OF
the rib. The bullet was picked up'|
on the pavement.
A few moments after the wounded
man had been conveyed to the Office
of his newspaper half a dozen or more
physicians were doing all they could
to save his life. He was removed al
ter a time to the Columbia hospital
and surgeons performed an operation
upon him late this afternoon. The
operation was regarded as successful
but in the Judgment Of the physicians
the wounded man has only one chance
in five to live. His constitution and
habits of life, however, are stated to
be greatly in his favor.
The wound is an ugly one. the liver
and intestines being punctured.
p R.n- q