The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-29
A Jury is Secured and the
Taking Of Evidence
Begins.
SIX WITNESSES TESTIFY
Ii is Estimated That Two Hundred are TO b.
Heard and That The Legal Battle viii
be Fought With Stubborn
Determination.
(By the Associated Press

10y bHe ASSOCldlGu IIeSS.J
Lexington, S. c., Sept. 2S.-James H.
Tillman. former lieutenant governor of
South Carolina. was placed on trial here
today in the Circuit court for Lexington
county, under an Indictment, charging
him with the murder of N. G. Gonzales.
editor of the Columbia State.
Judge Frank b. Gary, presided. 1t
was IL O'Clock when the prosecutor for
this circuit, ]. M. Thurmond, announced
that the State was ready to proceed with
the trial of the case, and by the time the
midday recess was taken at 1870 p. m. the
defendant had been arraIgned, a jury
drawn and charged and all was in readl-
ness for the introduction of testimony.
There was every indication earher tnat
jury could not be secured today. The
court room was well filed but not crowd
ca. Probably never in the history of this
judicial circuit has there been so great
an array of counsel engaged in the trial
OF a case as in the trial of the former
lieutenant governor. The solicitor is as
sisted by five attorneys, while the de
fendant has eleven lawyers, w. G. w.
Croft, representative in Congress from
Aiken, as chief counsel, conducting the
defense.
Mrs. ]. H. Tillman and the mother Of
the defendant were present at the open
ing of court and renamed throughout the
days session, occupying seats within the
railing.
A vigorously contested legal battle is
in prospects In fact it was manifest at
the very outset of the trial that every
mch of the ground is to De contested.
Nevertheless the case proceeded rapid
ly today.
Immediately upon reconvening at p.
m. the examination of witnesses was he
gun and when court adjourned six WIZ
nesses had testified. Beginning tomor-
row court will sit early and late and the
trial be pushed to a conclusion at the ear
liest date.
The defense having announced its read
mess to go to trial, the defendant who
was in an ante room, where he had been
III consultation with his attorneys prior
to the calling of his case, was brought
into court and directed to stand in the
dock, when he was arraigned in accord
ance with the law and custom of this
court. He was calm and when asked to
plead, replied in a clear and firm voice:
Not guilty
The Indictment charges .he carrying of
concealed weapons as we'll as the more
serious violation of law. Mr. Tillman
took a seat close to his attorneys where
he listened intently to the proceedings
When the court directed the impanelhng
of jury, six year old hoy drew from
a hat in which had been placed the
names OF those composing the panel, a
slip of paper bearing the name of Juror,
who was called and accepted. 1t was not
until one p. m. that second was secur-
ed, and there was every indication that
a jury could not be secured today, but
IN the next fifteen minutes the jury was
completed. The jury will not be per-
mltted to separate until verdict is rem
cered. Men from the country and from
the mills compose the jury. The State
objected to five of the panel and the de-
tense to ten.
G. E. Boland, member of the Column
bia police force, was the first witness call
ed by the State. He said he took Till
man to the police station in Columbia
from the scene of the shooting on Jan
uary 15 describing where Tillman was
in the street with reference to
to hina:
L received Gonzales message"
The witness said he asked Tillman:
did you shoot Gonzales?" to which he
said Tillman. replied that he did. He
said the defendant carried pistol in
his hand and that another was found in
his pocket when the station was reach
ed Tillman, he said, wanted to keep
the pistol until the station was reached.
for his protection, but witness insisted
on taking it. He said Tillman was walk.
ing diagonally across the street when he
first saw him. and looking toward Con
zales. The two pistols were exhibited to
the witness for the purpose of identified
tlon. One was an automatic pistol, the
one which witness said Tillman held in
his hand. On examination he said
Tillman submitted quietly to accompany
ing him to the station.
w. H. Coleman, sheriff of Richland