The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-01-21
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
Editor Gonzales, Unarmed. Shot Down
on the Street by
LIEUT.-G0V. JAS. Z. TILLMAN.
The. Tw.. N.n Meet. and a> Gonzales
Was io"u, to- Pass. fEiman
Pulls q Pistol and

Was About To Pass. Ti!iInan
Pulls q Pistol AMI
Shoots Him.
sIr. X. G. Gonz .les, Editor of The
State. was shot down on Main Street
in Columbia, al balf-past one o'clock
Thursday. by Mr.. James II. Tillman,
Lieutenant-G Governor Of South Caro-
lima. Mr. Gonzales was unarmed. and,
as he had passed Mr.. Tiliman several
times or the street since the LegiSla-
ture met. was not expecting trouble.
When they met Thursday with the
suddenneSS Of q thunderclap from a
cloudlesS sky Mr. Tillman drew his
weapon and sent the bullet on it's
deadly mission. When shot Mr.. Con
zalez was within few feet Of Mr..
Tillman and was in the act Of walk
ing around him and Two other gentle
men who we're with him. The follow
ing IS the story of the terrible tragedy
as furnished The News and Courier
hy iLS Columbia correspondent:
The shooting occurred on Main
Street. just at the intersection Of Ger
vais Street, in full view OF the State
Capitol. It was an awful tragedy in
broad daylight and upon the most
freouented street and corner in Colun-
oia. The bullet which pierced through
one Of the most distinguished editors
OF the entire South may end that
brilliant life but if the best OF surgery.
the best Of care and the nest ardent
OF prayers and wishes avail for aught
that life .ught to be saved.
a SHOCK.
Il was just a few moments befor, 2
o'clock when the CRY was passed along
the streets that Jim ifllman had
shot n. G.. Gonzales" It was shock
ing and startling announcement. 1t
went like thrill through all Colum-
bia and there was rush towards the
scene of the tragedy to learn the facts
and the condition Of the distinguished
editor, The office of The State is on
the same block as the Scene OF the
shooting and it took but few mo-
ments for a great throng to assemble
10 front Of the newspaper Office.
TWO PISTOLS.
The excitement and the indignation
on the streets was intense. Policeman
Boland Immediately after the shoot
ing arrested Lieut.. Gov. Tillman and
took him to police headquarters where
ne sas relieved of two pistolS-tbe
one With which he shot Editor Gosza-
les and second large revolver Of IS
calibre. From the police station he
Eas taken to the county jail where be
is tonight in full protection Of the Of
hcers. There was GO conflict and the
only attributed cause for the shooting
by Lieut.. Gov. Tillman is that during
cae recent primary etectioa Editor
Gouzales opposed Lieut.. Gov.slfllman
in his race for governor and in that
editorial opposition Editor Gonzales
aad been severe in his opposition.
TIE PROBABLE CAUSE.
During the progress Of that cam
paign Editor Gonzales in his fight to
defeat Mr.. Tillman had editorially
called him debauchee, 'blackguard:'
and in fact denounced him as a
''crininal candidate" and a proven
'',iar." It was this and other such
editorial expressions it is supposed
that goadeS Mr.. Tillnan to the des-
perate deed of Thursday. This was in
August last and since the Erst prima-
~, August 26. 1902, Editor Gonzales
has bad nothing to say about Dir.
yi:araa. except to comment on the
zesnlt S the primary.
Editor Gonzales and Lieut.. Gov.
Tilluap have passed each other in full
view since the opening Of the present
session Of the general assembly on
Tuesday but there had been no en-
eoanter, no word passed, no nod or re-
eognieion of any kind and Thursday
it came like thundeTclap out of a
peaceful sky when the shot was fired.
It was absolutely unexpected and all
thought that Whatever soreness there
was as a result Of the primary Of last
August had passed away, bG0 it seems
Otherwise.
THE STORY
As to the shooting that is simple
story. Lieut.. Coy. Tillman met Mr.
Gonzales Oh the street. drew his pistol
and fired into him. There was no fuss
or feathers but when at close range
Mr. Tillman opened fire, wiDed his
pistol on his coat-sleeve. took aim as
if to Sre a second time changed his
mind and let his pistol fall to his side.
Lieut.. Gov, Tjllman was perfectly
cool and collected. sober and unexcited
to ali appearances. Mr.. Gonzales was
pnarmed. The shock from the maya
zsns pistol paralyzed him and as Mr..
Gonzales saw the deadly weapon aim
ed az him. perhaps for fatal bullet,
he cried ouE Shoot again. you COW
ard" Mr. Gonzales was in no way
armed and had no pistol. Ii his life
ne spared, perhaps that expression
which may have spared the second
bullet was the magic Of the occasion.
sIr, Gonzales is man OF robust
health, strong physique, and active,
all Of WHICH are in bis favor.
AS be fell against the nearby trans
fer station to steady himself Mr..
James Sims and Nr. Gaeleweil La
Motto came rushing up and gave slr.
Gonzales support, and helped him'to
the business office Of the newspaper
which Mr. Gonzales had labored so
hard and 50 faithfully to establish and
make leading factor in the affairs Of
his State. There with his head rest
sng on bundle Of newspapers he re-
ousssed that his wife be sent Tor ana:
50 stricken friends, most Of whom
were in tears, he told the story OF the
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