The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-17
GONZALES STILL ALIVE
DOCTORS, HOWEVER, HAVE LITTLE
HOPE OF HIS RECOVERY.
Ante-Mortem Statement of the Editor
-Lieutenant Governor Till
mans Defense.

COLUMBIA, s. c.. Jan. 16.-Editor ~ G.
Gonzales. who shot and seriously
wounded yesterday by Lieutenant Governor
Tillman on the most travelled street i'm the
capital of South Carolina, is i'm a critical
condition tonight. The best doctors i'm
this part of South Carolina hold out little
hope of his recovery.
The condition of Gonzales and the de-
tails of the tragedy were almost the only
topic of conversation to-day. This morning
In the city schools prayers were said for
his recovery. At the South Carolina Col
lege prayers also were offered for the re-
covery Of the editor, and even in the Senate
chamber, where Lieutenant Governor Till
man presided shortly before the shooting,
the chaplain prayed that the Almighty
would save the life of Mr.. Gonzales. While
there Is a great deal of feeling over the
affair, it can be said with positiveness that
it is the wish of Gonzales and his friends
that the matter should be left for the courts
to settle.
Gonzales. in an ante-mortem statement,
said he had just left his Office and started
for home When some distance from his
office he saw Tillman walking on the street,
coming In the opposite direction. Two men
were with him, one of whom was Senator
Talbert. the other he did not know. They
were walking abreast, and as the street was
crowded he probably would have brushed
Tfllman in passing. To avoid that he walked
across the pavement. intending to pass on
the inside. AS he was doing this Tillman
fired. For moment he dazed and
greatly weakened by the shock. Coming to
himself he leaned against the wall of the
building for support. After firing the shot
Tillman said, according to the statement
i've done what you told me-" and still
aimed the pistol at Gonzales. Gonzales de-
nounced him, saying, You've killed me.
man then lowered his pistol and walked off,
Being questioned about the report that
Tillman said. II got your message" Mr.:
Gonzales said most positively that he had
sent him no message and that his meeting
with Tillman was totally unexpected and
that he was not armed.
vital spots of Mr.. Gonzales's abdomen
and pursued a course similar to that in the
case OF President Mckinley. There are fears
that peritonitis will set i'm.
Lieutenant Governor Tillman took things
quietly and calmly during the day I'm the
county jail. where he had comfortable
room on the second floor. He had some new
furniture brought to his place of confine-
ment and made himself comfortable Some
visitors called on him. but most of the day
he spent in consultation with his lawyers.
Judge o. b. Buchanan and Coleman Blease.
Two OF his counsel gave out the following
statement. prepared by Tillman himself.
in response to a telegram from New York
newspaper:
II can only say that when the truth of
the unfortunate AFFAIR is known my friends.
as well the people. will know how thor
oughly justified / was In acting as l did.
The statements already published are un-
true. and at the proper time this will be
prepared to show. Beyond this / do not
care to make any further statement"
Ii Is said Tillman's defense will be that
he thought Gonzales was armed. Tillman
also will assert. IL Is said. that when he
aimed his pistol the second time at Gonzales
that he did so expecting Gonzales TO defend
himself and that he lowered the weapon
because there was no defense and not be-
cause OF anything Gonzales said. Tillman
IL Is rumored. also will contend that he had
not met Gonzales before. This Is denied by
Gonzales's friends. who say Gonzales and
Tilman were in the Senate chamber and
State Capitol together.