The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-15
TILLMAN IS
ACQUITTED
Jury Which Heard Evidence in Muir
der Trial Returns Verdict of
Not Guilty.
Defendant Killed Editor Gonzales,
but Set Up Plea of Self
Defense.
Ten Jurors Voted for Acquittal on
First Ballot-Others Came
Over Later.

Lexington, S. c., Oct. 15.-The jury
in the case of j. H. Tillman has found
him not guilty. The jury announced
at 10:45 that a verdict had been
agreed upon. The defendant and at
torneys were sent for and the jury
then filed into the courtroom and the
verdict was read. 4.
A demonstration followed the an
nouncement, friends of the defendant
giving vent to their feelings in a shout
The court previous to the reading OF
the verdict had admonished the spec
tators to refrain from any demonstra-
ton.
Counsel for defense moved the de-
PENDANTS discharge from the sheriff
custody. No objections being made
by the state, the court made the order
The jury was out about twenty-fou1
hours before returning a verdict.
The defendant shook hands with the
Judge and members of the jury and
left the courtroom accompanied by his
friends and counsel.
There was great uncertainty when
court convened to-day as to whether
a verdict would be reached.
Raped on the Door.
The court was proceeding with
civil business and aside from some OF
the attorneys at the local bar and a
VI newspaper llcl ctllu Soul I
officials, there were but few in the
courtroom when a loud rapping was
heard on the door leading into the
juryroom. In a moment all were
astir. That was the first sound COM
ing from the room since the jury re-
tired yesterday afternoon.
Hasty summons were sent out and
the court had the jury's announce
ment made, thus terminating this i'm
portant case, which was begun
eighteen days ago.
Soon after the jury retired yesterday
a ballot was taken, the result being
ten to two for acquittal.- After some
deliberaton 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 morn
ing that agreement had been reached
that the twelfth man yielded.
Very few Of the jurors got any sleep
during the, night. The long delay
caused apprehension that a mistrial
would result. The jury could not have
stayed out beyond Saturday at mid
night. l.a. .s- a~
The count in the I indictment
charging the carrying of con-
cealed weapons was lost sight Of In the
trial and was not considered.
The wife and mother of the defend
ant, who have attended the trial daily,
were not in the courtroom when the
verdict was announced, but the latter
was on her way to the courthouse,
having heard the news when her son
walked over and met her on the
street. His wife awaited him at the
hotel, having been informed of the
verdict in advance of his coming.
Senator Tillman was not present to-
day. having returned to his home yes
terday, where his wife is recovering
from injuries received in runaway
accident. A telegram was sent him
Immediately after the verdict was an
nounced. 49,.
James H. Tillman, after his &C.
qVittal, made the following state
ment:
Il feel very grateful at the result
OF the verdict, but at no time did I
apprehend any serious consequences.
L, Of course, deeply regret the death
OF Mr.. Gonzales, but I was forced to
do what I did. I have never appre-
hended conviction, for I felt that I
did no more than any man would
have done under the same circum-
stances, and what I was compelled
to do. My position was fully stated
in the testimony I gave on the stand.
Il did ask for a change Of venue
because l was convinced, on account
Of prejudice in Richland county, that
I could not get fair and impartial
trial in that county. I felt sure that
as soon as my case could be pre-
sented to an impartial jury I could be
vindicated. The verdict has 1usti-
fed the correctness of my Judgment.
Lexington county was selected by the
prosecution. It's people are law
abiding and have long been noted for
the correctness ftheir verdicts, and
have been praised by the press"