The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-10
TRIAL NEARS AN END
TILLMAN WAS FOUR HOURS ON
STAND YESTERDAY.
DEFENSE RESTS ITS CASE.
WITNESS IN REBUTTAL TOOK UP
CLOSING HOURS OF COURT.

Because Gonzales Didn't Shoot.
Showed Automatic Pistol to Jury.
End of Trial Nearly in Sight.
Lexington, S. c., Oct. 9.-James H.
Tillman was on the stand to-day over
four hours, a witness in his own be-
half. For one full hour he was sub
jected to the fire of cross-examination
by counsel for the state. But one
other witness was placed on the stand
by the defense after which the de-
Tense rested.
Witnesses in rebuttal were placed on
the stand by the state were heard
during the closing hours. Splendid pro-
gress was made to-day toward the con-
clusion of the trial which already has
consumed nearly tow weeks.
The defendant resuming his testi-
mony to-day, was asked as to the inn
preston made upon him as to Mr..
Gonzales feeling toward him by the
editorials, a number being indicated by
title, replying that they impressed him
as intensely bitter. He said he did
not make threats in Edgefield or on
a train.
The defendant was asked in refer
ence to statements attributed to him
while engaged in conversation in his
room in a hotel in Columbia on Aug.
20 or Il of last year. He said:
THE conversation DIR. Adams refer
red to took place when a number of
my friends were in the room and it
was a running general conversation
Sometimes l would be talking to one
and sometimes to another; sometimes
three or four would be talking to me
Somebody came in the room and told
me about some new rumor what Mr.
Gonzales would do to me and 1 made
the remark that if he attempted to
do that, I don't think 1 said as DIR
Adams said, snuff his light out, but
- him, l would kill him.
think"
He said further: 81 had been tolt
| in at least a dozen places in South
Carolina that Mr.. Gonzales had stated
dare not come to Columbia and say
| about him there what 1 had said or
other stumps in the campaign" He
said the different statements were made
in connection with rumors of threats
reported to him.
Not to Get Out Alive.
The defendant said further that il
had been reported that the Opera
House in Columbia. where a campaign
meeting was to be held was to be
packed, and that he was not to be let
out alive, and stated that he said il
that rumored threat was carried out
1T would be one of - - tragedies
in South Carolina"
Answering counsel he said he had
sent word to Mr.. Gonzales to at
tend the meeting at Columbia, and
make his charges there. He said he
did not feel safe to go unarmed, while
in Columbia. He said he did not have
a pistol in his hip pocket prior to
the day of the shooting as testified
to by two Columbia boys, but said he
did have one in sling under his coat,
showing where it was carried at that
time.
Mr.. Tillman exhibited the automatic
pistol to the jury. saying because of
it's peculiar shape it could not be car
ried in the hip pocket. He added that
it was a bottle he had in his hip pock-
ct at the State House.
Mr.. Tillman put on the overcoat,
which he said he wore on the day
of the shooting, and stood before the
jury, showing that it had no side pock-
cts. Placing his right hand in rear
pocket he said that was where he
drew the pistol from. He said he
reached back there, and cooked it
when he saw Gonzales.
His story of the Tragedy.
After detailing his movements about
the State House after the adjournment
of the Senate on Jan. Is the defendant
said that in company with Senators
Talbird and Brown he started down
town.
Just before / got to the transfer sta
ton noticed Mr.. Gonzales some dis
lance down the street looking at me
very intently," said the defendant. con-
tinuing: "And just as got across the
pavement walking along, we were
walking along leisurely, Mr.. Gonzales
was walking along rapidly" adding:
81 never took my eyes off of him, nor
did he take his eyes off of me-"
At this point in the witness nara
tive a blue print of the scene of the
shooting was produced, which was held
before the jury by counsel while the
defendant indicated positions as he pro-
ceeded with his statement. saying:
Mr.. Gonzales got about along there
. Gndicating), he was coming down the
street next to the curbstone. We three
were walking about in the middle of
the sidewalk. as near as I can recollect
it. Just before Mr.. Gonzales got to
me he cut across toward me-"
Answering counsel, he said Mr.. Tai
bird was on the outside, and that there
was room enough for Mr.. Gonzales to
have passed between Senator Talbird
and the curb.
"What did he do and what appear
ance did he have?" was asked. witness
replying:
81 Got YOur Message"
when he started to cut across the