The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-01
INLkAN 5
CHANGES
Barely Possible That Souther-
ner Will Get His Desserts.
WAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Few Whites Ever Been Execut-
ed for Murder, There.
WAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

James H. Tillman is the most serious Of
Tense that has been committed in this
state within the past twenty years.
The two principals to the tragedy were
among the most prominent men of the
state-one the editor of the leading ex-
ponent Of the conservative. element or,
rather, that part of the democratic voters
of South Carolina persistently and con-
sistently opposed to Tillmanism, or what
Tilmanism stood for, that is to over
throw of the old time regime in this
state.
On the other hand, Tillman is the neph-
ew of United States Senator Benjamin
r. Tillman. He was colonel of the First
South Carolina regiment for a part of
the time that il was in the service in
the Standardization war and recently
he has served a term as Lieutenant Gov
ernor. having been elected to that position
by the Democratic voters of the state
against three or four competitors, and
in the last race for governor of South
South Carolina he received thousands of
Democratic votes, and therefore. whether
he be regarded as an unfit Representative
of the people of the state or not, he still
was voted for by thousands of people
who knew the man. because il was for
this reason-the publicity that was given
10 the character and reputation of Jim
Tillman-that Gonzales was shot.
The general defense of Lieutenant Gov
ernor Tillmans friends is that during the
last campaign for governor. in which
Tiilman was candidate. Mr.. Gonzales
carried his opposition to Tillman too far,
and that he actually bounded the man.
They say that 1t was all right for Con-
tales to have opposed Tillman but that il
WAS not legitimate for Gonzales to have
denominated him as a proved liar a
"drunkard' a thief" a criminal candi-
date. 'debauche'' and other things. Mr.
Gonzales contended that he did this be-
cause of the duty that he owed the
state. to save 1t from criminal candi-
date" being elected. He insisted that it
was distasteful TO him to attack the
character and reputation of anyone, but
that he could prove his charges. and did
prove them. because Tillmen did not I'M
dertake to reply to each and every one
of the charges that he had made against
his character and reputation. The friends
of Tillman say that Gonzales gave Till
man sufficient and ample provocation to
kill him and that just as soon as Till
nan saw Gonzales he shot him, and
shot to kill. and that there is no use
to confuse the issue. because the whole
situation is that Tillman was outraged
by the editorials of The State. and that
he simply made up his mind to kill Mr..
Gonzales. and did so.
Tillman himself. however, does not seem
to take this position. His. counsel avoid
anything so extremely radical. because
the editorials appeared in The State dur
ing the month of August which was
the time of the last primary. and they
agree with other folks that if Tillman in
tended to resent the editorials that he
should have done so at that time, and
not have allowed him six months to in
tervene. They take the position that
Mr. Gonzales, and Mr. Tillman were
sworn enemies. and that Tillman expected
Gonzales to be armed and expected to
have street fight upon first encounter.
They hold that Gonzales had bis hands in
his pockets and that Tillman though,
that Gonzales had his hand on his pis-
tol and intended to fire from his coat
pocket and on such supposition he drew
his revolver and fired on Mr.. Gonzales.
As matter of fact Mr. Gonzales was
unarmed. and had no idea of any en-
counter with Tillman. and as a further
fact Mr.. Gonzales was not in the habit
of carrying a weapon. and had not done
so. He in his dying statement said that
he had met Tiliman at least two or three
times. and that there was no recognition.
or disposition on that part of either party
to say or do anything ard that he
thought that TiIlman had consented to
let the matter pass with the voice OF the
people at the ballot box. The outside
world is perhaps. more interested in what
will be the final determination OF this
case than in any other phrase of it.
1t is exceptionally difficult TO say what
will be the final result. Immediately after
the shooting. when it was thought that
Mr. Gonzales was fatally injured a gen
eral impression was. as it usually is in
such cases. that Lieutenant Governor
TiIiman would go unharmed. Today the
sentiment is growing against Tillman.
not so much because OF the shooting itself
but because Of the manner in which it
vas done and because Of the high off,
cial position Tillman held. which ought
to have meant his observance of the laws.
There are. however. many people who
are of opinion that nothing will be done
in the end toward punsihing Tillman. and
II a wager were made at this time il
would generally be good long odds that
ne will go unpublished 4 great many
people seem to think that the first trial.
which Will take place at any time after
4 pril next. will result IN 4 miStrial or
possibly a conviction OF manslaughter.
and that the case will drag along on
appeals until everybody gets sick Of Il
and that in the end Tillman viii not be
punished
This has. heen the course or 80 many
trials for murder in this ststs that
great many people have almost given up
the idea that a prominent white man
with large family connections can ever
be convicted in South Carolina and pun
ished for a killing where he had the
slightest kind OF defense. and in the
case of Mr.. Gonzales it is admitted that
Tnlman may have had his feelings hurt
by what Mr.. Gonzales wrote of him e<ii-
to-ially
There are on the other hand people
who think that ThIrlsa VIII never sur
vive The final issue. as he has more Or less
wrecked himself by his habits and some
PEOPLE go so far as 10 gay that the con-
areueRt VIII Be too severe strain upon
him. unless ne Is allowed TO get certain
things 70 which he had been accustomed
The trial will IL IL takes the ordinary
course. take place in this county Tie
frs; session OF the court ~ which the
case could be tried VIII convene here
In April. but. as . general rule. important