The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-10-14
NOTICEABLE FEATURES.
Interesting Facts In Connection With
the Tillman Case

Tue SuSc.
When the case Of the State vs.. Jas.
II. Tillman was called in the Lexing-
ton court this morning there was a
lineup of attorneys on each side who
with the presiding Judge and general
surroundings combined some features
that when aggregated are interesting
TO the careful student or observer of
daily events. The case is local one
in some respects everywhere in the
State and the news from there is of
absorbing local interest and nearly
every town and locality Of the State
is in some way interested in the trial.
This is true Of Spartanburg. From
this city five witnesses have been
summoned to give evidence at the
trial. They are Editor Zach McGec,
and Representative Horace Bomar,
5. j. Simpson, S. II. y. Lancaster and
j. l.. MahafTey. Besides this there
are other local connections. T.. J..
Asbill, Of the Lexington bar, one Of
the leading counsel for the State, is
graduate Of Wotford, belonging to the
class of '92. George r. Rcmbcrt, of
Columbia. one of the counsel for Till
man, is brother Of Prof. a. G.. Rcm-
bert OF Wofford and spent three years
at Woiford College; and G. M. Efrd,
another of Tillman's counsel, is a
brother Of Mrs. j. a. Crews of this
city.
There are many coincident features
connected with the case. For in
stance, j. T. Sloan, witness in the
case, Il. B. Gary, the judge, and Cole
j.. Bleese, an attorney for the de-
fense, were all candidates at the last
election TO succeed the prisoner as
lieutenant governor. Thurmoud, who
will conduct the prosecution, was for
several years the law partner Of the
prisoner. He has ever been the warm
supporter Of the prisoner in politics
and they are yet intimate friende.
Solicitor Thurmond only few years
ago, and while he was solicitor, stood
trial for killing man in Edgefield.
He came clear and held to his office.
Jim Tillman defended him. There
will be some politics in the trial as
there always is in such cases. w. H.
Sharpe, state senator from Lexington,
and one Of Tillmans attorneys, is
candidate to succeed Thurmond as
solicitor. He was candidate for
comptroller general last year. George
Il. Rembert, another of Tillman's Mt.
torneys, and +. l.. Asbill, State at.
torney, are both said to have eyes on
Thurmond's job, ard will probably
enter the race for solicitor at the next
election.
Ex-Attorney General Bellenger,
leading counsel for the State, was
candidate at the last election for con-
gress, from the district comprising
Edgefeld and Aiken. He was opposed
and defeated by about dozen votes
by Gerge w. Croft, Tillman's law
partner and the leading attorney for
the defense. The campaign between
Croft and Bellinger developed con-
siderable personal feeling which may
be carried into this trial.
One attorney on each side will have
had q personal experience as defend
ant in murder trial; Solicitor Thur
mond on the prosecution and George
Johnstone on the defense. Both Of
them have faced the bar Of justice
with their lives at stake and both
came clear. e. L. Asbill, counsel for
che State, was shot several years ago,
and for several months he hung be-
sween life and death. He has had q
personal experience at the other end
Of the gun, and may be able to do
more than otherwise because of it.
The defendants father once stood
trial for murder at Edge6eld, not far
from where the son is now orraigned.
To those who say that even il Tillman
is acquitted no will have met his death
politically need but to review the his.
tory of George D. Tillman. The cir.
nnmstanocs Of the older Tillman's
offense we're in way worse than those
of the son, and had the trial DOT have
occurred until the present day the
congressman would have served term