Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1903-10-22
TILLMAN is NOT GUILTY
THE SENATOR GETS His LIBERTY
AFTER REMARKABLE TRIAL.

Columbia, on January Is last, ended
in an acquittal. THE jury be-
fore which Iillman has been on trial
since September %, brought in a YER
dict of not guilty, thus ending a
judicial hearing which has engrossed
the attention OF the public Of South
Carolina as none other has in the
last quarter OF a century. The jury
was out for twenty hours before ar
irving at a verdict. Never was a
case in South Carolina courts more
vigorously contested than this. The
solicitor was assisted in the p%roSecu-
tion by four other lawyers. while the
accused was defended by seven law
yers, an exceptional array Of counsel.
More than a hundred witnesses gave
testimony, about as many on one side
as on the other, and nine lawyers
argued before the jury.
MI. Tillman left on an afternoon
train for his home in Edgefield, ac-
companied by his wife and friends
from his home county.
Not a sound had emanated from
the jury room. when Judge Gray con-
vened court at $50 o'clock to
indicate that..an agreement had been
reached. Civil business was taken
up and more than an hour had
elapsed before word came that the
jury had determined upon a verdict.
The jurors filed 10 and took the
seats they had occupied fer SO many
days. The defendant occupied bis
customary position among his law
yers, facing the jury.
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon.
a verdict" was the time worn inquiry
made by the clerk. The foreman re-
piled in the Affirmative, and at the
same time handed the verdict to the.
clerk. 1t took but an instant to read
1t, and when the words ''nOt guilty'''
were heard. some of the friends Of,
the defendant gave vent to their feel
ings in q shout, though the court hadi
previously admOniShed those present
not to make any demonstration.
The motion by counsel for the de-
Tense for the discbarg2 of the defend
ant was Immediately signed by Judge
| Gary, the solicitor asserting, and
TiIlman was at liberty. When the
legal f0rmalities had been gone
through with, Tillman walked up to
the bench and shook hands with the
Judge after which be shook the
hands of each of the jurors and later
was surrounded by his friends, who
extended their congratulations.
He left the court room in company
with his attorneys, but parted with
them at the front door to go across
the street to the Jail, visiting that
Institution for the last time to gather
up his effects. He has been 10 GUS
tody since January Is, his application
for bail having been refused.
Mrs. Tillman and the defendants
mother were not in the court O
when the verdict was announced, but
the former had been apprised Of an
agreement and was at the jail to
await the announcement and met her
husband there. The mother had
heard at her hotel, some two blocks
away, that the jury had come in and
was Fastening her way to the court
house when she met her son coming
put on the street. Learning the re-,
suit she threw her arms around bis
neck. Later all gathered at the
hotel where they received their
friends and relatives. Senator Till
man vas not present having gone to
| his home at Trenton, where his wife
is recovering from injuries received
jn a runaway accident. a telegram
was sent him advising him OF the
Outcome.
The court in the indictment charg-
ing the carrying Of concealed Weap-
ons was ignored during the trial and
the Jury took no action on it.
After the verdict was announced
the clerk held up the pistols which
| had figured in the trial and offered
them to the defendant who waved
them off, saying: "They are not
mine.n
James Fl. TillmaD, after his ac-
uuirtal made the following statement
! to the Associated press:
81 feel very grateful at the result
| of the verdict, but at no time did L
apprehend any serious consequences.
i. of course deeply regret the death
| of Mr.. Gonzales, but L was forced to
do what l did. / have never appre-
| hended a conviction, for I felt that
| / did no more than any man would
| have done under the same circum-
! stances and what | was compelled to
DO. Ny position was fully stated 10
the testimony Igave on the stand,
"I did not a k for a change OF
| venue because l was convinced that
on account of the prejudice in Rich
| land county that / could not get a
fair and impartial trial in that
county. l felt sure as soon as my
case could be presented to an impair
'tial Jury, l could be indicated. The
verdict has justified the correctness
OF my judgment
Eirework Are An Evil.