The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-29
Former Lieut. Governor of South
 Carolina Pleads Not Guilty
200 WITNESSES ID BE HEARD
1t Is Manifested at the Outset of the Trial That Every Inch of Ground Is to Be Contested-Defend.
 ants Wife With Him.

Lexington, s. C., September 2S.-James H. Tillman. formerly lieutenant govern or of South sarciina, was placed on trial today in the circuit court of Lexington county under an indictment charging him with the murder of N G. Gonzales. edi- tor of the Columbia State.
 Judge Frank P. Gary presided. It was Il o'clock when the prosecutor for this circuit, J. M. Thurmond announced that the state was ready to proceed with the trial of the case, and by the time the mid day recess was taken, at 1:30 p. m., the defendant had been arraigned, Jury drawn and sworn, and all was In readi- ness for the introduction of testimony. There was every indication earlier that a jury could not be secured today. The court room was well filled, but not crowd- ed. Probably never in the history or this judicial circuit hss there been so great an array of counsel engaged in the trial of A case in the circuit, or perhaps In the entire state The solicitors were assist ed by five attorneys, while the defendant has eleven lawyers, with G. w Croft representative in congress from Aiken, as chief counsel. conducting the defense.
 Wife and Mother Present.
 Mrs J. H. Tillman and the mother or the defendant were present at the open ing of court and remained throughout the day,s session. occupying seats within the railing.
 A vigorously contested legal battle is in prospect. It was manifested at the out set of the trial that every inch Of the ground is to be contested Nevertheless. the case proceeded rapidly today.
 Beginning tomorrow, court will sit early and late in order to push the trial to ? conclusion as soon as practicable ss defense having announced its readiness to go to trial, the defendant, who was in an ante room where he had been n with his attorneys prior the calling of his case, was brought in' court and directed to stand in the docA, when he was arraigned in accordance with the law and custom of this court. He was calm and when asked to plea, re- piled in a clear and firm voice:
 Not guilty"
 The indictment charges the carrying q concealed weapons, as well as the more serious violation of law. MT. Tillman took a seat close to his attorneys, where he listened intently to the proceedings.
 First Juror Accepted.
 When the court directed the impaneiling of e iury. 6-year-old boy drew from the hat in which had been placed the names of those composing the panel, slip or paper bearing the name of juror who was called and accepted. It was s.ot un- til D. m. that a second was secured, and there was every indication that jury could not be secured today, but in the next fifteen minutes the jury was completed. The Jury will not be permitted to separate until verdict is rendered. Men from the country and from the mills compose the jury. The state objected to five of the panel and the defense to ten.
 G. F. Roland, member of the Colum- bia police force. was the first witness. He said he took Tillman to the police station in Columbia from the scene of the shooting on January 10. describing where Tillman was standing in the street with reference to Gonzales. He testified that Tillman said to him;
 q received Gonzales message"
 Admitted Firing Shot.
 The witness said he asked Tillman,
 
 said Tillman replied that he did. He said the defendant carried a pistol in his hand and that another was found in his pocket when the station was reached Tillman, he said. wanted to keep the pistol until the station was reached for his protection, but the witness insisted on taking it. He said Tillman was walking diagonally across the street when he first saw him, and was looking toward Gonzales. The two pistols were exhibited to the wit ness for the purpose of Identification. one was an automatic pistol, and it was this one. the witness said, which Tillman held in his hands. On cross-examination, he said Tillman submitted quietly to accom- nanying him to the station.
 w H. Coleman, sheriff of Richland county, identified the pistols as those turned over to him.
 T r. Walker, clerk of Richland county, was asked to demonstrate to the jury the working of the automatic pistol. An over coat and suit of clothes were exhibited and were identified by J. A. Hoyt, Jr., and TT c Wood Jr., members of the editorial