Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-16
A COWARDLY SHOT.
Lieut.. Gov. TiIlman Shoots
Editor N. G. Gonzales.
Meets Him on Street and Shoots Him
Down Without Warning.
TiIIman Arrested and Gonzales in a
Critical State.


known throughout the South is at the
Columbia hospital in critical condi-
ton as result of a pistol wound in
Gicted by James H. Tillman, lieutenant
governor of South Carolina.
1t was an awful tragedy in broad day
light on the most frequented street and
corner in the state capital
1t was lust a minute before o'clock
when the cry was passed along the
streets, Jim Tillnnan has shot N G.
Gonzales The announcement went
like q thrill through all Columbia and
there was rush towards the scee of
the tragedy.
The office of the state is on the same
block as the scene of the shooting and
it took only a few moments for
throng to assemble in front of the
newspaper building The excitement
an6 the indignation on the street was
intense
Policeman Boland Immediately after
the shooting arrested Lieut. Gov Till
man and took him to police headquar-
tiers, where he was relieved Of two pis-
tolls, the one with which he shot Editor
Gonzales and a second large revolver
of 3S-calibre. From the police station
he was taken to the county JAIL where
officers.
No fight or words occurred between
the men preceding the assault and the
only attributed cause for the shooting
is that during the recent primary cleo
ton Editor Gonzales opposed Lieut.
Gov. Tillmar in his race for governor
and vigorously assailed him editorially.
During the progress of that CAM
paign Editor Gonzales in his newspaper
the State, called Tilln1an debauche
and blackguard, and referred to him
as Criminal candidate and proven
liar" 1t was this and other such edi-
torial expressions, it is supposed that
guided Mr.. Tillman to the desperate
Iced.
The campaign occurred last August
and since the first primary, Aug. %.
1902, Editor Gonzales has had nothing
to say about Mr.. Tillman, except to
comment on the result of the primary
There appears to be no conflict of tes-
timony as to the essential features of
the tragedy. Gonzales was going home
alone from his office to his lunch.
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman had presided at
the Senate's session. The lieutenant
governor and the editor Of the State
met at the corner of Main and Gervais
streets, just at the street car transfer
station. There was no encounter or
fist fight or quarrel. Lieut.. Gov. Till
man, the testimony now all seems to
into Editor Gonzales.
Most of those who saw the affair say
there was nothing said until after the
shot
One witness says he thinks Mr.. Till
man said: Il received your MESA ge,"
and then fired.
Two or three others say they heard
nothing until after the firing of the
pistol.
Mr.. Gonzales himself gave perfectly
plain and explicit statement of the
whole affair prior TO being put under
the anasthetics and he was very en-
|phatic in saying that he had not sent
any message to Lieut.. Gov. Tillman
lat any time. Mr.. Tillman said nothing
until after he fired and that then after
the shot he said something about TAX
ing him (Gonzales) at his word Mr.
Gonzales said he took this to mean that
Mr.. Tillman told him that he was set
Ting old issues face to face with him.
Mr.. Gonzales is certain that nothing
was said until after the shot was fired
Tillman wiped his pistol on his coat
sleeve and took aim as if to fire a
second time, but changed his mind and
let his pistol fall to his side He was
perfectly cool and collected, sober and
unexcited to all appearances. Mr..
Gonzales was unarmed. The shock
from the magazine pistol paralyzed
him, but as he saw the deadly weapon
aimed at him, perhaps for a fatal bull
let. he cried out: "Shoot again, you
coward"
There was only one shot fired and
that entered the right side between the
eighth and ninth ribs and passed
through the forepart of the body, COM
ing out just above the free border of
the ribs. The bullet was picked up on
the pavement. 1t seemed to be bright
and new and in way battered. After
the shot had been fired and as Con-
zales fell against the nearby transfer
station to steady himself, James Sims
and Gainwell Lamotte rushed up and
gave him support. He was taken to
the business office of his newspaper
There with his head resting on a
bundle of newspapers Gonzales re-
quested that his wife be sent for and to
his friends told the story of the ira
gedy. Mrs. Gonzales. Drs. Taylor,
Kendall. Philpot and Babcock were
soon at his side and in few moments
there We're half a dozen more physi-
clans doing all they could to save his
life. 1t was promptly decided that the
only hope was to perform an opera
ton.
Tonight, Lieut.. Gov. Tillman was
asked for statement but said he had
been advised by counsel to say abso-
lutely nothing, and he followed the adj
vice to the letter.
At o'clock Mr.. Gonzales condition
was considered very serious, but
showed no change from what it was
several hours earlier.
Mr.. Gonzales is man of strong,
robust physique and his friends hope
he may pull through notwithstanding
the severe wound from which he is suf-
fering.