Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-15

I'm the trial of James H. Tillman for the
murder of Editor Gonzales returned a
ferdict of mot guilty" at 1880 O'Clock
this morning.
TIIman's Friends Happy.
A demonstration followed the an
eouneement of the verdict, friends OF
The defendant giving vent to their feel
lngs in shouts. After the defendant
was discharged from custody he shook
hands with the judge and the jury and
left the court room, accompanied by
his friends and counsel.
Shot Down On Street.
Tillman's shooting of Editor Con
gales followed long fight against
the methods and the character of
Tillman by Gonzales newspaper.
When the shooting occurred, Jan. Is
last. Mr. Gonzales had left his office
about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and
was walking home to luncheon. 1t
was cold. The editor had on an ov-
ercoat and carried his hands in his
pockets, with the thumbs on the out
side, an habitual position with him,
it is said Tillman, who had Just
taken. of the flowing purple robe OF
his office, left the statehouse at the
same hour, accompanied by two
friends.
Editor Gonzales met the Tillman
party at a street corner and was
about. to turn the corner when Till
man extended his arm and Tired
shot from revolver. The bullet en-
tered one side of Gonzales and pass
a. rs,llt OF the other, 1t had caused a
mortal wound Gonzales lived only a
few hours. Tillman walked across
the street to a policeman and gave
himself up.
Tillman's explanation of his action,
at the examination for bail, was that
he had been sent word by Gonzales
to look out for trouble, and that he
saw the editor thrust his hand down
into his pocket, as if for revolver.
In an ante-mortem statement Gonzales
said he had sent no such message and
was unarmed, not expecting trouble.
No weapon was found on Gonzales.
Tillman used German magazine pls-
tol of great penetration; he also had
another revolver on his person at
the time. Witnesses to the shootng
say that no movement was maae ny
Gonzales that could fairly be consid-
cred hostile and friends OF the edl-
tor say he had not carried a weapon
for years.
&. Cause of the Crime.
The cause leading to the shooting
extended over many years. Gonzales
attacked Tillman courageously and
I coll x,,li Ia hn lattpr lleutGn-
ant governor and when he announced
his intention of becoming candidate
for governor. A bitter controversy
occurred over a ruling made by Till
man in which Gonzales through his
newspaper, charged the lieutenant
governor with falsifying the records
of the senate. Gonzales newspaper
severely criticised Tillman for signing
himself lieutenant governor of South
Carolina" in a telegram to President
Roosevelt concerning the delivery ol
sword to Major Micah jenkins OF the
Rough Rider Regiment. There was al
so bitter feeling on Tillman's part be
cause he believed himself sighted so
cially through the influence Of Con
zales, though the friends of the editor
say this feeling was without Justlflca
ton.
When the campaign for the govern
orship opened Tillman made frequent
references to Gonzales and the state
in his speeches. For several weeks
the paper took no notice OF these at
tacks but finally began to retort ylg
orously in it's editorial columns. iii
mans neglect to resent an editorial II
a Gaffney. IS. CO , newspaper in which
1t charged him with being a liar,
thief and drunkard" was sarcastieal
ly commented on by Editor Gonzales
and the State began to reproduce edl
torials Of similar nature from neWspa
pers of the state against Tillman, man,
of them more severe than any direc
utterance ever made by the State.
Fight Matter of Duty.
Just before the close of the cam
paign in which Tillman was defeated
about the last week in August, 100
Mr. Gonzales wrote a leading ed
torial explaining that he had made tn
fight against Tillman as a matter o
duty solely; that the State possesse
more information about his characte
than any other newspaper in the stat
and it was necessary for some one t
take the 1nltlatlVe IN opposing ma
who "had literally lied himself into o.
fee two years ago" The last referenc
in the State to Tillman was made Sci
tember 3, 1902 more than 100 days bt
fore Gonzales was shot in reply to
statement in another paper quotin
Tillman as saying that if Gonzale
would call him a liar. gambler and
drunkard, he would resign the offic
of lieutenant governor to resent III
charges. Commenting on this Editc