The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1903-09-23
The Tillman Trial.
Special to the Columbia State.

James ii. IIllmaD, cnafge Will Iue
murder of N. G. Gonzales, was today
informally fixed by acting Judge
Frank B. Gary to begin next Monday
morning. Solicitor Thurmond for
the State suggested that Thursday
be fixed for the trial and made a
brief but clear and strong argument
in favor of that day, but the judge,
Influenced, as be said, by special
presentment of the grand jury and a
petition from the fiscal officers OF
Lexington county, complied with the
earnest plea Of the attorneys for the
defense, delivered in FIVE arguments
and named the first day Of the
second week of the sessions.
The prisoner was brought into the
court room at $50 o'clock this after
noon. It became known at an early
hour today that the arraignment
would be had in the afternoon, but
as the day wore on and the court
continued to occupy itself with other
cases, it seemed to the spectators that
the programme had been changed.
However, argument in the trial OF
8 riot case was finally suspended and
the Solicitor announced that he
would enter upon the arraignment OF
defendants charged with murder. A
few minutes later Sheriff Caughman
entered with his prisoner and i'm
mediately behind him came his law
yers. Senator B. R. Tillman, who
had been in the court room for a
short time in the afternoon, left just
before the prisoner was brought and
came back with his party. Senator
Tillman shook hands With his nephew
when they faced each other within
the bar, as though they had not met
since the Senator's arrival in Lexing-
ton.
Mr.. Croft, the leading counsel for
the prisoner, arose and asked that
the following be entered on the re-
cord as counsel for the defense: T.
II. Nelson, Johnstone & Welch, Geo.
r. Rembert, E6rd & Dreher, &. T.
Graham, W. H. Sharpe and himself.
A few moments later he requested
that the name of Cole L. Blease be
added. It will be observed that 'ex-
Judge Buchanan's name was not
announced as counsel. he was,
however, present.
The omission of the name OF Judge
Buchanan from the list of attorneys
for the defense was an oversight
and yesterday aorning his name was
enrolled as such.
Solicitor Thurmond announced the
following for the prosecution: Il.
Duncan Bellinger, Andrew Crawford.
William Elliott, Jr., E. L. Asbill, T..
G. Sturkie and himself.
Mr.. Croft arose and said that it
would be agreeable to the defense to
wsive the formalities of the arraign,
ment, the three days which the
prisoner may claim between arraign-
ment and trial to date from today.
To this the Solicitor assented. The
formal arraignment will take place at
the beginning of the trial.
THE SOLICITORS ARGUMENT.
At this point Solicitor Thurmond
moved that the trial be fixed to begin
next Thursday morning. "This," he
said, 'swould be for the welfare of all
concerned, owing to the fact that a
great number of witnesses had been
subpoened on each side. It would
be we'll to dispose of the case as
soon as practicable" he read a
letter from Attorney John j. Earle,
of Columbia, stating that the latter
would represent the prisoners Wes-
ton and Doyle, indicted for murder
in Lexington, that he was i'll with
chills and fever and while able to be
mp in his room could not attend
court this week. Mr.. Earle, there
fore, asked that the Weston and
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