The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-10-22
T|LLMAN FREE MAN
Verdict of Not Guilty in Case
of Gonzales Slayer. I.1
JURY OUT TWENTY HOURS.
Cheers Greeted Announcement Of ver.
diet-rIgnan Thanks judge
Shakes Hands Of Jurors and
Makes Statement

.E ~ -..s e.. - 80 - lss%. Sec sls3ssfE
After being out twenty hours, the
Jury in the case of ]. II. Tillman at
Lexington, S. c., found him not guilty
The jury announced at 1o:45 THURSDAY
morning that a verdict had been
agreed upon. 5s1s
The defendant and attorneys were
sent for, and the Jury then fled into
the court room and the verdict was.
read.
A demonstration followed the an,
nouncement, friends Of the defendant 3
giving vent to their feelings IN q shout
The court, previous to the reading of
the verdict, had admonished the spec
tators to refrain from any demonstrst
| ton. -
6 The counsel for the defense at once
| moved the defendants discharge from
the sheriff's custody. No objections
being made by the state, the court
made the order. ,s; "a
The defendant shook hands wit
| the Judge and members OF the 3us
and left the courtroom, accompanied
By his friends and counsel. The rial
occupied eighteen days. $50
How Jury Reached Verdict. Z.
Soon after the Jury retired 9 ballot
was taken, the result being ten to two
for aequittaI. Afte. some aeifbers
ton one of the two went over to. the.
side Of the acquittal, but At was notl
i until 20 minutes before the jury sent
word to the court Thursday morning
that an agreement had been reached
that, the twelfth man yielded.
! Very. few OF the Jurors got any sleep
during the night. The long delay
caused apprehension that q mistriai
/ would result, The jury could moi have
/ stayed out beyond Saturday midnight.
The count IN the indictment charging
the carrying Of concealed weapons
/ was lost sight Of IN the trial and waa,
not considered.
The wife and mother Of the dete1a
ant who have attended the trial dali
jSwere not In the courtroom when the
verdict was announced, but the latter.
Twas on her way to the court: She had
4 itust; heard the news, when hers:son
I walked out aid met her on the street.
/ His wife awaited him at the hotel haxsi
ing been informed Of the verdict 10:
advance of bis coming .ss
4 Senator Tillman was not present.
having returned to his home ednas-
| day, where his wife recovering from
injuries received In q runaway .acci.
dent A telegram wa&.sent hin fmme.:
diately after thes srerdiet was ar,..
nounced. If
4 TiIEman Is Grateful. -;
James q. Tillman, after his acquit-
/ tai, made the following statement 70:
the Associated Press; 2 Z .;.ss..
Il feel very gratefui az TIE re2
OF the verdict, but at no time
spprehend any serious conseqt
| I, Of course, deeply regret the dea
Mr.. Gonzales, but was forced To o.
whatI did. I have never apprehendeds
conviction for I felt that did no
more than any man would have done
! under the same circumstances. and
what was compelled to do. Ny posi-
i ton was fully stated In the testimony
gave on tie stand
/ 81 did ask for change OF. venue.
because was convinced on account of
| prejudice in Richland county that {
could not get a fair and impartial.
trial IN that county. felt sure that as:
soon as my case could be presented 70,
impartial jury would be yindicated.
The verdict has Justified the correct
ness Of my judgment. Lexington conns
| ty was selected by the prosecution. Its.
/ people are 1aw-abiding and have long
! been noted for correctness of their
yerdicts and have been praised by the
press"