The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-13

Them in Retaliation 70 Testimony
Given in by States Witnesses-Ef-
fort to Show That Gonzales Nam
ner When He Approached TilIman
on the Day of the Tragedy Was
Threatening.
Lexington. S. c., October S.-James
H. Tillman went upon the stand to-
day as a witness in his own behalf.
1t was just one hour before adjourn
ment that his counsel asked that the
| defendant be called. With perfect
self compOsure he arose from his seat
among his attorneys n placed him.
self at the clerks desk to take the
oath. Although he was ON the stan
an hour, he only fairly begun to set
over the vast amount of ground he
must necessarily cover. 1t is predict
ed that he Will be on the stand all of
tomorrow. The defense has still more
witnesses. Thirteen of their witness
es were heard today.
James Davis, the first witness for
the defense today, said he was riding
on a train with the defendant from
Johnston to Columbia. The witness
SAID he did not hear Mr.. Tillman
make any threats against Gonzales.
| Cole l. Blease,. who said he has
been a member of the legislature and
that he was with the defendant
throughout the campaign of 1902, tes-
titled he was in defendants room in
a hotel in Columbia on the night Of
the goth or 21st of August, 1902.
| when DIR. Adams was there and was
| reading some Of the editorials from
the State that he might be in posi-
ton to reply to them in his speech.
| Witness said DR.. Adams advised Mr..
Tillman Ito go down to the State Of
flee and fight Gonzales" and that the
defendant said he waS lieutenant
governor and could not afford to have
a difficulty that he would be I'M
peached," and, added the witness,
somebody about hat time made a
remark about something Gonzales
had said about what he would do to
Colonel Tillman. Colonel Tillman
said: You need not be uneasy about
that-yOu boys need not be uneasy
| about that; if he undertakes 10 at
tack me I will snu his light out with
this
Witness testified that when a part
vi Oh Il Ct I1lIIlIiiS !" IltoNh
theatricals was read Mr.. Tillman
said: IF he attempts to carry out
II of his threats l will make it the
- - tragedy that has ever hap
pened in South Carolina" The wit
ness said that the pistol IN Mr.. Till
mans room at the hotel in Columbia
vas there because We expected trou-
BILE at the opera house." adding, we
expected Colonel Tillman to be at
tackled by Mr.. Gonzales"
J. A. White, of Edgefield. appointed
by Mr.. Tillman as a doorkeeper in tho
senate at the last session of the leg
islature. said that while he was Sit
ting in the lobby of the senate a man.
( whom he was told was y. CT. Con
zales, came up to him and asked
where Mr.. Tillman was. and among
other things said he had made Mr..
Tillman show the White feather twice
and would do it again. The witness
reported this to the lieutenant Cover
nor.
Richard H. Holsonback. also of Edge
field. old Of the conversation which he
| said Mr.. Gonzales had with Nh. White
relative to making Mr.. Tillman show
| the white feather. The witness said he
told Mr.. Tillman that night what mad
been said. Witness said he was just
behind Senator Talbird. Lieutenant
Governor Tillman and Senator Brown
80 AA4SS app OSNllNN 1LiS IL, SId(lOil
in Columbia on the way down town
from the state house or January 18th.
He Sald as he crossed GervaiS street he
| saw Mr. Gonzales coming in the oppo-
site direction on the outside of the
pavement. He said Mr.. Gonzales
crossed obliquely to the left. He could
nave passed on the outside, he said,
instead of cutting ~diagonally across to
the inside. Witness said he heard
Mr.. Tillman say:
Il got you message" He said tina
Mr.. Gonzales thrust his hand down IN
his pocket and added that he thought
Mr.. Gonzales was going to o Mr..
Tillman. He heard the shot. but said
he did not see Where Mr.. Tillman drew
the pistol from. He said Lieutenant
Governor Tillman was in the middle.
Mr.. McLorick testified that he saw
Mr.. Gonzales coming up Main street
and Mr.. Tillman and two other men
coming in the opposite direction. the
defendant being in the middle. He
said that MIR. Gonzales got within four
or five steps from Mr.. Tillman, he
changed his course obliquing to the
left. The witness SAID Mr. Gonzales
had his right hand in his pocket and
acted as if he was trying TO get it out.
He heard q report. he said. and saw
a pistol in the defendants hand.
Mrs. a. a. vans testified that as she
passed lIf transfer SltlloIl january
Is. she saw Mr.. Gonzales coming in the
opposite dlrectionn. She said his facial
expression was strained.
Mahaffey. a member OF the lestsia-
ture from S~partanburg at the lasi
session said he noticed the neck of a
bottle sticking out OF the defendants
pocket at the state house the day De-
fore the shooting.
! j.. H. Tillman when he took the stand.
was asked by Mr.. Cross to explain this
and that incident 10 which reference
has been made during the trial. After
giving his explanation Of the South
Carolina incident. he was asked with
regard 10 any messages he may have
sent 10 Mr.. Gonzales. saying that he
had sent a verbal message to him by
George s. Legare asking him Com
Zales) to meet him in Georgia. He SAID
! Nj. Gonzales wanted the invitation put