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

Lexington, s. c., October 9.-James H.
TilIman was on the stand today over
four hours. a witness in his w behalf.
For one full hour he was subjected to
the fire of cross examination by counsel
for the state. But one other witness
was placed on the stand by the defense,
after which the defense rested. Wit
nesses in rebuttal played OF the stand
by the state were heard during the
closing hours. Splendid progress was
made today toward the conclusion of
the triaI. which already has consumed
nearly two weeks.
Defendant resuming his testimony
today was asked as to the impression
made upon him as to Gonzales feeling
toward him by the editorials, a number
being indicated by title. Replying he
said that they impressed HIM as in
tensely bitter. He said he did not make
threats in Edgefield or on a train.
The defendant was asked with refer
ence to statements attributed to him
while engaged in conversation in his
room in a hotel in Columbia on August
Goth or 21st of last year He said:
THE conversation DR.. Adams referred
to, took place when a number Of my
friends were in the room and it was
4 running, general conversation. Some
times l would be talking to one and
then another, sometimes three or four
would be talking to me. Somebody
came in the room and told me about
some new rumOr concerning what Mr..
Gonzales WOuld do to me and I made
the remark that if he attempted to DO
that, l don't think l said as DR.. Adams
aid snuff his light out. but him
l would kill him. l think
He said further:
u had been told in different places
in South Carolina that Mr.. Gonzales had
stated that l dared not come to Colum-
bia and say about him there what l
had said on other stumps in the cam
paign." He said the different state
meuts We're made in connection with ru-
mors of threats reported to him.
The defendant said further that it had
been reported that the opera house in
Columbia where a campaign meeting
was to be held was to be packed n
that he was not to be let out alive, and
stated that he said if that rumored
threat. was carried out, sit would be
one of the tragedies in South
Carolina"
Answering counsel, he said he had
sent word to Mr.. Gonzales to attend the
meeting at Columbia and make his
charges. He said he did not feel safe
to go unarmed while in Columbia. He
said he did not have a pitol in his hip
pocket prior to the day of the shooting,
testified TO by two Columbia boys, but
said he did have one in a sling under
his coat, showing where it was carried
at that time. Mr.. Tillman exhibited
the automatic pistol to the jury, saying
that because of its peculiar shape it
could not be carried in a hip pocket.
He added hat it was a bottle he had in
his hip pocket at the state house.
Mr.. Tillman put on the o~vercoat
which he said he wore on the day of the
shooting and stood before the jury,
showing that it had no side pockets.
Placing his right hand in a rear pocket
he said that was where he drew the
pistol from. He said he reached back
there and cooked it when he saw Con-
zales.
After detailing his movements about
the state house after the adjournment
of the n at on September 18th. the
defendant sale that in companty with
Senators Talbird II Brown he started
down town. Just before 1 got to the
transfer station I noticed Mr.. Gonzales
some distance down the street looking
at me intently," said the defendant. Il
never o my yes off Of him, nor did
he take his eyes off of me-" At this
point in the witness narrative a blue
print of the scene of the shooting was
produced. which was held before h
Jury by counsel while the defendant
! indicated positions as he proceeded with
his statement. saying:
Mr.. Gonzales got about along there
G~ndicatingl. He was coming down the
street next to the curb stone. We
three were walking about in the middle
of the sidewalk. as near as I can recol-
Iect il. Just before Mr.. Gonzales got
TO me he cut across toward me"
Answering counsel he said. Mr.. Tai
bird vas in the outside and there was
room enough for Mr.. Gonzales to have
passed between Senator Talbird and the
curb.
The witness was asked to state what
Gonzales did. not what appearance he
had.
When he started to cut across the
| pavement toward me-. was the reply,
his overcoat was tightly buttonei up
| and both his hands were thrust in his
overcoat pocket. The thumbs of both
OF his hands were outside OF his over
| coat pocket. until he started to cut
| across the sidewalk coming directly to-