The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-10-20

trial of James H. Tillman, who was
charged with the murder of n. G. Con
zales. editor of The State in Column
bia on January 18th last has come
to an end, resulting in an acQuittal.
The jury before which he has been
on trial since September 2Sth, today
brought in a verdict of not guilty, thus
ending a judicial hearing which has
engrossed the attention of the public
Of South Carolina, as none other has
in the last quarter of a century. The
jury was out for twenty hours before
arriving at a verdict.
Never was a case in South Carolina
courts more vigorously contested than
this. The solicitor was assisted in the
prosecution by four other lawyers
while the accused was defended
by seven lawyers, an exceptional array
Of counsel More than a hundred wit
nesses gave testimony, about as many
on one side as the other, and mine law
yers argued before the jury. There
was a general exodus today from Lex
ingtOn, the population of which has
been materially increased during the
trial. Practically every one attending
had come from other parts Of the
state. Mr.. Tillman left on an after
| noon train for his home in Edgefield,
accompanied by his wife and friends
from his home county.
Not a sound has emanated from the
| jury room when Judge Gary convened
court at $50 o'clock today, to indicate
| that an agreement had been reached.
Civil business was taken up and more
than hGI1r a1ancaH q
| knock was heard on the door leading
| into the jury room. The bailiff an
nounced that the jury desired to come
| into court. but the deep significance
| Of the sound had already been ap-
| preciated, however, and all eyes turn
| ed toward the jury room. Judge Gary
| directed the bailiff to ascertain II an
| agreement had been reached, when
| word came from within that the jury
| was returning with a verdict
Except for the court officials, MEM
| bers of the local bar and the neWspd-
| per men who have followed the trial,
| the court room was practically desert
| ed Summons were sent for the at
| tOrneys in the case and the sheriff
| was directed to bring the accused into
| the court The word soon spread up
| and down the street that the jury was
| about to report The jurors filed IN
| and took the seats they had occupied
| for so many days, but as all the at
| torreys had not arrived, there was Il
| delay of few moments before their
| decision was announced. The few
| minutes elapsing between the coming
| In of the jury and the announcement
| of its verdict were anxious ones. The
| defendant occupied his customary pos
| ition among his lawyers. facing the
| jury. Not all the attorneys had come
| in when the court asked if there would
| be an objection to having the verdict
| announced without waiting. calling at
| tention to the strain so apparent
| throughout the room. No objection
| was offered.
1t took but an instant to read the
verdict and when the words "Not
| guilty. were pronounced, some Of the
| friends of the defendant gave vent to
| their feelings in a shout. The previous
| admonition of the court did not pre-
vent the demonstration.
The motion Of counsel for the de-
| fense for the discharge Of the defend
ant was Immediately signed by Judge
| Gary, the solicitor asserting and Mr..
Tillman was at liberty. When the
legal fo1mSlities h9u been gone
| through with. Mr.. Tillme walked up
| to the bench and shook hands with
| the Judge after which he shook the
hand of each Of the Jurors. and later
| was surrounded by his friends who
| extended their congratulations.
He departed from the court room IN
company with his attorneys but left
| them at the front door to go across
| the street to the jail for the purpose
| of gathering up his effects. He has
been in custody since January 18th.
his application for bail having been
refused.
Mrs. Tillman and his mother We're
not in the court room when the verdict
l..
been appraised Of an agreement and
was at the Jail to await the announce
ment. The mother had heard al her
hotel. some two blocks away that the
| jury had come in and was hastening g
| on her way to the court house when
! she met her son coming out on the
| street. Learning the result she threw
her arms around his neck and mani
Tested her JOY in silence. Later all
were at the hotel where Mr.. Tillman
! met friends and relatives and also had
| a long talk with his attorneys. SEN
| ator Till:nan was not present today.
| having gone yesterday to his home at
| Trenton. where his wife is reCovering 2
| from injuries received in n runaway
| accident. 4 telegram was hastily sent
him advising him Of the outcome.
The long drawn out deliberatiOn of
| the jrry and the failure to report in
TO court during yesterday afternoon o.
through the night intensified the
| strain On those who were awaiting the
| result Soon after the jury went out
yesterday afternoon. a ballot was
taken which resulted in ten to two for
an acquittal. Shortly after, one of
the minority Joined the majority. leav-
ing one juror standing out. He held
To his views and kept the jury out all
night. In fact it was only about
twenty minutes before the knock was
heard on the jury room door this morn
ing that he yielded. Many of the