The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-20
THE SHOOTING OF GONZALES.

@, all the dastardly, cowardly at =
..eks ON human life the most desplc a.
BILE was the shooting Of Eator on
xalee, of The Columbia State ! 'Iurs-
day by James H. T man, tAe l. euten-
ant gnxernor CT South care ira. It
was a cold-blooded and 5 cret- assault.
~SuJresnded by several ef his blck rs,
vfs. we're escorting ham down the
ST rect. he, secretly arTaed with two re
vbIvers in his pocket. passes down the
.n,eet at g time when NJ knew he
syplld meet the MAJ whose life he EVIL
u3gs1tly had determined to take il a
manner hat would not put his own in
abe least danger. When tn y met he
quickly draws one Of his weapons and
Hares u1,On an unarmed man. And then,
10 show how cowardly the ass2lant'
when he raises his revolver to fire the
secsEd shot he is cowed by the C o.
ness and bravery # the man he has
wounded probably unto death. Wh7n
Con sales looks him in She eye aGd
says: Shno again, you coward he
susils and overs his weapon, w
ta.t heavily armed as h i and sur
ennde hy (. lends, he Is afraiI of this
anarmed man standing in front or MIN
and daring him TO do his worst.
The attack was not expected by MIR.
Gonzales. Mr.. Tillnan knew this HAD
this been the latter's first opportunity
10 meet the editor after the violent at
Saeks in his newspaper the assault
--o,I5 loyro hcar CCHrn of one Of It's
most coward y features; hut 1t must bs
remembered hat the onslauShts OF
The State upon the lieutenant g vernon
were made months ago; that the par
ties had met several ms nee ane
Er. Tillman had not resented them;
go this attack was m rely UNLOCKED
Dor, n one is led to uppose that MI
TfIlman delayed taking his fearful re
senge because he knew that by so do
aRg he would catch Mr.. GoazIle5 en-
ksrely of his guard.
There is another significant c!rcum'
stance connected W tn this affair whtc!
gives it a still blacker look. Mr.. I'll
man, on leav.n g the cspitcl to go alon:
che street where it vas probable Il
would meet Mr.. Coma es, VS. joiCei
BY four Or five of his friends wh'
were all still with him wh-n the attach
was made. What dill tlese men o
any of them do to prevent it? y
hin Even after Mr.. Tillm n raise
his pistol to fire the second shot no
enc of them made an effort to stay IN
assaiIant's hand. as far as al. account
of the affair show. not one OF them il
terfered to prevent 4 most foul ans
damnable murder, but stool about the
friend. passive and apparently wil.iE:
witnesses TIC the de=d. Not one Of tns0
has yet opened his mouth u oX2lai
how he happened to be there or why h
took no step 10 prevent tn murderou
assault. We hope these men can eX
plain their action, but with the light
now before US it looks like a villainous
iy concocted plot 10 murder Mr.. Con
zales without giving HIM a chance I
Hotect hims If; that these men wer
there, knowing what was to take plaC
and ready to take part, six men gain
enc. If necessary to protect the assas
sin against his victim IS the natura
conclusion to draw from the Circum
~anc We hope for the SAX of th2s
men and of the state they repreS9 n
tina further developments WI refu-
this inference. But as for tn lieuten
ant governor there ara no e~XtenuatIn
circumstances. He ''bided his time 70
4 sure and safe opportunity to assassi
nate the man whom he was afraid I
meet openly and give = nance to DE-
ten6 himself.