Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-13

that when he and Gonzales met they
would shoot it out"
When he took the stand Mr.. Tillman
was asked what impression was made
upon him by the editorials written by
Mr., Gonzales. He replied that they
were intensely bitter He said he did
not make the threats in Edgedeld or on
the train going from Johnston to Co
lumbia. as testified by the witnesses
for the state. He also said he had no
conversation in livery stable at Edge
field relative to Gonzales. as has been
stated in testimony.
Tells of Threats He Heard.
Tillman was questioned with refer
ence to the conversation which took
place in his room in hotel at Column
bia ON the. night of August 81, when
DR.. Adams and Col Blease, a witness
in the case, were present. The witness
said the statements were made by him
in reply to remarks as to threats re-
ported TO him He said he had been
told in a dozen places in South Caro-
lima that he could not come to Column
bia and say that he had said on the
stump and elsewhere about Gonzales.
Also he said it had been reported TO
him at the opera house in Columbia,
where he was to speak, was to be pack
ed, and he was not to be let out alive.
He stated he said, if that threat was
carried out it would be the worst trag-
edy in South Carolina.
Story of Shooting.
Mr. Tillman in giving his version of
the shooting. said he was walking
down from the state house after the
adjournment of the state senate Jam
uary IS, in company with Senators
Talbird and Brown. the former being
on the outside. the latter on the inside
of the walk. Before reaching the trans
| fer station, ne said, he noticed Mr..
Gonzales down the street, looking at
| him intently. He said he( defendant)
had on his overcoat. buttoned He said
he never took his eyes from Gonzales
and that Gonzales did not take his eyes
off him.
He said Mr.Gonzales had on an over
coat tightly buttoned with his hands
in his pockets, thumbs sticking out.
Mr.. Gonzales cut diagonally across in
front OF him, he said. and the thumb
of his right hand disappeared III his
pocket. He said he thought Mr. Con
zales was going TO draw a weapon and
he fired first, saying: II got your mes.
sage
The message, Tillman said, referred
| to the statements reported to him by
Witnesses White and Hoisenbach.
These statements We're to the effect
that Gonzales had said he had made
| Tillman show the white feather twice
I hafora a,,6 would do n oo;i1 q rrbr dn-
| fandant said he did not fire the second
| shot as Mr.. Gonzales did not draw a
| pistol.
| On cross examination the defendant
said he had reason to expect, from the
moment he saw Mr.. Gonzales that he,
! (Gonzalesl would shoot when they
met. He also said he sent word to Mr..
Gonzales to come to the meeting at
the opera house in Columbia and
make his charges, then. saying he did
this so he could reply to them.
In answer to questions in the cross
examination the defendant said the
| differences between Gonzales and him
self began in 1890. He wrote letter
to Gonzales in 1892 thanking him for
a kindness and their differences We're
at an end at that time. He identified
| the letter which was offered IN evil
dence by the state and read.
Denies Any III Feeling.
On further cross examination Mr..
Tillman said he had no i'll feeling
toward Gonzales until the attacks were
made on him about the time he was
| in the army.
"You spoke or him severely on ey-
cry stump in the state?" quiered Mr..
Bellinger.
Pretty near every one" was the
reply.
Having stated that he did not care to
get into any trouble while lieutenant
governor, Mr.. Bellinger asked:
"You did not mind carrying a con-
cealed weapon while you were lieuten-
ant goyernor?"
Mot after my life was threatened.
| The law gives me that right"
Didn't yout tell some of your
| friends that you and Gonzales had an
understanding that when you met you
/ would shoot the thing out?"
Il made the statement that it was
the general understanding that when
We met we would shoot it OUT