The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-01-22
The Calnmhia Tragedy.

past one o'clock, in the city OF Columbia,
Mr. N. G. Gonzales, editor of the State
newspaper, was shot by Lieutenant Gov
ernor Jas. II. Tillman, from the effects OF
which wound his death occurred Monday
afternoon last at one o'clock. The story
of the sad tragedy is fully told in another
part of this newspaper. Mr.. Gonzales
had left his office on Main street and
started to dinner, meeting Tillman, who
lust left the State house and was
walking down street, accompanied by
Senator Talbird, of Beaufort. Several
others we're along, the Senate having
Just adjourned. As the party met Con
zales, Tillman, without word, drew
pistol and shot him in the stomach, IN
flicting a mortal wound. Gonzales said:
aShoot again, ycu coward" but Tillman
lowered his pistol. Tillman was at once
arrested and put in Jail. Gonzales was
carried to the hospital for treatment,
where he fingered in agony until his
death. These are the brief facts in one
of the most awful tragedies that ever
occurred within the horders of South
Carolina.
The high esteem in which the dead man
was held, not only in this State, but all
over the South, has been manifested by
the many expressions of sympathy that
have come from public men and editors.
This newspaper has never yet violated
a rule of it's own, which is, not to attempt
to prejudice public sentiment either for
or against man who is to be tried for
his life for the killing of fellow-being.
This, however, Is an unusual case. When
the second highest executive official OF
the proud State of South Carolina, only
a few moments before acting as presiding
officer of the State Senate, walks out into
the street with two big pistols concealed
on his person and without word shoots
j6own an unoffending citizen, it is high
time for all who love their State and be-
lieye in law and order, to speak in no un-
certain tones.
There is no doubt but that Tillman
killed Gonzales because of the editorial
opposition to him in his race for COVER
nor. 1t is true the editor said hard things,
but were they not true? Tillman never
attempted to disprove them, and he failed
to seek satisfaction at the time these edl-
torials were printed. Months had elapsed
since anything had appeared in the State
against Tillman, and Gonzales had no
intimation that bodily harm was intended.
The act can be only characterized as pre-
meditated, wilful murder, with malice
aforethought, and could only have been
perpetrated by one who was thorough
coward at heart He waited for months
to pass, so that even if his victim had ex-
pected trouble, his fears would have been
allayed and ne would take him unawares.
Gonzales was given no chance for his life
he was shot down without warning
in brutal and cowardly manner. He
was unarmed when killed, and even if he
had been it would have been of no avail.
A peaceful citizen should walk the
streets in the daytime, in civilized COM
munity, feeling sense of security against
the attacks of murderers and assasslns.
Is it so in South Carolina? Murder
after murder has been committed in this
State in the past few years, and how
many white men have paid the death
penalty for their crimes? In the name
of the Almighty, are such things to con-
tinue? Are We to come to the pass when
no mans life is safe against attacks such
as these; when the peaceable citizen is to
be at the mercy Of the pistol toter, the
thug, and the bully? If we are to 60
back to a period like unto the mining
and cowboy times of the West, when
human life was as cheap as water aud no
man was punished for his crimes, let US
know it. If we are to make political
heroes of lawiess men and assasSins, then
we say God help South Carolina, and we
say it reverently. The spirit of lawless-
ness has touched the high and the low,
the rich and the poor, and some remedy
must be found. 1t is plain and simple.
Hang a few white men and the lawless-
ness and killing viii! cease.
We quote the following from sermon
oreached in Charleston last Sunday by
Dr. A. B. Scherer, an eminent Lutheran
divine, well known in this county. He
delivered the memorial address at Rivers
Bridge few years ago. In speaking of
the prevalence of lawlessness in this
State he said:
"a year ago the chief representatives of
this State in the National Government ep-