The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-08
He SAID HE'D FILL
HIM FULL OF LEAD
Witnesses Claim Gonzales
Uttered Threats.
NINE WITNESSES HEARD
Il is Estimated That the Defence in the Till
man Trial viii Consume ihe Remain
der Of ihs Week With its
Witnesses.
NINE WITNESSES HEARD
(Bv the Associated Press.)


in the case of ]. H. Tillman entered upon
the presentation Of its side of the case,
Solicitor Thurmond having announced
when the trial was resumed today that
the State would rest. No further testi
mony was offered by the State. Nine
witnesses for the defense were heard to-
day. 1t is estimated that the defense
will consume the remainder of the week
with its witnesses. Juror Sharpe, who
has been sick for the past three days,
was able to sit through today, although
court was adjourned an hour earlier on
his account
The defense first renewed the motion
to have the jury instructed to disregard
all testimony relative to the possession
of weapon by the defendant day or
two prior to the shooting, contending
that no connection had been shown be-
tween that and the shooting. The court
ruled that the testimony was competent
in view of other testimony given by wit
nesses for the State.
Editorials from the Columbia State re-
lating to j. H. Tillman were then read
and affirmed in evidence by the defense.
In ruling on point in controversy af-
fecting the introduction of editorials the
court stated that the purpose for which
the editorials was admitted was to show
the feelings existing between the defend
ant and H. G. Gonzales.
The first witness called today by the
defense was 7. d. Mitchell. who was
resident of Columbia in 1902. He was
asked if he had had any conversation with
N. G. Gonzales IN. 1902 in which the
name of j. Fl Tinman was mentioned.
He replied in the affirmative, saying:
Il think it was some time in September
just after one of those editorials in his
paper was published" Witness said he
met Mr.. Gonzales in the street and asked
by counsel to detail the conversation says
among other things that he asked Mr..
Gonzales if he did not think it about
time to let up on old Jim" Giving Mr..
Gonzales reply witness said, he said, 4
can slap his face and he would not re-
sent it," The witness further stated that
Gonzales said IF he ever bats his eyes at
me- I'll fill him-so full of lead he can't
tote it off,"
The witness said he told Mr.. Ti!Iman cf
the conversation.
On cross examination, witness said he
forced the conversation on Mr.. Con
zales: also that he knew Mr.. Gonzales
by sight but never was introduced to
him. and further that he had been told
few days after the shooting that the
conversation would be good evidence for
the defendant. He said he had synpa-
thized with Ambrose E. Gonzales
A. J. Flowers, a street railway conduc-
tor. in Columbia in 1902 in answer to
counsel for the defense said he had heard
a conversation had by Mr. Gonzales, dur
ing the summer of 1902. He said Mr.
Gonzales and three other men were riding
or his car in Columbia Asked to state
the conversation the witness said:
II had big load of passengers and
was going around collecting fares and
helping the ladies and children off and
1 got pretty close to them collecting
fares and they were discussing politics,
the three men and Mr.. Gonzales, and /
just overheard what did hear"
Mr.. Nelson: "He was not talking to
you?"
mo, sir, the witness replied. 81 heard
him tell them that if he did not succeed
in defeating Mr.. Tilman in the governors
office that he would never be seated, be-
cause he would kill the rascal"
He said he did not think anything ofI
the remarks at the time, and on cross
examination said it was not until twoI
months ago that he told this. and in an
swer to further questions, said ne wrote
OF the defendant. The letter was intro
duced by counsel for defense. and in it the
witnes said he would appear as a wit
ness if he could be of any service. Hel
was member of oClonel Tillman's regi
ment.
P. w. Hughes. of Warrenton. said heI
was in columbia in 1902. and while walkingI
down Main street with four mon, whom
he named. they met Mr.. Gonzales. A Mr.
Stroud. of their number, he said, was
asked by Mr.. Gonzales about the mill
vote. He said he asked Mr.. Gonzales i'll
ne did not think he had done Mr. Till
man a great injustice, to which he said Mr..
Gonzales repled that he would get great
er inustice after election and it ought
to be lead"
August Blalock testified that he was
with Mr. Hughes at the time ana That he
heard this conversation.
N. B. Cheshire, printer on an Ander-
son. S. c., newspaper, was asked TO state
what he told Mr.. Tillman at campaign
meet;no in Anderson in 1900 Objection
was raised by counsel for the State on the |
ground that the statement was not made
hv Mr. Gonzales and consequently hear
say The jury was sent out, when the wit
ness said:
!. told him representative of the State
fnevsnanor, told me that Gonzales ear
red pun and that he had better not
i,,n,,, - him with a stick, for if he die he
would get h7 shot out OF MIN.
After a lengthy argument oy counsel
beyond the dinner recess the court ruled