The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-21
'TILLMAN TALKS.
He Says that He Does Not Expect Fairness in the
Reports
Reports.
Atlanta Journal.

Rep
Atlanta Journal.
Columbia, S. c., Jan. 17.-Lieuten-
anti Governor Tillman, who shot Ed.
tor GoDzsles Thursday afternoon, said
today he was ready for trial at any
time and that he had been mlsrepre-
sented by the newspapers 70 far, but
under Instructions from his attorneys
he could not give any Information re-
garding the shooting.
When q Journal representative call
ed at the Richland county jail today
he was denied admission to Mr.. Till
mans quarters, 1t being announced by
Jailer Sleigh that orders had been
given that nobody should zee the lieu
tenant governor unless q request was
made by Mr.. Tiilman, but he declined
to be seen, but when The Journal rep
resentatIve wrote him q note explain
ing that The Journal would publish
any statement he desired to make he
changed hIa opinion and sent for The
Journal man to come to his room.
He 10 auartered In room on the sec
ond floor Of the Jail, where he has .
bed aud several chairs, pictures are on
the walls Of the room, aud IL is being
made as cozy as possible. With Mr..
Tillmau was Mr.. G. w. Smith.
When The Journal reporter entered
the room Mr.. TillmaD was lying on
the bed. He had his coat off snd was
smoking q cigar. He was calm and
collected and did not seem to he at all
worried over the shooting.
After exchanging greetings Mr.. TIL
man wrote the following statement:
TALKS TO THE JOURNAL.
"Dear Mr., Simmons: I thank you
very much for calling, but under In.
structions from my attorneys. and
have promised them not to do 30, /
cannot give you an interview:
However much l would like To do
so to correct the biased report Of the
unfortunate affair, but when the pub
lie recalls that these reports were sent
out either by The State, Of which Mr..
Gonzales In editor, or by his personal
friends, they can readily see that l
could scarcely hope for or expect fair
account.
"Those who know me know ms too
well to believe 1t. When the true facts
are proven my friends and the people
oil this country will know how grossly
I have been misrepresented. Such
will be shown by witnesses OF the
highest character. ! am ready for trail
by q jury of my countrymen.
(Signed) ~. H. Tillman."
81 wish I could say more for yuu,"
continued the lieutenant governor,
''but I promised my attorneys that /
would not talk about the affair.
Il am getting on as well N possible
under the circumstances, and have
nothing to complain Of In the way OF
treatment by the Jail officials, they are
doing all they can for my comfort.
III you could see Senator Talbird,
who was with me at the time OF the
shooting, I think he will give you a
true account of the affair as u hap
pened. He has declined to talk. Sd
far, but / think he will tell you about
1t IL you say to him that asked him
to do so. He Is q reiiale man and
stands well in the state. 1 wish also
that YOU would talk with some OF my
friends here and see what they say.
II am sure that they will not repre-
sent me-"
Lieutenant Governor Tillman's wife
called at the Jail yesterday afternoon
and spent several hours with her hus-
band, and she was also at tho Jail again
for about an hour this morning. She
seems TO be bearing up well under the
strain aud is as cool and collected as
her husband.
Senator Talbird. to whom The Jour.
nal represe ntative was referred by Gov
ernor Tillman, left early this morning
for his home and will not return until
Tuesday, as there Is no session OF the
legislature here Monday on account oi
1t being General Lees birthday.
80 far no effort has been made to &C.
cure bond for Governor Tillman, and
1t IL not probable that any will be made
until It IL more definitely known what
the wound Of Editor Gonzales will re-
suit in.
In order to get bond 1t will be neces.
sary to have the judge Of the court re-
siding IN this circuit 10 fix the amount
or 10 have the supreme court OF the
state do so.
Governor Tillman has not yet deter.
mined who his counsel will be. In
speaking Of the matter at the jail he
said:
II have had offers from parties all
over the state to represent me in the
trial. aud ! hardly know yet what tC
do. My friends seem to be very loyal
I am proud to say. / will know In 9
day or two, though, who will repre-.
sent me at the trial"
Congressman-elect Croft. Of the sec
ond district, who il Lieutenant Cover.
nor Tlllman's law partner, will proba
bly, be the chief man ut the trial. Mr.
p. H. Nelson. one of the leading law
yers of Columbia, and one of the bes
kEown criminal lawyers in the south
aud Judge D. w. Buchanan, brother
in-lsw Of Lieutenant-Governo Till
man, are sure 10 represent him at thu
trial.
The next session of the circuit cOur
meets In April and 1t Ia not likely tba
the trial will occur before then.