The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-16
Verdict of Not Guilty Returned by the
Jury After Twenty Hours of
Consideration.
CONGRATULATED BY FRIENDS
DEMONSTRATION IN COURT, DESPITE
THE JUDGES WARNING.
Statement by TiIlman I'm Which He
Says the Verdict Was just as
He Expected.

LEXINGTON, S. c., Oct. 1.-THE trial Of
James HI. Tillman, who was charged with
the murder of n. H.. Gonzales, editor of the
State, in Columbia on Jan. Is, last, ended to-
day in an %acquittal. The jury before which
Tillman has been on trial since Sept. 2S
brought in a verdict of not guilty, thus
ending a judicial hearing which has en-
crossed the attention Of the public of South
Carolina as none other has in the last quar-
ter Of a century.
The jury was out for twenty hours before
arriving at a verdict. Never was a case in
South Carolina courts more vigorously con-
tested h this. The solicitor was assisted
in the prosecution by four other lawyers,
while the accused was defended by seven
lawyers, an exceptional array of counsel.
More than a hundred witnesses gave testi-
mony, about as many on one side as the
other, and nine lawyers argued before the
| jury. There was a general exodus to-day
from Lexington, the population of which
had been materially increased during the
| trial. Practically every one attending had
come from other parts of the State. Mr..
Tillman left on an afternoon train for his
home in Edgefield, accompanied by his
| wife and friends from his home county.
| 4Hc uSltDudHl OcCupieu HIS CuStOIldTy
| position among his lawyers, facing the jury,
when the latter came into the room.
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a YER
| dict?' was the timeworn inquiry made by
the clerk. The foreman replied In the af-
firmative and at the same time handed the
| verdict to the clerk. 1t took but an instant
to read it and when the words Not guilty"
were heard some of the friends of the de-
PENDANT gave vent to their feelings in a
shout, though the court had previously ad-
monished those present not to make any
demonstration.
The motion by counsel for the defense for
the discharge of the defendant was imme-
diately signed by Judge Gary, the solicitor
asserting, and Tillman was at liberty.
When the legal formalities had been gone
through with Tillman walked up to the
bench and shook hands with the judge after
which he shook the hand of each Of the
Jurors and later was surrounded by his
friends, who extended their congratula-
tons. He left the courtroom in company
with his attorneys, but parted with them at
the front door to go across the street to the
Jail, visiting that institution for the last
time to gather up his effects. He has been
in custody since Jan. 10, his application for
bail having been refused.
Mrs. Tillman and the defendants mother
were not in the courtroom when the verdict
was announced, but the former had been
apprised Of ar agreement and was at the
jail to await the announcement and met
at her hotel, some two blocks away, that
the jury had come in, and was Fastening
on her way to the courthouse when she
met her son coming out on the street.
Learning the result, she threw her arms
around his neck. Later all gathered at the
hotel. where they received their friends
and relatives. Senator Tillman was not
present to-day, having gone yesterday to
his home at Trenton, where his wife is
recovering from injuries received in a run
| away accident. A telegram was sent him
advising him Of the outcome.
Soon after the jury went out yesterday
afternoon a ballot was taken, which re-
III In q Nnf0 nf ron m fun for nm
acquittal. Soon after one of the minority
Joined the majority, leaving one juror
kept the jury out all night. 1t was only
about twenty minutes before the knock
was heard on the jury-room door this
morning that he yielded; Many of the
Jurors got no sleep at all during the twenty
hours they were locked w.
The count in the indictment charging the
carrying Of concealed weapons was ignored
during the trial, and the jury took no &C
ton on 1t. After the verdict was announced
the clerk held up the pistols which had
figured in the trial and offered them to the
defendant, who waved them OF, saying:
'They are not NINE"
James H. Tillman, after his acquittal,
made the following statement: II feel very
grateful at the result of the verdict, but at
no time did 1 apprehend any serious conse-
quences: !, Of course, deeply regret the
death of Mr., Gonzales. but l was forced to
do what / did. / have never apprehended a
conviction, for I felt that I did no more
than any man would have done under the
same circumstances and what / was COM
PEELED to do. My position was fully stated
In the testimony I gave on the stand. 1 did
ask for a change OF venue because ] was
convinced, on account Of prejudice In Rich
land county, that I could not get a fair and
impartial trial In that county. I felt sure
that as soon as my case could be presented
to an impartial jury, I could be INDICATED.
The verdict has justified the correctness Of
my judgment. Lexington county was
selected by the prosecution. It's people are
law-abiding and have long been noted for
correctness Of their verdicts and nave been
praised by the press"