The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-02-25

PersSn1lly comes c. NJ. Lide. who
being duly sworn says: am d broth
er-in-law OF Prot. Ward!aw OF the
South Carolina cllcge, who lives on
South Sumter street. in the city of
Columbia, and there deponenU lives
also: That on Thursday, January
18th, 1893, l was goins, down Main
street towards my home, whic, led
me past the transfer station OF the
street railway, at the northeast corn
er Of Gervais and Main streets, city of
Columbia. Walking along some feet
in front OF me was MF: n. G. COMA
les, editor OF The State newspaper; l
also noticed coming from the direction
of the State house, and meeting said
Gonzales. Lieut.. Gov. Tillmaa with
two other men. | Gid Eot notice the
two men accompanying him at once to
recognize them, bat did observe that
Gov. Tillnan was walking on the out
side OF the three as they came along
up Main street from across GervaiS
street and that he maintained that
position with his hands in his over
coat pocket until just before ne had
fired the .shot, hereinafter described.
I was not close enough to hear any
thing that was said, either by Gov.
Tlllman or by Mr.. Gonzales, both of
whom am informed Invariably spoke
in low voice. They Gonzales and
Tillman) approached each other, Cen
zales going south, Tillman coming
north. Gonzales turned when about
20 feet in front Of Gilman to the in
side of the pavement, Tillman being
on the outside, when just as he was
going around the three, on the inside
of the pavement, Tillnan being on
the outside OF the three: and near the
outer edge of the said pavement, and
having both hands in his overcoat
pocket, the latter, that is Tillman,
suddenly fred his pistol. 1 just no.
ticed that he threw up his pistol and
fred. do not know where he drew
his pistol from. I only know that he
drew it up and fired instantly. Con
zales at the time had both hands IN
bis oyercoat pockets. / could see that
much from the. rear view / had. AS
Tillman shot Gonzales turned immedi-
ately and then I saw that his thumb
was projecting from his overcoat pock-
cts. I did not stop on my way ana as
I advanced of course I came nearer to
the parties. When Tillman fired the
muzzle of the pistol was several feet
from the body of his victim. l saw
Gonzales distinctly and say that ne
made no motion whatever or any dem
onstration whatever up to the time
that Tillman fred upon him: and l
say further that if the shot had been
DELAYED for another step taken by Con-
zales, Tillman would have shot him in
the back. AS Soon as Tillman hred
one OF the men with Tillman threw
himself between Tillman and Con
zales turned square around aud looked
Tillman in the face. He then turned
towards the corner column of the
transfer station and leaned his head
over. Tillman still had his pistol up
as if he meant to take another shot;
he still held the pistol up over the
shoulder Of the man who got between
them. Mr.. Gonzales then turned
again and faced Tillman. Mr.. Sims
then went up to him, afterwards Mr.
LaMotte coming from Bonds bicycle
shop, and they almost simultaneously
took him by his arm. They asked II
Gonzales was shot and he replied, yes,
through the stomach, whereupon one
of them asked where he wished to be
carried; he answered, to The State
office and there they supported him.
AS soon as Gonzales turned to walk
around the corner into GervaiS street
going east Tillman, sided off to his
left and had gotten to about the hrst
street car track on the brick crossing
towards the opera house, with his eyes
still on Gonzales, when the two gen.
tlemen named turned towards The
State office supporting him. Tillnan
still faced them, pistol in hand, until
they had passed the station going
north to The State office, and his left
hand in his overcoat pocket certainly
some portion of the time. Then TIL
man turned to his right, crossing
Main street diagonally to the pave
ment in front of City Auditor Aliens
office, where he met man in citizens
clothes, when the two turned anc
walked along West Gervais street tc
the police station. Just at the mo-
ment of the shot the man next tC
Tillman, the man being on line with
Tillman, seemed to jump forward ano
between them. I never saw Tlllmar
move his hands from his overcoat
,ool-o+e nnti1 he drew his pistol. !