The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-10-07
LAURENs, $. c., Oct. q, 1908.
Editorial Correspondence.

pIOVN1 OSGOoOIy ~
markable trial, Of a prisoner who,
while lieutenant governor, shot a man
down in the streets of Columbia with q
pistol which was itself q novelty in a
region where the pistol is not Ice
mon may last two weeks, or more, be-
yond this week. 1t may end with next
week. Four days have been con-
sumed. The eye-witnesses to the
shooting have not yet been on the
stand. Four members of the house of
representatives from three counties
have testified. A member of congress,
ID. Wyatt Aiken, Is here as q states
witness. Two state senators arc states
witnesses. Prominent lawyers from
various counties and other men con-
spicuous in affairs are here to testify
on one or the other side. Two little
boys have testified for the prosecution.
A lady, Mrs. Melton, is n Of the i'm
portant eye-witnesses. Twelve or thir-
teen lawyers represent the defendant.
Five assist the solicitor in prosecuting.
A member OF congress, Col. Croft, is
the defendants leading counsel. Elk
Attorney General Bellinger and Solicit
tor Thurmond who are of the p%rosecu-
tion were defeated by Mr.. Croft for
congress last year. Another lawyer,
MIR. tombstone, was q candidate for the
United States Senate last year. Will
liam Elliott, Jr., of the states counsel,
is the son Of n Of his opponents. The
prisoner himself was q candidate for
governor in last years primaries. He
Is a nephew OF a United States senator
and ex-governor. Mr.. Blease, whom
Tillman defeated for lieutenant gov
ernor, is another Of his lawyers. The
files of a daily newspape for a year,
covering in large part jhe history Of
the state for that time, are in the evi.
dence. Newspaper men are here from
Charleston, Augusta, Richmond, New
York and other cities. And yeti
have frequently seen a larger crowd in
the court house in Laurens watching
the trial Of a negro for stealing a hog
than 1 have seen on any day in the
Lexington Court House since this trial
began. This is not u Lexington case.
The people of this county are looking
after their contemplating 1t is non
of their affair. Their county officers
will see to the comfort and order Of
the court room and they will not inter-
fere, even by manifesting especial in
terest by their presence.
A question in this case is: Should a
newspaper editor, who believes and
has reason to believe hat a candidate
for a great Office is dishonest and cor
rupt, expose him, or out Of considera-
ton for his feelings, say nothing? 1t
should be remembered that O The
State alone attacked Jim Tillman in
the campaign. Many other newspa-
pers, some of them staunch supporters
Of Senator Tillman, denounced him in
stronger terms than The State used.
Suppose this. A handsome, we'll
dressed young man comes to Laurens.
He has good manner and "gets inn
with the best people. He is q charm
ing fellow. I, editor of THE ADvER-
TIsER, happen to know that he is a
professional swindler and forger. I
have reason to believe that if left un.
molested he will rob the banks and
paople OF Laurens of thousands. The
ADVERTISER appears with an article
telling the people what this delightful
stranger really is. The banks and the
public are on guard. Their vaults and
pocket-books are protected by the
publication. Nevertheless, the man
has been horribly abused, he does not
disprove the charges, but his feelings
are wounded.H He meets me in the streets
and shoots me down. Shall he be pun
ished? Or did / deserve to be shot
down because | protected my people
through the newspaper which 1 have
the responsibility to ddit?
Jim Tillman was q candidate for gov
ernor. l am not saying that he was
guilty Of the charges The State pre-
ferred. The fact that he was q candi-
date invited Investigation of his re-
cord. The State printed It's evidence
with its charges. Tillmau's
from the stumplast summer were mere
denials. Any intelligent man may now
obtain the editorials and Judge for
himself. The State printed them all
again last week. Whatever the re-
suit OF this trial the charges made by
The State against Tillman have not
been answered.
The point is this: suppose merely
for the sake of the argument, that The
States charges were true. Ought The
State TO have held its peace? Suppose
an escaped jail-bird settles in Laurens
and runs for the legislature and my pa
per Is In q position to warn the people
against him. / do SO. He shoots me.
Are you going to justify him? 1 have
heard Of an editor who lived In Lau-
rens many years ago. He denounced
the carpet-baggers and radicals week
in and week out. A distinguished South
Carolinian who had been his friend
but had become q republican said that
the editor should have been hung, said
that he was responsible for the upris-.
ing OF the white people of Laurens
against the cirpet-baggers and scala
wa a To his 1aat hiho ols.o.