Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-13
aaistellaueo,,s 8eading.
j. n. TILLMAN ON THE STAND.
The Defendant Tolls His Own Story
of the Killing.

The Defendant Tolls His Own Story
of the Killing.
Col. J. H. Tillman went on the wit
ness stand in his own behalf late
last Thursday afternoon and remained
there during the greater part of FRI
day. His testimony was in answer TO
questions from counsel. He was care
full and deliberate In all he said, and
comported himself throughout with but
little show Of excitement. His knowl-
edge Of law and the rules Of evidence
seemed to stand him in very good
stead, and the manner in which hG got
around and amended testimony that
was apparently damaging seemed to
indicate not only how we'll he had
kept up with the case Of the prosecu-
tion; but a great deal Of shewdness IN
taking advantage Of every circum-
stance that could be made to count IN
his own favor.
During Thursday afternoon the de-
fendants testimony dealt mainly with
the relations between the deceased and
himself for some ten or twelve years
previous to the killing. He told OF
controversy he had with Gonzales
while the latter was correspondent OF
the News and Courier, and while ne
himself was studying law In Winns-
boro. He became responsible for some
pretty hard things that were said
about Gonzales In the Winnsboro pa
per, on account of some alleged mis-
representations of his uncle, B. r. TILL
man, by Gonzales, and because OF this
controversy, Gonzales had succeeded
In preventing his admission to the
South Carolina club. He told Of hav-
ing sent a verbal challenge to Gonzales
to fight a duel in Georgia, and also re-
counted how Gonzales had occasion for
further enmity on account Of his, TILL
mans newspaper statements about
Gonzales's failure to get government
appointment for which he was a can
didate. He disclaimed Ill feeling
against Gonzales; but insisted that
Gonzales had pursued him at every
turn until the persecution began to
prey on his mind. He denied that he
had ever made any direct threats
against Gonzales: but claimed that
everything that he lad ever uttered
in the nature of a threat, was contin-
gent first on aggression at the hands
of Gonzales.
The preliminaries were recited dur
ing Thursday evening. The circum-
stances relating to the actual killing
were not reached until Friday morn
ing. We reproduce the story as told by
the special correspondent Of the New
York World:
"Mr. Tillman. you heard the reading
of the editorial about cancelling the
invitation to President Roosevelt to
deliver the sword?" asked Col. Croft,
chief counsel for the defense. Did
you do that and why?"
You will recall the unpleasantness
on the floor of the senate between Sen.
ator Tillman and Senator McLaurin,
Tillman answered.
Senator Tillman on account of be-
ing the leading Democratic member on
Oll 4>hfoA ~
think, was invited to the White House
to attend a reception or dinner in hon
or of Prince Henry Of Prussia, and the
president withdrew the invitation to
Senator Tillman OF account Of that
fight. And I took it that 1t not only
insulted the state Of South Carolina by
insulting one Of it's senators, but he
was an uncle of mine. The first
thought of withdrawing the invitation
came from some of the subscribers
Have you anything to regret in
what you did about that?"
Would Like Another Chance.
mo, sir. In the light Of after
events, 1 only wish could get another
chance"
What do you mean by that?"
well, after he got to dining with
Booker Washington and appointing
Negro officials in Charleston
II object to that" said Col. Bellin-
ger, of the prosecution.
THAT Is going too far, Mr.. Croft" ,"
declared Judge Gary. This examina-
tion is permitted to show the unusual
malignity on the part Of the deceased
toward Mr.. Tillman. I don't think
this shows that at all. 1t Is injecting
into this case matters which ought not
to be admitted"
Tillman said, resuming his story:
Mr.. Gonzales's feelings toward me
were intensely bitter. I knew that,
though, before the sword incident oc-