The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-08
To Try Tllluann.

Nearly every paper that We pick up has
somsshing about the prospective trial OF
James H.. Tillman And new namcs OF attor'
neys fol- defense are often added TO the list.
while the array OF counsel for prosecution
must b appalling 70 the prisoner, who has
the distinction OF having been denied bail.
When Judge Cothrari was Solicitor OF this
Circuit he discouraged the spectacular In
In murder trials. Neither he nor the State
had any doubt a. 70 his ability 70 prosecute
the prisoners ut the bar.
Feeling that the offer OF assistance was at
least an implied reflection OF the ability Of
the Solicitor. he made NO particular effort to
keep his opinion 70 himself. For this reason
voluntary assissants seldom or never appear.
cd In Court II subj occurrence did happen
IL IN perfectly certain that the Same assistant
did not appear the second time.
We are not acquainted with tho Solicitor OF
the Columbia Circuit, but 70 assume that he
10 q man OF ability and worthy OF his ONCE.
II %, then why are other lawyers called upon
70 help him In this particular case? Aafas %
10 now can recall, neither the State DOL the
people nave ever discounted his ability. Then
Why does this great array Of counsel appear
In Cour TO prosecute this case? Has the 30
licitor recently developed weakness or inabil.
ity: We have heard Of NO intimstion TO That
effect except a furnished In tho tact hat the
State has called to IL aid, or accepted the ser.
vice Of able and distinguished lawyers 70 pros
scute Tillmsn.
The solicitor OF Richland has always
been equal 70 any task. M We believe
he % Q true. able q worthy representative
OF the State. He alone would come Just m
near convioting Tillman a he could with
an army Of axsis.an1.
will be strange ifisympathy 10 not excited.
The state with IT. laws. and it, able and OK
psrienced Solicitor. rishtfully proseoutes evil
doors. and the public look on with approval.
But when the Stats resorts 70 Extraordinary
methods, the sentiment OF human nature
may 60 out in behalf OF The oppressed.
NT1llman 10 treated a. others charged with
crime. Why was no refused bail? Can any
man sivsa reason outside OF politics? All
men know that Jim Tillman could not live
Outside ofSouth Carolina. Alexander Steph.
ems said as The close OF The var that he would
prefer 70 DO hanged In CravSoFdsvill than 10
live In Paris. In like manner Jim Tiilman
will stay In South Carolina and take the CON.
sequences.
nJim Tiliman 10 treated - any other man
who had killed another. Why does the State
Of South Carolina ask for, or accept assistance
In prosecuting hlms In this not Q plain case
Of the persecution Of . man who 10 behind
prison bapf
Lot NO maj misunderstadd.t this newspaper.
We have never. q ar % Ne remember, sa,d
one word % 70 Tillman's guilty or Innocence.
And ve have expressed NO opinion % 10 what
punishment, fanny. will b Indicted.
His plea Of selfdefenss 10 20 i~ndafencibie
thai vs cannot venture a opinion q to the
result OF such . defense. II would seem to %
that pndsr sueh . plea be might b convicted.
H. % the other hand, no should claim that
10 W. excusabls In defending his character
and tt Eoodiname. then No believe he might
b acquitted. Il 10 hardly 10 be conceived
that Q jury OF twelve men could 30 found
Who wouid DO moro forbearing and less re ,
sentful than was Tiilman. In shis plea OF
Justification or excuss. he would have
70 read some Of the publications that were
made against him. 1.-THE plea Of excusable
homicide were Get up and the provoking srt.
clss were read In Court the reader can
Judge OF what he would do under similar cir.
oumstancea.
b States great array of counsel must
shcw it, estimate Of the difficulty In the task
before Il The extra counsel cannot surely be
. reelection on tho solicitor or . lack Of con-
edence In his ability.