The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-16
shot DOWN BYJ. 4. HlLLMAN
MURDEROUS ATTACK OLA LIEU
TENANT-GOTERNOR.

South CaroIinR's CapitRI-The Lieu !
tenant Governor Under Arrest-PO-
liticaI bitterness the Gauge os the
Tragedy.
Columbia, S. c., Jan. 15.-N. G. Con
zales, editor of The State, and widely
known throughout the south, is at the
Columbia hospital in critical condition
as result of pistol wound inflicted
by James H. Tillman, lieutenant COVER
nor of South Carolina.
1t was'an awful tragedy in broad day
light on the most frequented street anu
corner in the state capital.
1t was just a few minutes before
o'clock when the cry was passed along
the streets that Jim Tillman had shot
N, G. Gonzales The announcement
went like thrill through all Columbia
and there was rush towards the scene
of the tragedy to learn the facts ana
the condition of the distinguished edl-
tor. The office of The State is on the
same block as the scene of the shootlns
and it took only a few moments for
throng to assemble in front of the news
paper building. The excitement ana the
indignation on the street was intense
Policeman Boland Immediately attef
the shooting arrested Lieutenant Gov
IS ernor Tillman and took him to ponce
headquarters, where he was renewed OIL
two pistols, the one with which he shot
Editor Gonzales and a second larger
revolver of 3S-Calibre. From the ponce
station he was taken to the county jail,
where he is tonight in full protectlon
of the officers. No fight or words oc-
Cured between the men preceding the
assault and the only attributed cause
for the shooting by Lieutnant Governor
Tillman is that during the recent prim-
ary election Editor Gonzales opposed
Lieutenant Governor Tillman in his
race for governor and vigorously assall-
ed him editorially.
During the progress of that campaign
Editor Gonzales in his newspaper, Inc
State, called Tillman debauche and
blackguard and referred to him as a
'tcriminal candidate" and proven
''1iar" 1t was these and other such edl-
torial expressions, it is supposed, that
goaded Mr.. Tillman to the desperate
deed of to-day. The campaign occurred
last August and since the first primary,
August 26, 1902, Editor Gonzales has had
nothing to say about Mr.. Tillman, ex-
cept to comment on the result OF the
primary.
There appears to be no conflict of tes-
timony as to the essential features of
the tragedy. Gonzales was going home
alone from his office to his lunch.
Lieutenant Governor Tillmar had pre-
sided at the senates session and re-
mained around the senate chamber for
a, short time after adjournment AS ne
came out Of the state house ne was ac-
conpanied by Senator Talbird of Beau
fort and Senator Brown Of Darlington,
and he was joined on his way uptown
bv Congressman-elec Wyatt Aiken
and Former Representative Dominick
The lieutenant governor and the editor
of The State met at the corner of Main
and Gervais streets, just at the street
car transfer station. There was no en-
counter or fist fight or quarrel. Lieu
tenant Governor Tillman, the testimony
now all seems to be, simply drew MS
revolver and fired into Editor Gonzales,
Most Of those who saw the AFFAIR say
there was nothing said until after the
shot
One of Lieutenant Governor Tillman's
escorts says he thinks Mr.. Tillman said
81 received your message ana then
fred. The other escort of Mr.. Tillman
saws he did not hear anything and did
not see the affair, but thinks he would
have heard any words had they been
uttered, as he was in the very midst of
the affair. Two or three others say they
heard nothing until after the firing of
the pistol.
Mr.. Gonzales himself gave perfectly
plain and explicit statement OF the
whole affair prior to being put under
the anaesthetic and he was very en-
phatic in saying that he had not sent
any message to Lieutenant Governor
Tillman at any time, and that Mr.. Till
man said nothing until after he fired
and that then after the shot he said
something about taking him Gonzales
at his word. Mr.. Gonzales said he took
this to mean that Mr.. Ttllman told him
that he was settling old issues face tc
face with him. Mr.. Gonzales is certain
that nothing was said until after the
shot was fired.
The story of the shooting as told by
eve witnesses is very Simple. LleuleH-
ant Governor Tillman, as stated, met
Editor Gonzales on the street and when
at close range drew his pistol and op-
ened fire. He wiped his pistol on his
coat sleeve and took aim as if to fire
a second time but changed his mind
and let his pistol fall to his side. Lieu
tenant Governor Tillman was perfectly
cool collected, sober and unexcited to
all anpearances. Mr.. Gonzales was un-
armed The shock from the magazine
pistoI paralyzed him but as he saw the
deadly weapon aimed at him, perhaps
for a. fatal bullet he cried out Shoot
again, you coward"
There was only one shot fired and
THAT entered the right side between the
eighth and ninth ribs and passed
through the fore part Of the body com
ing out just above the free border OF
the ribs. At first it was thought the
bnllet had gone through the body from
the front to the back. but 1t did not
as It went through the fore part of the
body, entering above the vest pocket on
the right and coming out below anc
behind the vest pocket on the left side
The bulelt was picked up on the pave
uent. 1t seemed to be bringht and new
and in no way battered 1t was hul'