The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-12
LEVY TILLMAN
WAS ACQUITTED
OF NUMEROUS ASSAULT
CHARGED BY JOEL DICKERsON OF
"BLACK ANKLE DISTRICT.

Case of Unusual Interest-AIleged
Assault Committed When DECKER
SON Tried to Collect Wharf Rent
from TiIImnns-Levy TiIIman De-
cIared DickersOn Began the Row.
Testimony of Boy Witness Was
Unshnken-WiI Probably Drop
the Case Against the Other Two
Ti1Imans.
Shortly after 1880 o'clock last night
the jury returned a verdict of not
guilty in the case of Levy Tillman,
charged with assault with intent to
murder. The jury was out long enough
to take one ballot and write the ver-
dict.
The case was one of unusual inter
est, owing to the fact that the man OIL
whom the assault was committed, Joel
Dickerson, was a close blood-relative
of Benjamin F. Dickerson, recently
sentenced to three years in the peni-
tertiary for killing his wife. The re-
semblance between the two men was
marked and many commented upon 1t.
Another peculiar fact about the case
was that James F. Evans appeared for
the state. Mr.. Evans made a sue
cessful fight for the defense in the
Benjamin Dickerson case, and may yet
get him entirely free on technicality.
His appearance for the state again
placed him on the side of the DECKER
sons. Attorney Slater appeared for
the Tillmans.
The circumstances of the case are
familiar to readers of the Morning
News. Dickerson went to a landing
on the Ogeechee river TO collect rent
from the Tillmans when he was as
saulted. The charge was brought
against the three. the elder Tlilman
and his two sons. They were arrested
through a ruse of Deputy Sheriff
Sweeny, after having come to court
ostensibly to testify against Benjamin
Dickerson.
The three were in court and sat with
Mr.. Slater All the men were unkempt
and unshaVen, though Jasper had made
an attempt to dress up. Levy T1llman
was without collar, and sat with ms
head hung down during the entire trial.
The old man took lively interest in
the proceedings, seldom taxing MS eye
from the witnesses.
Story of the Assault.
According to Dickerson, he went to
the landing on the morning OF March
to collect rent from the Tillmans,
who were landing shad" at a land
ing which he claimed was his proper
ty. The assault was then commenced.
Jasper Tillman making the first at
tempt.
Though he told them that he was not
able to fight on account of his age,
Dickerson alleged, they continued. He
struck Jasper Tillman with a piece OF
board, and an instant later Levy mi
man struck him with a large piece OF
wood, on the end of which was a
heavy knot or cluster Of roots. The
blow knocked me cold" he said.
The same story was substantiated by
Shadrach Dickerson, his son. and by
other witnesses. An additional tact
brought out was that T1llman mad
drawn a revolver. 1t was strenuously
denied by all that Dickerson had
struck Levy Tillman at all.
story of Defendant.
According to the defendants state
ment, Dickerson began the assault and
he struck him only in selt-defense.
Even after he had been felled, he
claimed. Dickerson got up and tried to
cut him but was chased off. Other
witnesses called substantiated this
story in detail.
A feature of the defense was the
evidence of a little fellow not more
than II years of age, who had been
with the Tillman party. He told prac-
tically the same story as had the de-
fendant, and was unusually clear ABOUT
the facts. Every statement was MADE
positively and without hesitation.
Every effort of Mr.. Evans to shake
the witness on examination tailed
utterly. By we'll directed questions Mr..
Evans had gained much from witnesses
called by the defense, conducting the
case very ably. Question after ques-
ton was put to the witness, but he
never wavered from the statements
made on direct examination.
Doubt as to Wharf Owner.
The action of the jury is believed
to have been largely due to the fact
that there was doubt whether DECKER
son had the right to collect wharf rent,
the claim being that it was a public
wharf. The acquittal of Levy Tillman
makes 1t probable that the cases against
the other two w:ll be dropped.
Following the acquittal the Tillman
family and a number of Tillman ad-
herents from the BLACK Ankle" dis
trict, surrounded Levy Tillman and
showered him with congratulations.
The entire case is regarded as the out
growth of a row between the shad
fishermen of that section of the coun-
ty.