The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-01-12
VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER
IN THE THOMPSON CASE,
Testimony and Arguments Concluded
Saturday Afternoon-Jury Was
Only Out Two Hours.

son, of Citrus county. for the killing
Of ]. NJ. Tillis. was concluded late
Saturday afternoon after a very
strenuous legal battle of four days
duration.
The case has excited intense interest
in Citrus county and a great many
witnesses were in attendance.
Mr.. Thompson, the defendant, lives
on a game preserve near the Chassa-
whiska swamps and Mr.. TilIis was a
member of a hunting party, and it is
claimed that he got lost from his par
ty and approached the Thompson resi-
dence in attempting TO find his way
back to the camps of his comrades
and that Mr. Thompson was put on
notice that the man had been lost, and
if he should see him TO direct him the
ing so he wantonly shot and killed
him. The presumption is that Thomp-
son thought that Tillis had an idea
that he (Thompson) was distilling
moonshine liquor and was hunting
around for the still, and that it in
Censed him and the shooting was the
| result. Mr.. Thompson and his friends
state that this man did not approach
the house where the light was burn
ing as a man who had lost his way
would have done, but on the contrary
was prowling on the premises near his
stable with a gun in his hand, and
that when hailed he refused to give
satisfactory explanation of his
conduct and indeed failed to make
any explanation at all, that Thompson
an account Of himself or leave the
premises he would shoot him. that he
had ample time to have left but re-
fused to do SO, and when warned
sought the protection of a tree and
when he reached it told Thompson
to fire and he did so. This is a brief
statement of the case.
The lawyers began the argument of
the case at o'clock Saturday morn
ing and did not finish until O'Clock
in the afternoon.
1t was our misfortune not to hear
the opening speeches of Colonel T. P.
Lloyd, of Inverness. for the prisoner,
and acting states attorney, f. w. Da-
Wis, of this city. for the state, but
| those who heard them state that both
efforts were very fine.
Mr.. r. L. Anderson was the leading
counsel for the defense and spoke
more than three hours, and his speech
is recognized by all who listened to il
as a great and finished production. 1t
was clear, concise and logical. Every
gesture correspondent and harmOnized
with his utterances. and every word
chosen carried force and weight with
it. Mr.. Anderson's friends were par
ticularly pleased with his handling OF
the case and he was congratulated by
many, and as a forceful finished and
impressive speaker increased the repu-
tation he already enjoys.
Hon. Thomas Palmer, of Tampa,
closed the case for the state. He
enjoys the reputation of being one OF
hn hne l.. 81.
state and most effective before a jury,
and his speech here Saturday made
plain why he enjoys this reputation.
He is much more impulsive and i'm
passioned than Mr.. Anderson and had
given this case thorough study and
great preparation and used all the
powers at his command to convince
the jury that wanton and unprovok-
ed murder had been committed and
it was their duty as jurors TO see
that the good name and reputation Of
the state did not suffer.
Mr.. Palmer did not mince his words
and although the aged Wife Of the
aged prisoner was present he told the
jury that they should not be guided
by sympathy but should let only the
cold facts in the case weigh with
them.
Mr.. Palmer acquitted himself most
creditably and every one pronounced
his effort in every way equal to the
importance Of the case.
The jury was only out about two
hours when they returned verdict
of manslaughter.