Goldsboro weekly argus., 1909-01-14
The WAGES OF SIN
Jim Tillman, Broken In Health
Goes West.
His Farewell BredtheS OF the Sleep
less Sentinel That Follows his
Footsteps.

II
Mortified at the killing of Editor Con-
zales of the Colunbia State by Jim
Tillman, lieutenant governor of South
Carolina.
since that time Tillman has been an
utterly wretched man, and now he liz
leaving his state for the far west, and
his "farewell'' is touching bit of
pathos that shows to what depth the
iron he forged haszsunk into shis soul.
Here are his words:
"varied emotions possess me in bid
ding adieu, perhaps farewell. to South
Carolina, and to the people who have
known me from childhood.
'sIt is hard to say good by, and only
those who do SO can feel it's sorrow.
"When 1 think of the thousand
kindnesses friends did me, of the
forebearances they have shown my
throbs strongest with gratitude and
beats the sad farewell. But destiny
DEGREES that go.
''In distant section of the country,
in far-otf California, where it Is said
all is sunshine and clouds are un-
known. I wander in search of health.
There. among strangers, in coming
years, if years be left to me, l hope to
clasp the hands of many and call them
friends-triends such as I leave be-
hind.
''But if it be otherwise, then, as in
the t-quoted but none the less touch
ing lines Of nl-fated Byron:
"sHere's a sigh to those who love me,
And smile to those who hate;
And whatever sky's above me,
Here's heart for every fate
The vain attempt at Indifference in
the closing lines but too tninly veil
the burden upon the poor man upon
whose hands are the stains of blood.
The Washington Herald thus allqdes
to the case:
ssOnly short time ago Jim Tillman
was one Of the most promising politi-
cal figures in his State, in 80 far as
He was within reach Of the governor
ship, having won the ieutenant-gov-
ernorship. His horizon was rosy with
hope. But in a moment of supreme
trial, he destroyed the life OF q man
who, of all others, opposed him most
of Colum bia. Itwas a madman's aot-
cruel and revengeful.
''Tillman was tried and acquitted.
It was travesty on justice, of course.
His acquittal was due undou bted1y to
his great political influence. From
that day to this, Jim Tillman has been
going down grade. He probably has
not known a happy moment since he
fred the shot that cut short the earthly
career Of n. g. Gonzales. The greatest
punishment fell not on his victim.
Gonzales, dead, sacrificed but few
brief years of life al best. But Nllman,
it is sure, has suffered the tortures Of
the edamned-the realization Of the fruit
fulness of his vengeance all but over
whelming him at times.
''It is impossible to contemplate this
melancholy figure without a sense of
sorrow for the man. He has paid the
cost-paid it heavily. The hand that
blotted out the life of Gonzales struck
Jim Ti1lman simultaneously, and from
the dire consequence of that blow there
is no relief this side his own grave"
And now he is going away from the
scenes, the associations, the friends of
a lifetime-to far away California,
"where." he SO pitifully remarks,
SIT is said, all is sunshine and
clouds are unknown But alas,
s'vhere'er he roams, whatever realms
to see, ''he will fnd"a sleep1ess sentry'
walking with him, like Banquo's
Ghost, from whom he can never es-
cape.
'In every shadow he azpursuer sees,
In each sunbeam dagger for his heart,
Each passing breeze whispers his VIC
tim rs name,
Each bird song sounds as a passing
knel;
The rose seems tinted with his Grim es
red hue,
His victims pallor each pale lily
wears"
In the dread midnight, when all others
sleep,
Silence whispers murder in his startl-
ed ear
o
He dreams sometimes of childhood's
happy days
A fathers smile, a mothers loving
kiss,
Then starts and feels that he has laid
A bloody hand on Memory's white
shoulder!
Sometimes he kneels and uclasps his