Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-02-12
A SIDE LIGHT ON THE TILLMAN
CASE.


Old family differences have IN
doubtedly played their part in bring
ing about the domestic troubles of
the son of Senator Tillman. That
feature of the case crops out when
ever it is under discussion. Two
families Of entirely different tenn
permanent, between which i'll blood
has existed in the past. can hardly
look for peace and love to prevail
when two members of the contend
ing elements join hands and hearts
at the altar The old adage that
Blood will tell loses none of is
force because wedIock has inter
vened and established the most sa-
cred ties known to men and women.
Human nature and the results of
training and environment, these are
not altered because the marriage
ceremony has been performed. And
in the case of the Tillmans and the
Pickenses the differences were ap-
parently too deep-seated and too pro-
longed to permit of their complete
obliteration by the union of the two
families through the marriage Of the
young people. All that was needed
was some slight dissension, some triv-
ial opening of old wounds to speedily
bring about a condition in which re-
Cancellation was impossible. a recrud-
essence of all i'll feeling Of for
mer generations. The hatred that
exists between some families is diff
ficult to understand. but there is no
question that in men and women of
an intense. nature it is far deeper
than the most deep seated racial pre-
JUDGES. And in the case Of the
Tillmans and the Pickenses there is
no question that the antagonisms of
half century or more have helped
materially to bring about the ruin Of
the domestic happinesAof the younger
branch
The Anderson Mail in discussing
the case gives the following inter
esting side light upon it. To the stu
dent of human nature a far better
insight is obtained through such in
fognation as this than through the
reSling of the law documents and
the afTidavits of the parties concern
ell Says the Mail:
Years and years ago, besore the
civil war, George D. Tillman an
older brother of Senator B. r. Till
man. became involved in a difficulty
with a man named Christian in Edge
field county and shot and killed him
He may or may mot have been JUS
titled, but he was tried, convicted and
/ sentenced to a term of imprison-
ment. We have forgotten the length
of the term, if we ever knew. There
was no penitentiary in those 3 qys,
and Mr.. Tillman was sent to thes gqjl
at Edgefeld to serve his sentencs Z
At the outbreak of the war H.
Tillman applied for pardon in ordsI
that he might enlist and fight for
his:.country. Francis w. Pickens
was .govern9t at the time and he re-
fused to grant the pardon. Naturally
after that there was no friendship be-
/ tween Tillman and Pickens families.
| Though the feeling did not develop
/ into anything like a feud the mem
1 bers of the two families have never
/ been friends, politically or otherwise.
/ Mr.. George d. Tillman became a
4 great and good malone of the best
men this state ever knew-and he
died full Of years and hOnors. Gov
/ ernor Pickens too, died. honored and
respected.
In the course of the years a grand
daughter Of Gov Pickens and a
nephew of Mr.. Tillman grew UP to-
! gether in the same community, fell
in love with each other and married
The granddaughter of Gov. Pickens
married a nephew of the man whom
her grandfather refused a pardon.
Their married life did not prove hap
! py and when the first differences be-
! gan the old feeling between families
| began to assert itself No doubt
both young people said things they
/ should not have said-things that
were hard to forgive-and perhaps
relatives on both sides said things
which did not help matters The
breach widened and now the young
Mrs. Tillman is suein9 The parents Of
her husband for possession of her
| children.
This old family feeling may have
nothing to do with the case directly
at issue, but it may we'll be consider
ed in connection with it. as having
some bearing on it, and as having
helped to bring about the present
unfortunate and Iamentable circum-
! stances.