The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-04
TIII.MAN CASE AIRED IN COURT
Many Charges and Counter Charges,
with Afida7its, Including One
from Senator Tillman.
News and Courier.

News and Courier.
Columbia, Jan. 31.-Such a story
Of marital unhappiness, Of separa-
tons, Of striving Cor the possession
Of offspring never came before g
South Carolina Court, and perhaps
rarely before any other Court, as
was told in the Supreme Court to-
day, when Mrs. B. r. Tillman, Jr.
appeared under a petition to secure
custody Of her two little daughters
There was nothing left untold, the
whole martial life Of Mr. and Mrs
B. R. Tllman, Jr., was given in nu-
merous affdavits from the first day
Of their marriage to the happenings
leading tor the present proceeding in
the Court. It was indeed a recital
such as one reads of in books and
only once in a while sees enacted in
real life.
Countless charges and counter
charges were aired and set out in
minute details in the various afidav-
its submitted in behalf Of young
Mrs, Tillman and those supporting
the contention Of her husband. Sen
etor B: +: Nllman appeared in
Court and sat throughout the pro-
-eeedings. He hinssff submitted au
affidavit, which was a fine piees Of
work, setting out all differences that
arose between his son and the wife
and giving his reasons for taking the
custody Of his two grandchildren I'D
. der the terms Of the deed from his
son. =,
The point at issue between Mr..
and Mrs. B. r. Tillman, Jr, is the
custody Of their two children, Dous-
ehka Pickens Tillman and Sarah
Stark Tillman. The mother and
father having separated and all ef-
forts at a reconciliation being Of no
avail, the question arose as to who
should have possession Of the two
little daughters. An agreement was
reached at one time that the two
children should be alternately with
each parent, but later the deed was
executed by which they were turned
over to Senator and Mrs. B. r. Till
man, the parents Of B. R. Tillman, Jr,
To those in the Court room to-day
the affdavits read we're bearers of a
sad and pitiful message. The once
happy young couple were pictured in
their new home, then step by step the
estrangement, the hatred Of the two
old families that not even love could
conquer, the efforts on the part Of
all interested to make the path o.
married life easier, the outbreak Of
all the hatred that beforehand had
been smothered- and finally the
separation.
Young Tillman's Life.
Not even his own father and moth
er claimed for young Tillman thai
his life had been an exemplary one
since his marriage. Admitting thai
the boy had been a drunkard at va
rious times within the past few years
but declaring that before his mar
riage he had led a sober life, Sena-
tor TilEman, in his remarkable afh-
dayit, laid bare the whole history OF
'sB. RS life. He told Of the occa-
sions when his son was almost bereft
of reason, because Of drink, Of how
he had on one occasion attacked the
character Of his beautiful young wife
and was sorry the day after, Of the
many times that unavailing efforts
had been made to bring the couple
together. Senator Tillman's af6da-
Wit certainly bore the earmarks OF
frankness, and in its beauty Of Ian
guage and evident show of sincerity
toward those who had entered into
his life, was document that mayhap
knows no parallel in South Carolina.
The husband likewise did not deny
that he had been addicted to the use
of drink. His affidavit leaned often
kindly toward his wife and showed
that even in the home, which is now
no more, there had been deep afee-
tion. He, however, denied that he
had ever been cruel 10 his wife, eE-
cept perhaps on that on occasion,
when he, under the influence Of drink,
attacked her character; that for this
remorse had come to him. Now he
takes no longer strong drink and
feels that he has returned unto him