The Forrest City times., 1914-07-03
As Viewed By he
 Editor of the Marion County News

was convicted solely on circumstan- tial evidence, circumstances, of course, which were damaging to him and which attorneys attempted to offer evidence in explanation of circumstances, that would tend to show motives of others for the commission of the crime. but Judge Evans, a just judge, held that he could not permit the admission of , such evidence under the Jaw. Tillman was convicted and sentenced to be hanged. His lawyers took the case to 1 the supreme court, which held that no error had been committed under the law in ruling out the evidence offered by Tillman in his trial. Who knows but if that testimony could have been allowed, it might have cleared up the mystery and relieved the minds cf the jury as to Tilmans guilt, which he has always and yet stoutly denies?
 The unfortunate boys parents are poor and without influence. Being without means or standing, it seems that they cannot interest people Of po- litical prominence or official power in their boys behalf. The grief striken father, bent under the weight Of care and troubles, alone went about the task of trying to induce Governor Hays to spare the life of his boy. Petitions, with hundreds of names were secured and presented to the governor, asking that he commute the sentence to life imprisonment, but the governor refus- ed to interefre. There is no doubt but that Governor Hays acted conscien- tiously as he believed to be right in this case, just as he did in the Korff case, with the lights he had before him. But if Tillman had had the means and influence at his command that korff had, there is no doubt but that his plea for life would have been put before the governor in a much more strong and convincing manner which might have enabled him to take a diff ferent view of it.
 Only few days ago this writer, in company with others. stood at the window of the death cell where young l Tillman is confined, awaiting the call to the gallows and the hangman's moose. He bears his fate with courage and fortitude, becoming a martyr, fully l realizing that unless some new influ- ence is brought to bear in his behalf. he is doomed to die very soon. He says he is not afraid to die but hates to have to go in such a manner and that l aF so much as the anguish which his mother and father are having to sui fer on account of this awful thing He says that if the governor would only allow him to live, even behind pris on walls for life he is sure that the truth will some day be known and he would be allowed to go back home free man.
 As We stood there, the poor father who had just arrived in the city, came up and as he peered through the grat- ' ed window upon his helpless boy the emotions of anxiety grief and mental torture as we'll as nervous and phvsi- ! cal exhaustion. were visible in every line of his sad and hagsard counten- ance, The mother. clinging on the verge of nervous and mental collapse was left on the sick bed, back in the humble home while the father had gone to again implore the governor to stay the hand of death and snare his boy.
 Surely this is a case in which every father and mother who may know about it, must seek profound inter. est None know at what time their boy, in thoughtless moment or in the heat of passion or under evil h. fmence. may commit an act that will put him in the same awful plight that Tilman now Is in. There is not q father or mother in Arkansas who would not beg the governor to spare the life of their boy under such con. ditions. even to he spent with n the dreary walls of prison, without hone of ever again being free. Their hearts would overflow with gratitude for any kindly act of assistance that might be extended by others. especially if they were not in position to command help and influence. Arthur Tiuman may he guilty of the crime of which he stands convicted. At the same time it Is possible that he is innocent If he is guilty, life term in prison would surely be punishment severe enough 10 atone for any crime. If he is not guilty, the taking of an innocent life would be blot on the fair name of the state that can never be erased and a wrong that can never he righted It does not stop with taking the life of the boy, but inflicts the terrible tor lures of a living death upon the father and mother at whose knee he prattled and played in childhood days.