| Show TILLMAN FOUND NOT GUILTY i his friends make a demonstration in the court room lexington S C oct IS the jury in the case of J IL tillman hag found him not guilty the jury announced at 1035 that a verdict had been agreed upon the defendant and attorneys were sent for and the jury then filed into the room and the verdict was bead A demonstration followed the announcement no friend of the defendant riving vent to their feelings in a about the court previous to the reading of the verdict had admonished the spectators to refrain from any demonstration counsel for the defense moved the discharge from the sheriffs She riffa custody no objections being made by the state the court made the order the jury was out about 20 hours before returning a verdict tillman shook hands with the judge and members of the jury and left the court room accompanied by his friends and counsel there was great uncertainty when court convened today aa to whether a verdict would be reached james II 11 tillman after his acquits tal made the following statement 1 I feel very grateful at the result of the verdict but at no time did I 1 apprehend any grioua consequences I 1 of course deeply regret thac death of mr Conz alca but I 1 was forced to do what I 1 did I 1 have never apprehended a conviction for I 1 felt that I 1 did not do any more than any other man would have done under the dettme and what I 1 wa compelled to do ity position wag fully stated in the testimony I 1 gave on the stand j 1 I did ak for a change of venue b cause I 1 wag convinced on account of the prejudice in richland county that I 1 could not gel a fair and impartial trial in that county I 1 felt aure that aa toon aa my baoe could be presented to an impartial jury I 1 would bo vindicated verdict haa the correctness of my judgment the court was proceeding with csoll when a loud rapping waa heard on the doo leading into the jarv room in a moment all were astir that waa the art sound coming from the room bince the jury retired yesterday hasty were sent out and with as little logg of lime as poM iole the court had the auryn announcement made thua terminating this important cade which was begun eighteen days ago soon after the jury retired yesterday a ballot was taken the result being 10 to 2 for acquittal after gome deliberation one 0 the two went over to the side of acquittal but it was not until about 20 minutes before the jury sent word to the court today that an agreement had been reached with the twelfth man the long delay caused apprehension that a mistrial would result the jury could not have stayed out beyond saturday night the count in the indictment charging the carrying of concealed weapons was lost sight 0 in the trial and was not considered consi Sered the wife and mother of the defendant who have attended the trial daily were not in the court room when the verdict was announced but the latter was on her way to the court house having heard the news when her son walked out and met her on tho street his wife awaited him at the hotel having been informed of tho verdict in advance of his coming senator tillman was not present today having returned to his home where his wife is recovering from injuries received in a runaway accident |
