B.J. Tillman being Sworn Say. I was plaring cards when I heard the report of a gun ... Soon after I heard some one Cry out. I thought of and got my gun and went down the Hill. I Saw a crowd going from the depot. I asked where was the Shooting, They told me Mr. Harlind had hollowed for help. I went across by his Store towards his residence when I got in the R R Cut[?] I heard some one Say here he goes. I ran to where he was which was to the corner of Mr Harlings house I found that it was Joe Tompkins that Hollowed, he told me that Some one had leveled a gun on him and that the person had gone over through Mr Harlings pea field, I Saw Tom Scott who said he had first came from the negro house below, before I recognized who he was he told me not to Shoot I then went as far as the edge of the woods in the direction in which the person had gone that leveled the gun on Joe Tompkins- not Seeing any one I came back to the road. I then went to Mr. Harlings house to See how he was getting on I also examined the place where the Shot had entered the door facing while doing so I found a felt gun wad lying on the floor. A few minutes afterward I went down the road & waited for the dogs to come that had been sent for, when they Came we put them on the tracks where the person had been Seen to go along After the dogs had run the track for about a mile they lost the track, I also while At the house Saw tracks under the window, we measured the track and found it to be 11 1/2 inches it was a large foot track narrow with unusually long big toe. I have never known a negro to use cut felt wads. I went and examined several guns. I first examined a britch loader belonging to Tom Boyed[?] ... The others funs that I examined were mussel loaders only one had been recently fired

Mr Ben Tillman then come over where I was ... I could not tell whether he was white or black ... Colored people do not use wad Cutters much, usually use paper to wad their guns

I found the Gentleman who I had seen on the porch to be Mr G.D. Tillman, from him I learned more particulars, he told me Mr. Harling had been aroused by Some one going to the window and when he went to the front door Someone had shot him

Mr. T[?] B Bailey mentioned in cause of talking about Post office that Mr Harlind had gotten him out of it & he would get even with Mr Harling I infered then that he would get even by getting Mr Harlind out. The proposition was that he Bailey will get even by getting Harlind out

he called Some one has shot me Catch him at the Depot, he then walked through the house & out on another piazza & said the Same thing then came back & lay down he did not say to me who he believed did it, I forgot, he did say it looked like Bob Gardenhire. He had no trouble with Bob Gardenhire that I knew of. Bessie did say to me that it was a colored man she saw. She said she could no say about the hat. I have heard Mr. Harling say he was afraid Mr King might injure him in some way.

I saw Robt Gardenhire After the shooting he had on a black hat, I did not notice that it was turned up behind I suppose it was two hours after the Shooting When I saw Robt Gardenhire, he was brought to Mr Harlins house compare tracks I understood it I did not see them compared, There was no charge [change?] Robt said from the one he had on when at the store, my impression is that Robt was barefooted, I have known Tom all his life I don't consider him to be scarry

I heard Mr Harling Say last March that he expected to be shot, and expected that it would be done from ambush, he said he had made enemies and they were very bitter he called no name

Bessie Ramsey ... I lived with Mr Harlind I was Sleeping at a window. I heard someone at the window & rose in bed & someone that looked like a mulatto was around the side of the window at me, he had his hat turned up behind ... I know Bob Gardenhire but do not know wh it was at the window. I only saw one man Mr. Harling said Hattie[?] I do believe some one has shot me & it looked like Bob Gardenhire" I did not stay at window long enough to tell who it was I know Tom Scott & consider him sort of a mulatto ... could not tell whether the man was white or black

I have heard Mr Harling was unpopular with his neighbors, havnt heard why

I know Robt Gardenhire, the man that drew the gun on me did not look like Robt Gardenhire

We went up to Mr Harlings & after a little went in to see him, I asked him if he knew who shot him & he said he did not, I then asked him to tell me all he knew about it & if he recognized anyone & if he could give any clue, he told me to ask Questions & he would answer. In Answer to Question he said he first went to the window & stayed there several minutes then he went to the door some one passed by the gate outside, he thought & he hailed him & as he hailed, he did not know whether that shot him or not, but rather thought it was some one to the left of the gate, said he at first thought at first thought his gun had gone off, he said the man at the gate was in a crouching or stooping position & seemed to make towards him in a threatening attack[?] [?] After the shot the man ran off & he said he could have shot him but his arm was paralyzed, he said he did not know who shot him but rather thought it was R Gardenhire but that he did not think Rob did it of his own free will but some white man put him up to it & that he was shot with a white mans gun ... he thought Bob Gardenhire was paid for shooting him

George D. Tillman ... I found him lying on the floor in great agony, His shirt front & drawers saturated in blood, He was calling on the Lord to be merciful & talking to himself saying he did not know he had an enemy in the world who would do him that way I tried to encourage him but he said he was shot all to pieces & that he could not live & added that he hoped I would see his murderers punished & befriend his wife & children & I promised I would do it ... I asked him who he though did it he replied I believe it was Rob Gardenhire & that he shot me with Kings Gun I asked him if he was certain of it & he said no but I believe it