Composure

BY JASON STOKES
DIRECTED BY JASON STOKES

Every day in Columbia, thousands of people pass the intersection of Gervais and Main Streets, but some may not realize it was the scene of a politically-driven homicide. On January 13, 1903, the Tillman family, headed by the Lieutenant Governor for the State of South Carolina, and the Gonzales family, headed by the founder of The State newspaper, are in a known feud which began in the 1880’s. Narcisco Gener Gonzales, who founded The State newspaper with his two brothers, was on his way home for lunch from the newspaper office on Main Street. Moments later, Lt. Governor Tillman, adjourned from the SC Senate, shot N.G. Gonzales in the abdomen. Gonzales died four days after. Composure tells the story of the days leading up to this controversial moment in South Carolina history, and the trial that followed.