The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-01
Ths verdict In the Gottlelb VVilIlams Case

The Verdict In the Gottleib williams Case
TO the Editor of The EUening Telepaph;-I,
I'M common with great many other persons
feel very much troubled about the verdict
rendered in the case of Gottleib Williams; and
without designing to make any ill-natured re-
Elections upon the jury who found him guilty
(whO were, am informed, all highly respec-
table and intelligent men, l must say that a
majority OF persons, members of the bar,
physicians, and others, with whom | have
conversed, feel that the evidence against him
was not sufficiently conclusive to warrant q
conviction. Living in the house and having
charge of paralyzed person, knowing how
unable she is to undress herself, and do the
smallest act which requires strength, and that
push from an infant will cause her to fall
Ialthough not half so badly afflicted as
Williams), am thoroughly convinced that it
would have been quite impossible for him to
have done this murder.
Amongst the evidence brought forward as
indicating guilty and remorseful conscience
IS that on the day of the murder he took a
narcotic, with the view of ending his life.
Witnesses proved that they heard him say
that he was weary of life, and intended com
mitting suicide.'' All who know anything of
paralyzed persons know also, that even those
most comfortably situated, those whose means
are large, who have loving friends, careful
attendance, the best medical advice, are con-
tinually longing for death, and are often
tempted to end the life of enforced mac
tivity and WEAKNESS by suicide. Gottleib
Williams was poor, homeless wanderer, sub
sisting on the charity of a brother not well
able to'bear the burden of his support, quite
unable from his disease to provide living for
himself looking forward only to a life of
penury and misery.
What wonder, then, that upon the approach
of a day so fraught with painful associations
hirfh hHaxy 10 Of f,,nil 10 hot
comfortably surrounded) must always be, he
should have resolved never to see another
anniversary so full of sorrowful remem-
brancesH
have seen Williams and talked with him
in his cell, and have heard from him that for
two years he has been totally paralyzed on
one side, and partially so on the other, and
that for the first year after the strokes Che has
had two) was entirely helpless and confined
to his bed. His left side is devoid of feeling
and motion, shrunken and limp as a rag, and
his right also bears the same appearance, in
less degree. He seems scarcely to realize
what his conviction involves, and has the man.
ner of one wholly overcome with astonish-
ment at the conclusion to which the Jury
arrived. He thinks that the evidence GER
tainly was insufficient for his conviction, and
that his previous bad name did the business
for him.
He is shrewd and intelligent, calmly reviews
the whole testimony, points out discrepancies
which he thinks the jury could not have con-
sidered at all, speaks of the entire absence of
any motive he could have had for such deed
says Mrs. Miller was always particularly kind to
him. wonders how any one who could commit
a murder for the sake of plumber would stoop
to take off the large and swollen joints of the
finger a ring comparatively worthless, and
leave purse containing several dollars lying
untouched Gas the evidence shows) close at
hand. This, too, when the doors might have
been closed and locked, and the house ran
sacked at leisure. He does not seem angry
with the witnesses, but thinks they testified
to what they believed to be the truth, although
they were mistaken in the day, they having
seen him on Tuesday, instead Of Wednesday
morning, enter the alley leading to the house.
However this may be, l, for one, believe
him innocent, and feel that it will be terrible
beyond expression to execute him for the
murder. d. d. r.