Evening star., 1897-04-29
He PLEADED. GUILTY
Billy Williams Sentenced to Seven
Years at Hard Labor.
BIS COUNSEL BEGGED FOR LENlENCY
Judgment Of the Court Pronounced
by Chief Justice Bingham.
A D r A NJ A TIC seen E

Chief Justice Bingham this afternoon. in
Criminal Court No. 1. sentenced William,
alias Billy" Williams to seven years in
the New Jersey state prison at hard labor.
the man having pleaded guilty to a charge
Of highway robbery.
The offense was committed the evening
of the 10th instant. In the White Lot, the
victim being Isadore Efron OF San Antonio,
Texas. Albert Tolson was also engaged IN
the robbery, and several days ago he
pleaded guilty. Efron was knocked down
and robbed Of a watch and chain, and a
pocketbook. the watch being, as Williams
today confessed to Detective Sutton, who
worked up the case, thrown by him into
the river
The scene in court this afternoon was as
dramatic as 1t was sad. BY Williams sat
his wife and two little children. the wife
and little ones kissing the criminal as they
seated themselves. Mr.. Albert Sillers, the
mercy, saying that while 1t is true WILL
iams' record Is far from good. 1t Is also
true that during the past few years he has
tried hard to lead an honest life.
Williams' Story Of Reform.
When asked what he had to say. WI
liams acknowledged his guilt, explaining
that impending starvation impelled him to
commit the offense. when I came back
here the last time from prison." he said.
I determined to be a better man. But 1t
was hard work. your honor. for every one
seemed to be against me. When l asked
for q loaf 1 was given stone. Last sum-
mer worked fourteen hours day until
my work gave out for the Great Falls Ice
Company.
THE superintendent of that company
trusted me. He would leave me alone in
tHn <Sffi 0xryfth th4 10 7 tat, Z
that mans confidence in me. your honor.
and I'd died before l would have violated
that confidence in me. 1 also worked On
the Metropolitan railroad, and at the power
ployer would tell me Of receiving letters
about my past, but worked on as long as
the work lasted. behaving myself.
when could find no more work the win
ter coming on. and my wife and children
being sick. house rent long over due. my
grocery bill getting bigger and bigger. 1
became desperate. / asked work of every
one. of District Attorney Birney, of Maj.
Moore. and Others but my past life was
against me, and 1 could get none.
"Then. wild with desperation. your honor.
l did what l did. l am sorry for 1t, l am
guilty, but" and here the man burst into
tears, Il have prayed to God for forgive
ness. and believe that He has forgiven me.
and that He will take care of my wife and
little ones while I am gone"
The Spectators Affected.
Every one in the crowded court room was
affected by the mans words. District At
torney Davis visibly so, and the latter said
Il wish. your honor, that this mans words
could be repeated to every convict. that
they might learn that as we SOW so must
We reap.
Il hate, your honor, to ask the imposition
of the extreme penalty on Williams, but
must. l do so out of mercy for him, as well
as for the protection of society. 1t is q
sad thing to do. but my duty. your honor.
or yours, Is an iron one, and must be DONE
The man is one who possesses, 1t seems, an
unsovernable impulse to commit crime, and
1t Is best Tor MIN and best for society that
he be put away for as long a time as the
law allows
The Maximum Sentence Imposed.
In passing sentence Chief Justice Bing-
ham referred to what Mr.. Davis had said,
arguing, with him. that the maximum SEN
tence should be imposed. He therefore
sentenced the man, amidst the sobs of his
Wife and little ones, as above stated. Will
Jams took his punishment bravely and
calmly walked to the cage below.