The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-18
LEWIS WILLIAMS GUILTY.
So the Jury Said Late Yesterday
Afternoon.
ASSESSED THE PENALTY AT DEATH.
Defendant 10 the Last Resort.

Of murder in the first degree, and assess
his punishment at DEATH
Such was the verdict rendered by the
jury in the case of Lewis Williams, charged
with the murder of Captain Ike Baker, last
May, after they had boon in the jury room
| FOR Just ffty-fve minutes.
| When they fled in and handed their find
inr to the Judge. at 625 p. m. hum Of
| conversation passed over the 500 people
packed In the distric. court room. Judge
Gavin finished examining the verdict aud.
handing 1t to Clerk Ellis, reminded the
| spectators that no demonstration OF any
character would be permitted.
| This served as a clew to what the finding
wac and the whispering continued until
| quoted by rap from the jury deputy.
Williams sat in the same chair mat he
had occupied for the last three days, aud
twisted the soiIed red handkerchief ner-
vously His face wore an expression oil
deep study, the heavy creasos In the SKIN
between his eyes growing deeper us the
fatal message became nearer. almost made
his countenance appear an ugly frown'
A reporier for The Post "a, 10 the pris-
oner's right. Watching for every movement
ana tNl1tSSlpN AS iit W. NV N"iNN.
were none. Not by sign Or word did WI
liams betray his feelings neither was there
apparent the slightest movement indicating
gurn,isp. He had evidently overheard the
remarls which went around inside the raii-
ing that the verdict would he guilty. ne
expected it. Williams did not haze word
Ia saw to The reporter q. anyone near nm
about his case, and. with Il mechanical
movement offered his wrists for the brace
t,,.'' and walked TO the jlll.
Yesterday morning when attorney John
II. Eagle Of the defense took the floor to
talk TO the Jury. the court room contained
a few people. attracted through morbid
curiosity TO catch glimpse OF the prisoner,
and incidentally to note the flights in elo-
quonce In the pleadings
Mr. Eagles voice was lacking, much to
his disappointment. as well as others, but
he made mastery defense, acting upon
such evidence as had been brought out in
the trial He reviewed the testimony as
infinitely as his time would permit and it
was easily seen that he made an impression
as a sneaker.
tx Justice Hussy and Rem Campbell fol-
lowed for the defense and prosecution.
In the afternoon, Mr.. Fagin. the leading
counsel for the negro opened his argument
and smoke for some time He reviewed
The testimony arguing on the theory that
Centaln Baker had not been killed by the
defendant. but someone who was not there
for the purpose Of robbery, but revenge
The chairs on the stairway and other links
In the chain Of acquittal at the command of
the defense, were brought up to show the
truth Of lis position
BY the time for Captain Hutheson to
sneak there were at least 500 or 800 people
In the court room. Whites and blacks were
sGndwitchcd together. making it Impossible
to enter or leave by the main exit. Those
Who could not find seats, stood IN and
crowded on the inside of the railing until
we court deputies were compelled to keep
them back.
Several ladies' and gentlemen occupied
seats in the gallery above Judge Cavins
nosii'on and drank In every word Of Can
tain ilutchesons speech.
Tho venerable attorney. whose experience
al the bar Of Justice covers n long period
"INaolY never before was so interested In
a leSai proceeding. Captain Baker had
ueen ms warm personal friend for Years
and he regarded him as one Of the brovost |
ol l'Nas men. He took up the case from
ne tlme n Captain Bakers slaughter and
al -u'u every part Of the important tagti
mony TO establish the negro's guilt a., !
'liurei TO nc Kindness of Captain Baker
ana lai Nv toward the accused: how he had
S'nvn niih money and kept him as trusted
- want lngratitude was the tonic Of ono
" ms arguments and when concluded II
was late In the evening ~
ihe lnry retired at 5:25 p. IN. and re.
turned at GEO D. m, There was mot a d,s.
Stn'lnE opinion. The charge Of Judge ca
s'h which had been briefly delivered was
Si N"'n.ned with the Indictment. and the YER
''N' ''iaue UP by the foreman, S. s. Ashe
M''ef the Jury had been DISCHARGED thc
'',lo"'ng was handed The Post:
The general n,h,io -.