Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-08
WILLIAMS HAMstD.
Continued from page ~
minutes Of the execution williams pro-
claimed his Innocence

! minutes OF the execution williams pro
claimed his innocence.
Williams was born in Summerside
Prince Edwards Island, April 10. 1876
After leaving school, which he did at 3
comparatively early age, he worked or
his fathers farm, until about three years
ago, when he came to Boston, After
staying In Boston some time he went to
Lynnfie.d and engaged himself to work
en- the W. w. Phillips farm. The neigh
bors In Lynnfield say that Williams was
rather shiftless sort of fellow, and
avoided work whenever possible and this
dislike Of regular employment they say,
got him n INTO iin Va si straits; friend
ard one who Is "A firm believer in VIII
.iams' innocence, stated that Alfred was
one OF the best of boys. and no one In
Prince Edwards Island will believe him
guilty of the crime for which he was
sentenced to death. Williams parents,
two brothers and three sisters still live
At Summerside, and he has one brother
living in Boston.
The crime for which the young man
was sentenced was committed at Lynn
field Center, about two miles from Wake
field village, an July. 1887. The exact time
has not been determined but the body of
John Gallo, the victim of the murder.
was found in the ruins of the hut in
which he had lived, on the morning of
July Is.
Gallo was an Italian. and with his
brother Antonio, had been In this coun-
try about four years. He had worked on
farms In swampscott and other Essex
mert on the Phillips farm in Lynnfield
where Williams also was at work He
lived frugally and sent what he could
spare from his small earnings to his fam
lily in Italy. 1t was rs a matter OF econ
orny that he lived alone in the small hut
in which he met his death.
Gallo was last seen alive on the even
ing OF july Y, sitting in front Of his howell
MI L. I'll
next morning. fire was discovered in the
hut by Il fellow employee on the farm
who secured assistance and rushed to the
scene The door was found 70 be shut
II was kicked open and one man crawled
into the srnoke-filied apartment. The
body Of Gallo was found on the threshold
q the inner room, but life apparently
was extinct, and there was no time even
TO drag ii out. The building was totally
consumed. Later the remains were found
in the cellar. charred beyond recognition
II was al once suspected that the in
offensive farm hand had been murdered
for the money which he was believed to
have saved, as II was known that he had
three $40 gold pieces only a day or two
before. State Officer George C. Neal went
IT work on the case on this theory.
Early on the morning after The murder
Alfred G. Williams appeared al the
Wakefield station and told tale about
being held up while riding a wheel along
the lake into Wakefield. State Officer
Neal suspected that the assaiiants OF
Williams and those who murdered Gallo
might be the same. so he began a sharp
investigation of the Williams case. He
soon found evidence tsat the hold-up
story was fabrication, ard Williams
was placed under arrest. A search of the
prisoner brought 10 light quite sum OF
1t was learned that ON the day
previous Williams had not enough cash
20 pay for a shave and although Will
hanis said that the amount found in his
pockets was all he had, the officers de-
c!ded to search his room. Under the car
pet they found two $40 gold pieces.
Other evidence was found and placed
before the grand jury. who indicted Will
iiams for the Gallo murder, ana he was
tried and found guilty of murder in the
first degree. A bill of exceptions was
filed which was heard by the supreme
court. last May. In June, rescrpt was
in which all the exceptions were
overruled. and the death sentence was
passed by Judge Sherman, July .. Sew
fral petitions were presented to Gov.
praying that the death sentence
lie eommuted 10 imprisonment for life
y motion TO reopen the case and accord
Williams a new trial on the ground thai
4 verdict of murder in the first degree
was not compatible with the law and the
evidence. This motion was overruied by |
The supreme court. The news that every
hope of life was lost to him was con- |
reyed to the prisoner by Rev. E. p |
rarnham of the First Baptist church of |
Salem. Wednesday evening.
Williams heard the news with scarcely |
a sign of emotion and up to the time OF |
going to the gallows. failed to show the
slightest trace of feeling or fear.