The age-herald., 1898-09-25
ADVENTURES OF
 JOHN WILLIAMS Multiplicity of Names Bring About Strange
 Circumstances. GRANT PARDON BY MISTAKE To John Williams, Who Assaulted Greek
 Fruit Y0lder. TRIED ON ANOTHER CHARGE And Acquitted, Gaining His Liberty Second Time Only to Be Again Ar rested Pardon Intended for Williams, Consumptive.
TRIED ON ANOTHER CHARGE

One of the most peculiar mistakes that
 has occurred in the criminal annals or
 the state was brought to. light Friday
 when it was discovered that John Williams,
 a negro convict serving a tweuty-year sen-
 tence at Coaburg, had been released on a
 pardon intended for another convict bear
 ing the same name.
 No less peculiar Is the experience which
 Williams has gone through since his re-
 lease, ill fortune having followed fast upon
 the heels of the good fortune which gave hlm his liberty, and landed him again in the prison at Coalburg.
 The first chapter in the peculiar story
 dates back to June 19 1897, when John Will Hams was convicted in the criminal court of having committed murderous assault upon Papageorge, who conducted a small fruit stand at the corner of Third avenue and Twentieth street, and sentenced to twenty years Imprisonment, the full limit of the law.
 In Another Assault Some time previous to the assault made upon Papageorge, George Lekos, a Greek, | who conducted a stand at the corner of | First avenue and Twenty-second street, | was assaulted in a like manner and at the | time of his conviction Williams was un- der indictment for having been implicated | in the assault on Lekos.
 He was first taken to Pratt mines and | later transferred to Coalburg where he | was registered as a "frst-class man." Only few days ago the prison authori- | ties at Coalburg received pardon for John Williams, signed by the governor, and the negro was released.
 | Williams himself was evidently surprised | but did not make any inquiries, gladly ac- | cepting his good fortune and went his | way rejoicing.
 | The scene of the second chapter of the | story is laid in the criminal court room | A few days ago the case of Henry Deshazo, k also charged with having been implicated | in the assault on Lekos, was set for trial | and Williams, who evidently thought that [ iIis pardon wiped out all charges against him. appeared in the court as a witness and was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Bur gin and held to trial
 The scene of the third chapter was also
 laid in the criminal court room, when on Friday Williams put upon trial and acquitted by the jury under the impression that the negro had been pardoned by the governor because he was suffering from consumption and had not long to live. Liberty a Second Time For the second time Williams was al-
 lowed to go his way rejoicing, and he at | once headed for Coalburg, where it is SUD- 1 posed he expected to secure work as a free | laborer.
 The scene of the fourth and last chapter l is laid in the office of Governor Johnston, | at Montgomery, and true to the ending of l all well written stories, brings out the | plot in bold relief, which in this case brings grief to the principal character. | Sheriff OBrien was in Montgomery on l Friday and inquired at the governors of- | flee the reason why Williams had been re- l leased and was told that the pardon had | been recommended by Dr. Blake of the | board of convict inspectors.
 The papers were looked up among which | was the letter of Dr. Blake, which men l toned the fact that three prisoners bearing 1 the name of John Williams were in the | custody of the state.
 | The first John Williams was convicted in l Montgomery county about a year ago and | sentenced to the penitentiary for life. Re- l gently application for pardon in this case l had been made to the governor. The sec | ond John Williams was sent up from this l county on the charge of burglary and l grand larceny and sentenced to the peni- | tentiary for ten years He was taken to l the convict farm and according to pr. l Blake's report was suffering from con- sumption in the last stages. The third | John Williams is the man who was con- l victed of tn eassault on Papageorge and confined at Coalburg In closing his re- l port pr. Blake recommended that pardon | be issued to John Williams of Jefferson, | convicted of assault with intent to mur- | der, evidently having intended John Will | Hams, who was convicted of burglary and l grand larceny.
 | The Sheriff's Surprise It as clear that mistake had been made ! and Sheriff O'Brien, thinking that John | Williams was safe in Jail, did not wire his l office of the discovery, as he expected to | arrive home at 7:45 o'clock. On his arrival | he was surprised to find that Williams had | been acquitted of the second charge and | released. He at once notified the governor Yesterday morning he received telegram | from Private Secretary Cory to re-arrest | Williams and hold him.
 In notifying his deputies, Sheriff O.Brien | happened to call up Coalburg prison and mentioned the facts to Warden Shirlins, and short time afterwards he received a message that Williams had been arrested at Coalburg.
 Governor Johnston was at once notified and a warrant for perjury was sworn ou. against the negro for having falsely testi- fled on his trial Friday Williams is being held by the Coalburg authorities under his old sentence The governor will revoke the pardon which was given through a mis-