Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-10
VERDICT OF GUILTY.
Frank Williams Convicted of Killing
William Slater.

From Fridays Daily.
After forty hours of deliberation and
discussion. the jury in the case of the
State OF Iowa VS. Frank Williams re-
turned to the court room at 80
O'Clock this afternoon and reported a
verdict finding the defendant guilty of
murder in the second degree. He is
held responsible for the death of Will
liam Slater, at Keb on December g.,
1902, and was indicted on the charge
OF murder in the first degree. How
ever, the evidence was such that in
his instructions to the jury Judge Rob
erts prevented their finding the de-
PENDANT guilty as charged, as it did
not appear that there had been pre-
meditation in connection with the kill
ing. 1t was thought by a great many
who We're conversant with the case
and the evidence that the verdict
would be one finding Williams guilty
OF manslaughter, but the jury sur
prised great many by convicting the
man oil the more serious crime.
Story of Killing.
Both Williams and Slater were col
ored men and they We're employed in
the mines of the Illinois & Iowa Fuel
Co., at Keb, working as ''buddies" for
several years. Slater, the older man,
was inclined to drink considerably,
and Williams was also somewhat ad-
dicted to drink. On December 9, it
is said, both had been drinking con
siderably, and it is alleged that Will
liams went to Slater's house, where
he made threats that he would kill
=, wifi
mans story Her story is also to the
effect that Slater tried to carry out
his threats and made several holes in
her clothing and that of her little
child with a knife.
The woman claims that she ran out
of the house and told her husband,
Slater meanwhile going to the home
of George Thomas, not far distant, and
there he was found by Williams and
his wife. Williams accused Slater OF
making threats to kill his wife, so il
is said, and attacked him. Both men
rushed out into the back yard and
Slater who was in the lead, was ov-
ertaken by Williams, who, according
to the evidence, stabbed him in the
breast, causing his death. Slater died
without making statement, death
taking place in a few minutes after
the stabbing.
Gave Himself Up.
The death of Slater took place about
4:30 pm, land between and Will
ans made his appearance at the home
of Alfred Stabler,a justice of the peace
who resides near Keb, and gave him
self up. He was found there when
Sheriff Cremer and John WGray chief
of police OF this city, arrived to take
charge of him. He was confined in the
county Jail and the next morning the
coroner's jury held him responsible
for the death of Slater His wife was
also arrested on the day following
Skaters death for completely in the
murder, but after being held a few
days she was released, and will not
be prosecuted
Jury Out Forty Hours.
The jury in the case was out for
about forty hours. leaving the court
room at 8 o'clock Wednesday even
ing and returning at 80 this after
noon. The jury made an agreement be-
fore leaving their room that they
would keep secret the facts regarding
their doings during their deliberations
and consequently no statement can be
secured from them. However, it is re-
ported that there were two or three
who held out for an acquittal through
repeated balloting.
[From Fridays Daiiy.l
Frank Williams was this morning
sentenced to serve fifteen years in the
penitentiary at Fort Madison and to
hay the costs OF The mllrde caSa in.