Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1904-01-01
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sBrainerd oman Convict
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II ar Chilli 81


Williams, On trial charged with the:
murder of Lilly a. lliams, her two
and half year old daughter. was
found guilty Of murder Ii the first de-
rgee on Saturday evening, the jury
after q elaboration OF little over.
three hours returning the verdict at s
O. 81 ock. ...=. e. .zs
The penalty for the crime. murder In
the first degree as defined by the
statutes. is hanging, but there is .
provision which virtually makes it
discretionary with the trial judge
whether the penalty be death or life
imprisonment. =.
The defendant seemed unmoved, her
expression not changing in the least,
and she maintained the same stoical
attitude that has amazed court and
spectators during the proceedings Of
the case. Not tear damped her
eyes, not q sigh was breathed and not
word was uttered by her, in answer
to the crime that has been laid bare
at her feet. but she sat with resigned
attitude and watched the final proceed.
ings with what would seem the inter
est of casual spectator. She was
less moved, it IL thought, than any
man present in the court room at the
time.
Attorney Larson gave notice of mo-
ton for a new trial on the evidence
and the hearing will be had some
time this week perhaps. or at some
time during the present term of
court. This may be heard at any
time before court adjourns. and there
is probability that it may not be
heard until the latter end of the
term. Sentence on Mrs. Williams
will, therefore, not be passed until
this motion is disposed Of.
To the Daily Dispatch representative
Mrs. Williams said: "Well. it is all
over now, and I am glad Of 1t; the
verdict was q true one, as true. as
any that was ever rendered In 9
court room. I am guilty, I threw
little Lilly into the river and I do
not deny it. They were twelve hon
est men and I knew they could see
In my face that I was guilty all the
time. It was all lie and wanted
to plead guilty. . Yes did make the
confession to County Attorney Crane,
and every word told him at the time
was true. The reason sent for him
was that was afraid I would hang,
for I had been dreaming nights that
saw myself on the gallows and would
see things. saw q man hung once
and Oh it has always given me q
horror. and would not like 70.
through what I saw him 80 throu. 6 b.,
II threw Lilly in some time after
Dill left me on the bank of the river;
I cannot tell just exactly what time 1t
was but the dawn was just BEGINNING
to break. I tell..you what, people can
never realize. how I felt when deci-
ded to do this. had been kicked out
with my little girl, we had roamed
out on the streets. hungry and tired, I
had been with Dill and Burrig and
was tired, there was no one that
would be friend to me, 1 had no
place to go. had no. money with
which to buy myself something to eat
and did not know what to do, and
with the thought that she would be
better off and having been told that
I could get along all right without her,
I took the little thing down to the
rivers edge and threw her in. She
did not cry much, only said, "Oh
mama, Oh mamma, - that was all.
I was given money at the city jail If
I would lay the blame on Dill, but I
decided that I did not want to have
more blood on my hands by sending
Dill to the gallows, for / knew would
have to answer fof enough anyway
before my God. Lam now ready to
accept the penalty for my sin, but
hope 1t will be only life i'm prison
ment, for do not want to hang. It
il all too bad; It IL too bad. am aor-
~ Ibid 1t, but 1t is oil over. now.
They have been kind to me- In the jail
here aud will always remember Mira
Erioksnrc FIR har kindnass. r .dos MT J