Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-17
Sentenced to Death.

As stated in the Gazette of that day,
Henry Williams, the negro, who on
January 80 last entered the home of
George j. Shields, in Roanoke, and
murderously assaulted Mrs. Shields and
her three-year-old daughter with a
Ratchet, razor and pocket-knife and left
them for dead, was yesterday sentenced
by Judge Woods, in the Corporation
Court, to be hanged March iS next.
After hacking and fracturing the
skulls of his victims with Ratchet,
Williams cut Mrs. Shields throat from
ear to ear with a razor and locked her in
closet. He escaped to the coal fields,
where he was captured last Wednesday
A reward of 50, 900 had been offered for
his capture. He confessed to the crime,
and on Friday was hurried on asp
train to Richmond for safe keeping. ecial
On Monday special grand jury in
dicted him for felonous assault and
robbery. He was taken to Roanoke
on a special train, accompanied by
500 Richmond soldiers. and another
special train bearing 300 soldiers pre-
coded that which bore Williams. He
was hurried to the courthouse, under the
protection of eighteen companies OF
State militia, and vas tried on the CHI rye
of felonous assault, which is a crime
punished by hanging in this State.
Besides a military guard, the court
officers, the witnesses, the jury,
and representatives of the press,
no one was admitted to the court
room. The streets for several blocks
around the Jail were filled with
soldiers, who prevented any APP
proach to the courthouse buildings. The
prisoner, who already had made several
confessions, pleaded mot guilty" but
made no defense. The bloody Ratchet,
on which was hair from the heads of
Williams victims, and the bloody razor
we're introducedin evidence by the Com
monwealth. To save Mrs. Shields hui
initiation she was not brought into court
and the details of the crime were not
rehearsed.
The jury was out FIVE minutes and
Williams was convicted of "robbery
from the person by violence. Within
another five minutes Judge Woods had
passed the death sentence on the negro
and ordered that he be removed at once
to Lynbhburg for safe keeping until the
day set for his execution when he will be
taken back to Roanoke and hanged.
No trouble was encountered in get
ting a jury. No stumbling block dis
yurbed the volume ofconclusive evidence
adduced by the prosecution. The de-
tense made resistance only when Detec-
tive Baldwin and his agents we're placed
on the stand. By cross-examinat;on
the prisoners counsel sought to create
the impression that the confession had
been procured by promise Of reward.
immunity from punishment or threat of
the dire enforcement of tho limit of the
law. This cross-examination, however,
was failure 1t did not break down
the evidence of the detectives nor
weaken it.
Detective T. L. Felts, of the Baldwin
agency, testified as to details Of the con-
fession. He was interrupted by Judge
Woods, who said e.
"Just tell us whether any hope Of re-
ward or threat of punishment was sug-
gested in order to gain the confession"
"None at all, sir" replied the wit
ness, who, continuing, said the whole of
Williams testimony was taken down in
shorthand.
"He admitted everything except Grim
inal assault" declared Mr.. Felts, who
was afterwards closely cross-examined by
Mr.. Bryan, but without essential result.
Williams pleaded not guilty to the
first indictment, "rObbery from the per-
son by violence" He was composed,
and clearly and distinctly stated his plea.
The commemorative attorney rehash-
ed succinity, in a straightforward, earn
est manner, the salient facts in the case,
RETAINING, however, from any sug-
gestion of criminal assault or ever at
tempt at criminal assault on the part Of
the prisoner Little that has not been
published was brought out by Mr.. Per-
kins, but the recital was received with
breathless attention.
Williams when asked what he had to
say, told the court that he was not sat
isied with the sentence and begged to be
sent farther away than Lynchburg. Dur
ing the trial Williams appeared totally
Indifferent, and after being sentenced
asked for his dinner. He denied hav-
ing outraged his victim but the testi-
mony of physicians showed that criminal
assault had been committed.
The Roanoke militia remained under
arms for week after the crime, and sew
eral negroes have been run out of town
for incendiary talk bearing on the case.
The first of the special trains with the
militia arrived at Lynchburg from Roam
oke with the prisoner, Henry Williams,
at o'clock yesterday evening and the |
second train half an hour later. Three
marching in hollow square,
with the prisoner in the center, escorted
him to the Jail at o'clock, and then
these and the other fifteen companies |
left for there homes. |
Gov. Montague expressed great graft
fcation yesterday at the good order
in Roanoke.
There is widespread dissatisfaction on !
account of the States being put to such
heavy expense to protect the negro
Henry Williams. The action of Judge
Woods in insisting on his being brought