The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-13
WILLIAMS WAS
SENTENCED FOR
LIFE
IContInnea From - -

listed among the people Of this county.
yet they were not prone 20 do what
50 many communities would have
lone under Ike circums ancess but
were willing to allow the law 20 take
dts course. and 10 speaks well for the
people Of this county. Of ,his part Of
the state. that &c is so IL convinces
me that these people have, grounded
in them. a feeling that the courts can
and will punish the guilty and vindi-
cate the innocent. and that there IS
no need for the community to under
take to take he law into their own
hands no matter Row outrageous any
crime may be.
~As ] have said. the jury here found
sufficient in the facts and circum-
stances 20 recommend you 70 mercy,
and as you win no doubt remember,
the trial held in Mariana that prac-
tically the question submitted By your
counsel ana by the states counsel was
the question whether you were en-
titled 90 mercy, and a majority Of the
f jury there saw sufficient in the facts
and Circumstance TO recomm end You
TO mercy.
-lt Is not for me 70 say what ought
% have been done. il IS not my prov
4 ince 10 determine whether you should
be hanged or sent 10 the penitentiary
for lie. that rested with Tie juries-
and have no dCubt they performed
their duty couscienti0usly and as
they understood it.
MANY people wIl be inclined to
say that punishment in the state
prison is punishment 100 Hght but as
! have stated. this Is question that
the state commits 10 the decision of
The jury, and The juries have passed
upon it. and believe they have act
f ed conscientiously. and no one should
complain under these circumstances.
TT would not do 10 say that every
man who Dis convicted of murder In
the first degree-n0 matter what the
Circumstance be hanged. and
The law does not say that neither
does id leave it 10 the pardoning pow
/ er TO say that man should be hanged
I IL convicted OF murder in the first de-
T gree, but first leaves it with the jury
T 90 determine Ii is well that that
f power should be left somewhere. and
I in my opinion. it IS better that it
should be left with the jury than with
The ludge-better TO leave it primarily
with the jury than TO leave it TO the
judge who simply has power TO SUI
f perVise what the jury has done Tn
iany event. that power should rest
somewhere. and the law has seen ft
to leave it Do the jury. ia each case,
the jury ] believe. found according
20 the testimony is absolutely
no complaint Go be found with the
verdict. So true IS this. that your
counsel have not asked for a new
triaii they have been satisfied with
the ver1ict rendered.
Ile Juries have recommended YOU
90 mercy To was q power left TO
them 70 determine from the facts and
circumstances of the case. and after
having heard the facts and circum-
stances from the sworn witnesses In
the whether you should be
recommended to mercv-thev have
done that-thev have recommended
You 90 mercy. The law has been full
MED. the trial has been strictly in
accordance with the law. and the
sentence 4 shall now pass upon YOU is
strictly in accordance with the law.
AS 4 have before staten. it speaks
wen for the people OF this commun-
ur that thev allowed The law 10 take
It's course. If you had showed the
same respect Tor the law that these
people have. yOu would have zone in
90 the courts with your case. and not
have cons ttutod yourself Judge. Jury
and eTocuuoner an in one. without
giving these people an opportunity to
be- heard.
You have been given an opportun-
10y TO be heard before you have been
convicted you have been given the
benefit OF counsel, you have had the
very best talent that could be com
Hianoed In your defense. Men who
have adorned this bench. ans one Of
whom has adorned the bench of the
supreme Court of the State of FLOR
ida.
These people who were killed DIV
you were given no opportunity to de-
Iend themselves. such as the law has
given you. ana you have heen con
demned after two fair and impartial
Trials have been held. BID may be in
your experience I'm executing The SEN
tence which Sc is my Dainfal duty fc
pronounce upon you. IN after wears ID