The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-01
GETS DEATH SENTENCE
SLAYER OF SENATOR HIPP WILL
 HANG JULY 14.
Hohn williams's Son Asks that He Be Allowed to Expiate Crime in Fa- ther's Stead-The County's
 Flrst Execution.

Cullman May 31.-(special. )-The' county court house was the center Of attraction this morning as well as the scene of several pathetic incidents, and though each and every spectator ex- pected what was to come. still there was a sympathetic feeling in the bosom of all for the unfortunate victim whose future was swinging in balance and rested solely in the hands of twelve of his peers.
 About o'clock, however, the cloud burst and the storm that sealed the fate of John Williams. the slayer or Benator Robert L.. Hipp came The jury returned verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree.
 The prisoner. pale and haggard, was then brought from the county jail to lhe court house to hear his fate. Be- fore reaching the temple of justice. however, he was notified of the 5ury's dnding, and the effect was similar to thunderboit or stroke of paraIysis upon the prisoner. His steps were slow and feeble thereafter and 1t was with great effort that he ascended the eteps leading up into the court room.
 On reaching the bar, the prisoner found the judge, clerk and solicitor and but a few spectators. He glanced nervously around the court room, drew tnf in vain to compose himself as much as possible, but one under so great men tal strain requires. an iron nerve to accomplish this feat, which Williams does not possess.
 Everything being in readiness. Judge ID. W. speake in a clear, distinct voice iand with perfect composure pro- nounced the words, prescribed by law, that will, barring all accidents and in- terferences from higher courts, seal the doom of Jno Williams. The hang iang is set for July IA.
 The eldest son of the defendant was, Ias heretofore. an attendant. At the time when the words be hung by the meek until you are dead, dead, dead. and may the Lord have mercy on your soul," were spoken. Williams collapsed completely. The son came over to him, and father and son fell upon each oth- lers shoulders and wept bitterly, thus furnishing an affecting scene that brought tears to the eyes of the hard est-hearted spectators.
 Turning to Sheriff O'Rear and Dep- uty Dunlap the son of Williams asked Nhat he himself might expiate the bcrime on the gallows in his fathers Stead.
 The prisoner was taken back to the hail, a death watch placed over him and in the course of an hour when he seemed to have regained some com lposure, the Advertiser correspondent visited the unfortunate man and in- Herrogated him closely regarding the finding of the court. When asked whether or not he thought that he de- served the punishment placed upon him, he replied that he didn't think he did, "but don't want to talk much how, am afraid may say something hniurious to my case"
 ''Do you wish to make any state knent for publication, Mir. WilliamsT' kvas asked.
 ''No, not until after the supreme court shall have acted upon my case"
 DO you think the supreme court will interfere with the decision of the Aower court, in the face of the evidence khat has been producedr'
 well, I can but hope-thats all that's left me. This is the hardest proposition I was ever up against, and < never dreamed I would come to this. But one can't. tell what's in store for him, can he?
 Immediately following the sentence. Earl Pettus, who has so ably conducted khe defense, gave notice of an appear to the supreme court.
 CuIlman county was formed in 1874, and many cases of murder have been tried in the county, and several are now pending, but this Is the first time in the history of the county that the extreme penalty of the law has been riven. The verdict in the Williams