The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-12
WILLIAMS CALM
THODEATHIS NEAR
DOOMED MAN MAINTAINS OUT
WARD SHOW OF UNCoNCERN.
Attorneys Make a Final Effort to
Save Neck Of Condemned Murderer
All Preparations Made for Execu-
ton, Which Will Take Place Soon
After Midnight Tonight.

Late this afternoon Messrs. Cormican
and Clark went to Judge Lochren s res
idence to make application for habeas
corpus for William Williams, the St.
Paul murderer doomed to hang tonight.
oring q to O. preserve his air Of unconcern
for the fate that impendss, as the hour
for his execution approaches, Williams
wonderful Indifference is fast passing.
He shows the strain, and tho his ap-
parent disregard of what awaits him
probably will remain with him IN con- /,
not be the strong man that he has been
when he mounts the galloWs. Il
Spends Time in Prayer.
This afternoon Williams spent some
time with his spiritual. adviser, Rev.
Father Cushen. Tonight Father Cushen
will be with the man again and will
remain with him until his life is ended.
The evening will be spent in prayer,
after midnight, he will hear another
prayer as the deputies are binding him
preparatory to springing the trap.
Williams cell is on the first floor in
the corridor on. the alley side Of the
Jail. At midnight Williams will be
aroused from his period of prayer to
t to which IS near III his cell, to ct the first
basement, will be the first stage OF
the Journey of death. From the first
basement he will 90 down seventeen
steps to the endorsement. Arrived
there. he will pass thru massive door
and there obtain his first view OF the
gallows. A walk of fifty steps and ne
will reach the foot of the. stairs that
lead to the platform on which he Will
be executed. : =
Thirteen steps must be climbed, and
with the knowledge of what will be
his fate at the top, Williams must be
strong man to ascend them.
Deputies Work Fast.
While the priest is uttering the last
prayer, two deputies will bind Will
iiams' arms and legs with straps. An
other deputy will adjust the moose ana,
the short prayer ended, the deathcap
will be drawn over the prisoner s face,
the deputies will retire and Sheriff
Anton Miesen will pull the lever that
will send Williams thru the trap.
Every precaution against accident has
been taken and the deputies have been
thoroly drilled.
A physician, probably Coroner Mil
Ter, will attend and pronounce the re-
suit.
Story Of Crime.
| The state demands the life of Will
liam Williams for the murder Of John
! Keller, a. 16-year-old boy, on the morn
ing of April 10, 1905. It was charged
| that he shot both John Keller and his
mother, Mrs. John Keller, in their
| apartments at Reid court, but he was
tried only on the charge Of killing the
boy. S a. G.s. i ~ %s
.ssSW ILL ans, who was a plumber, was
teaching the boy his trade. They had
gone to Winnipeg and other cities in
Search Of work. Keller's father had de
manded that John return to his home
and he left Williams. The latter went
to the Keller home and demanded lodg.
ing. He was refused. He then asked
John to 20 to Winnipeg with him, anc
upon the boys refusal, he shot him II
bed.
Williams wrote a long article ex
planning his connection with the case
while in jail. He declared he@:though1
the woman had done the. shooting
charging that she had been drinking.