The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-27

The granting of the application fer writ of haheas corpus by Judge Weaver may mean that John Williams will es- cape the gibbett. which waa waiting for him in ths Cullman jail-yard to- day.
 It may mean test of strength be- tween the chief executive of Alabama and the courts of Jefferson county. John Williams had been found guilty of the premedftated murder of Stata Senator Hipp. Thd Supreme couvt had affirmed the judgment of the jury. A maportty of the PArd0ning Board has recommended that the sentence of fhx court be carried cut. The Governor had declared he would not intergnx4 and had ordered a company of miittin- men to see that the sentence of the court was executed through tho prnpef legal channels.
 Then comes the plea of insanity What the result of this plea will be- whether the execution will be stayed or not. Is a question for the lawyers.
 Three days did the Board of Ear~ dons of the State of Alabama wrestlo with the decision. For three days the members of the Board held meetings and debated long ana earnestly over; his fate One of the Board stood TOT the communication asked for but two were In favor of the law taklnS iss course. In this State. the Board made it's recommendations 10 the Govern0fs laying upon him the burden Of she final decision.
 When faced by the question of lfe or death, Governor Jeiks took Stano in support of the jury and the courl trial Notwithstanding the strong pres. sure that was brought to bear upQr him. he refused to interfere with the sentence of tue court. Pity may nays prompted him to act on the side o1 clemency. His serse of justice heio him to the path which in his Judsmen the case demanded he should follow T will not interfere" he said to the numerous friends of the condemned man. and in this short, terse sentence he ended all argument on the ques- ton.
 Pressure Brought To Bear,
 What were the unexpressed sentl- ments of the mind of the chief execu- tive during the last few days Of the life of John williams. 1t would be hard to define. On every side he was met with appeals in behalf of the doomeo man Thousands of prominent people n every part of the State were inter- osted in the matter. and appealed to him 10 exercise his executive cismency. Against this pressure has been balanc- ed his sense of the demands of Jus tice.
 John Williams was to be hanged to- day. To make this certain, extra pre-
  ernor Acting in response to an ap- peal from Sheriff A. H. o,Rear. eaCull- man county, the chief executive of tho State last night ordered that troops from the National Guard of Alabama be sent with the prisoner on his triu from BirmigEh to Culiman this morning.
 The request for protection from sha military t0rces of the state came from the Cullman county sheriff late yester- day afternoon. Rumors of e proposed attempt on the part of the friends of the doomed murderer, to effect res- cue. prompted the appeal. Thouaanda in the northern county. have. during the last two monthe. come to believe that clamensy should be extended to Williamb. and when the action of tho Governor became known In that eec- ton, 1t was reported that a definite plan had been made to seize him from the custody of the sheriff when he should be brought to the scene of his execution.
 County Sheriff was received at thG Capitol. the Governors Private Secre- tary. J. Kirk Jackson. immediately communicated with the Governor in Gadsden. The Governor has been in that city during the last few days at. tending the annual meeting of tho State Press Association. Governor
  wired to Circuit Judge D. H. Speake of Cullman. asking whether. in his opin- ion. the circumstances called for such action.
 Troops Are Needed.
 The Circuit Judge in reply stated his belief that Sheriff o'Rear was a safe and conservative man. If he asked for troops, there was a need for them Deputy Solicitor Jack Grimm, of Gull man County, added his recommendation to that of the Judge, and the Governor sent orders that the troops asked for be sent.
 Tn accordance with the instructions from the Governor Secretary Jackson sent orders for Major Charles L. Led better, of Birmingham, to take one company from the 3rd Regiment and to proceed as an escort with Sherim o'Rear and his prisoner to cullman. The party will leave on the early morn ing train for the County seat of Gull man where the execution is to take place.
 Seldom in the history of Alabama has such pressure been brought to bear upon the State Board of Pardona and upon the Governor of a State as that brought to those officials in the effort to save the life of John Will Hams. Convicted and sentenced by the Circuit Court of CulInan County, the finding of the lower court affirmed and tho date of execution set by the su-