The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-30
WILLIAMS'S
 QUIET DAY Son Confers With Con demned Man. ATTORNEYS ARE VERY BUSY
 --s---- All Birmingham District Stirred Up Over His Fate.
 ---s---- xhe Murderer os state senator Robert L. Hipp Is Encouraged by His onsprins, who Is Work
 ing TireiessIy.
ATTORNEYS ARE VERY BUSY

Birmingham, July -(Special- )--- John Williams. the cuilman County farmer. who was to have been hang ed the past. Friday for the murder of State Senator Robert L. Hipp in Gull man County a year and a half ago. spent quiet day in the Birmingham jail.
 Though it was quiet to him 1t was not uninteresting for his eldest son. Frank Williams, who has been doing so much for his parent was with him for fifteen minutes and was allowed Co carry on a conversation. The fath- CT and soE conversed ina whisper and though deputy sat, as has been the case for several weeks now, within a few feet of the cell where the con- demned man is confined, he was unable to hear any of the conversation be- tween the two men.
 Frank Williams told his father to hold up bravely, that everything was going nicely and 1t was hoped that everything would come all right in the end. The son informed the parent that the sympathy of the Birmingham dis trict was with him and that as long as he was here he was safe.
 Prank Williams would not discuss hts conversation with his father at the jail today He states that he intends re-
 
 ing to his home where his mother, sis ters and brothers are and comforting them for a while He will be back in Birmingham Monday week when Judge Weaver of the Criminal Court will hear the arguments as to whether the condemned man is entitled to a trial by jury to determine his sanity The decision rendered Saturday morn ing, which has kept Williams from go- . Ia kn hn ~nlINxra sssF4f ,softrtr Of CuIIman County said should be his fate. endorsed by the Supreme Court of Afabama, was only on the jurisdic- tion of the court to take up tine mat ter.
 Judge Weaver decided that hs had 5urisdietion.' There has been no ap- peal. Solicitor Hefiin has done noth- ing in the matter and Congressman Bowie. who was engaged especially in the case to represent the State, has male no move There is positively no doubt but that either Solicitor Heiiin or Mir. Bowie will be at the trial next week to represent the State of Ala bama.
 So much sympathy is expressed for the son of the condemned man in his .eeofrs in behalf of his father that the subscription started in the court room immediately after Judge Weaver an nounced his decision now aggregates S200. This fund was raised in small amounts ranging from 10 ccnts to $S.
 The subscription raised to pay for the services of Judge Zell Gagton. wha took part in the strenuous efforts for the prisoner on Friday and Saturday, was started by the editor of The Birm- igham Bee, Frank L. Moraigner, ac- cording to reports. 1t was MT. Mo raigner who first made announcement that Judge Gaston ~vuld take up the interests of the condemned man.
 Subject of Discussion.
 Not even politics overshadows the subject of the Williams case. The wo- men of the city have become interested in the case and many questions are being asked by them. Williams him. self has very little to say, even to the deputy who Is employed on the death watch. Tn cell across the room from williams, and watched by the same man who is stationed in front of Will lfams's cell, is Earle Fletcher, a negro who is to hang on August 10th for kill ing another negro in the mines. "DeS don't go on about me at all" said the negro. and he seems resigned to hii fate.
 Many attorneys are watching the out come of the case and the question al 10 who will have to resentence Will Hams in case 1t has been decided that he is not entitled to a trial as to san. ity and in case such a trial is giveT and experts say he is sane. The at. torneys for the condemned man will bring witnesses to Birmingham from Culiinan, Coffee and Jefferson counties These witnesses will be in regard te the sanity of the condemned man. VII. Hams lived twenty-three years fl Cullman County. As far as can bs learned there have been no reports thai he was insane or that there were fin, dieations of insanity being In his fam ilv until the question was raised hers last week. That the man is not very bright, as far as intellect goes. is noi fo De denied. He spent most of his If, in the backwoods.
 Attorneys are Preparing.
 The three attorneys for Williams have already started their preparations for the fight to save Williams from ths gallows. The case has attracted attention all over the world. News naners have carried heavy accounts fol fhe past two days and the various stepi haInR taken by the attorneys in behal nf fine farmer are being closely watch ed as a precedent is being set, it I announced. The presence in the city o ths Attorney General, summoned by tn, Gnyernor. has not had results, as fai as cen he learned. That there is some +hinr to happen Is believed, but whai sction 1t will be cannot be stated def jnitely.
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