The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-29
Robt. Watts Mind Was Im-
 paired After Sentence
HE MAY NEVER RECOVER
Case Is Probably Considered as Pree- edent By the Defenders of John Williams on a Plea of
 Insanity.

Montgomery. July 2S.-(Special.)-It is somewhat of coincidence in Alabama criminal history, that a man is now at the insane asylum in Tuscaloosa awaiting return of his mental equilibrium to be executed for the murder of his fellow man. His mind became impaired after conviction and sentence, like, it is claimed John Williams has, and, on the advice of physicians, the governor respited him twice, the last time until February [, 1906. He is now in the insane hospital and few believe he will ever so far recover his mind as to consent for the state to end his life at the end of a rope.
 Life Saved.
 The name of this prisoner is Robert Watts. One night three years ago in Marshall county, his home, he laid in wait for old man Perry Werden, who had tramped into Guntersville to get the pitt tance that the state is paying it's Confed- crate soldiers as pension. At that time it was only about SIS. As the old fellow plodded along he was suddenly cut down with bullet. Out from the trees came Robert Watts, looking to the right and the left for possible observers of his crime. Discovering none he pulled the body to the side of the highway and buried 1t in roughly dug out hole which he had prepared for the purpose.
 On trial in the circuit court Watts was found guilty and sentenced to hang. The date of the execution was set but the case was appealed to the supreme court which operated as a stay. The highest court of the land reset the time at February g., 1906. Before the day of execution, how ever 1t was shown to the governor that Watts had become crazy. At the request of the executive physicians from the state hospital for the insane were sent to Guntersville to examine the patient, and the verdict being that his mind was affected, he was respited into the care of the head of the institution on January 1S, to July r. That date coming almost up and 1t being discovered that he was still in a bad way the respite was continued to February ', next which will take 1t over to another governor.
 It may be that the friends of John Will Hams, who has been granted a hearing on the question of his sanity, laid some weight to this case, as being precedent for the contention that a man may be- come Insane after his conviction, and that becoming so he has right to a stay of sentence on the ground that the state would not hang a man so far unhinged mentally as to not know what was bsing done to him.
 Capitol Mention.
 [ Lying on the desk of the secretary of state are the respite papers in the case of John Williams, to have beer hanged at Cullman Friday, but saved temporarily from the gallows by the action of Q judge of the criminal court of J sfferson county. It is noted on the papers that the respite was for one day, July 27 to July 2S.
 Governor Jelks went to Bordon Springs to spend Sunday, and will go to Atlanta Mondan to meet Mrs. Jelks. It was his in- tention to take trip to North Carolina, but the trouble over the John Williams case in Birmingham may have changed his plans. It is not known here what he will do.
 H. L. Martin has been appointed pen sion examiner of Blount county to suc- ceed Uriah Tidwell deceased.
 J. Hugh Miller at Birmingham and Tom Boone Jr., at Mobile, have been appoint ed notaries public.
 The Cook-Rogers Hardware company has been incorporated at Eutaw, with capital of $250O0. J. ". Cook and others are interested.
 The Thomaston Mercantile company has been Incorporated. H. M Butler and oth- CTS are interested. The capital Is $25 900.