The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-28

ANAN--"aA-AAN~
 
 sane, and that he has become Insane since his conviction, and that he is ut teriy Incapable of realizing his eondi- tion or the sentence of the law or the purpose of his proposed execution.
 ''Seventh-That the detention of the said John Williams by the said sheriff is unlawful.
 Asks Writ of HaBeas Corpus.
 wherefore, your said petitioner prays that a writ of habeas corpus be issued immediately, directed to the said Andrew W. BuTgin. Sherir of Jefferson County, Alabama, commanding him to bring the body of the said John Will Hams before your honor, at a time and place to be by you appointed, together with the cause of the detention of the said John Williams.
 And your said petitioner further prays your honor that your petitioner may then and there have jury trial of the issue of insanity. vel non, of the said John Williams, and hereby de- mands a jury trial of said issue, and further prays your honor that if it be determined or adjudged that-~the said John Williams is now Insane. that an order be made confining the said John Williams in the Alabama Insane Hos- pital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, until such time as he may become sane when the sentence of the law can be executed upon the said John Williams.
 Prank Williams,
 "Erie Pettus Petitioner"
 IF. F. St. John,
 Attorneys for Petitioner"
 From information received from the authorities at the jail this morning, 1t appears that Williams must have had some warning of the effort that was to be made to save him. In spite of the bad news reeeved from Cover nor Jelks yesterday, the prisoner show ed little surprise and little diseeur- agement He made the statement hope. and did not seem to lose heart.
 At the time it was thought by the officials here that he had heard of some good news from Cullmap eoun- ty, which encouraged him to expect rescue. Rumors had come from the mountain county that his friends there would never permit him to be hanged. No occurrence such as that which eventually happened. however, was anticipated. and when the news came of the delay granted by the judge, 1t came as complete sur prise
 his behalf however, Williams came within the naFrowest margin of los inE all that ms atloIHoy6 Wcfe HSHt- ing to gain. That he did not is due to his own pertinacity. Early last evening 1t was decided to remove him from the jail here before the morn ing. Oficers went to the cell. and told him they had come to take him away Arming himself with a steel bar which he had procured somewhere, ha threatened to take te life of any one who entered his cell He was azhttpG for his life Once remOved, from the authority of the order which he must have been expecting, his last hope would have been gone. and he played his last card in his desperate game,
 Tn order to secure an entInnee into the cell, it was necessary for the Of- 6cers to procure a bottle of ammonia, and to trow 1t over Williams. The latter once overcome, it was an easy cell.
 resistance, however, was sufficient. Tine 3 o'clock train from Birmingham 10 CulIman had been lost. Before midnight notice was received of tho hearing granted by the Birmingham judge.
 fudge Weaver this morning it was continued until the afternoon. and at inc afternoon session, 1t was again continued until tomorrow morning. Meantime, Governor Jelks reached Birmingham, and took apartments at the Hillman, apparently with the in- tentlon Of remaining until the court of Williams lawyers When the cons tinuation of the trial was announced to him, he ordered a respite for twen- ty-four hours. before the expiration