The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-24
PARTY MAKES PLEA
FOR JOHN WILLIAMS
Case Presented to Governor and
Board of Pardons
SOLICITOR is INDIGNANT
Tells Governor He Was Threatened
With Defeat If He Refused to Sign
Petition for Communication
of Sentence.
SOLICITOR is INDIGNANT

Montgomery, July -6Speeial)-With
a long list of petitioners attorneys for
John Williams, convicted of the murder
of Robert L. Hipp, state senator in Gull
man county, appeared before the COVER
nor and the state board of pardons today
and plead for the life of the prisoner,
and that the execution by hanging set for
July q. be changed to Imprisonment for
the balance of his natural life in the
penitentlary of the state.
In addition to the petition asking such
clemency there were majority of the
members of the city council of Cullman
present to lend their personal efforts,
affidavits that three members of the jury
stated before the trial that they would
hang him, with oral evidence to the same
effect, and the general assertion that un
der the circumstances the defendant
could not get fair trial in the county
in which he was condemned.
Not From Williams Pistol.
1t was also contended to the governor
and the board of pardons that the ball
that killed Hipp was not a ball from the
pistol owned by Williams, but of the
same size and kind as carried by the
pistol of the deputy sheriff with the party
at the time of the killing. The showing
made was that a ball from the pistol
of the deputy sheriff weighed 100 grains,
and that the bullet that caused the death
of Hipp weighed the same. A bullet from
the pistol owned by Williams weighed LAG
grains. All this was presented to the
board A number of letters were exhibited
also to Indicate that the trial was not
one in which the prisoner could get JUS
tice because of the inflamed condition of
the public mind. In a word. the asser-
ton of the friends of Williams is that
the trial and sentence was nothing less
than mob violence legalized
The prisoner was represented by Erie
| Pettus Of Athens, and f. e. St. John of
| Cullman Solicitor Almon OF the Eighth
| circuit and George II. Parker, who aided
| in the prosecution appeared for the state
| The wife and four little children of the
| condemned man were In the room, all
| with tears in their eyes and evidencing
the sorrow and trouble in which they
have fallen. Mrs. Julia Gillespie, editor
| of the Hanceville Hustler of Hanceville,
| and Mrs. c. e. Taylor, a we'll wisher and
| sympathizer of Mrs. Williams, came along
to help her in every way possible.
Citizens of culIman.
| In addition to the lawyers and the
| ladies in the party, there was ]. F. Will
/ liams, son of the prisoner, and the fol-
| lowing citizens of the town of Cullman:
| G. w Hanlin, w. II. Goff, W. F. Han
hey, II. Ehrensperger, j. r. McMinn J.
! L. Walker, A. e. Hewlett, C. l.. York,
| B. R. Williams. j. w. Burton.
| Mr.. st. John. one of the attorneys for
| the defense, said that the petition of
| 1000 grown men presented today was an
| expression from more voters than voted
/ in the last general election in the county.
| He said further that the sentiment of
the county is overwhelmingly for the
| commutation of the sentence, as shown
/ by the papers and the persons before the
board of pardons. Mr.. Pettus said some
days ago that the feelings of the peo-
| pie were so greatly aroused that he did
| not believe that 1t was possible for a
/ man to have had fair trial under the
| circumstances.
| The Case Presented.
| The case was first presented to the gov
| ernor and the pardon board, sitting to-
gether, by Mr.. Pettus, who outlined what
| was desired. He went fully over the
| ground and laid out the line of argument.
He was followed by Solicitor Almon,
| who reviewed the evidence. He went over
| the trial and told upon what facts the
| jury ,edGheu Rerolc'' Inc evidence
shoWeu lhat Depu'y Dunlap was shot'
ana that JUST iolloWlns the shot Williams
| ran out ana as mp turned snot the lat
ter III me oach Vi ehe heao, ne salu that
jury hau iau All ,he evidence ana mao
mace up 'helf minus thal the detendant
| should have the extreme penalty of the
| law.
MIS-. Wliiiains sat near Judge j. M
| Sdrfilcnael OF the PARDON ooaru' with her
lour niue ehllareh' She was alloWed TO
make statement IN which she tod OF
the killng ana almost broke down with
Tears IN ner eyes as Wen as her voice.
Mrs' uilespie, eoitor OF the HahceViile
board. Several others. including one OF
| the Jurors, made statements to the board.
p.rk.r i,dion.n.
|
| george H. Parker, VINO had assisted the
soneitor IN the prosecution hpes at Gull
| man. ne came uo"h 10 appear peiore the
| poard IN oppositioh TO interference with
the ACTIONS OF tne court, he mace the
rather starting statement that he was
threatened with deieat at the polis TINS
ran u ne refused 10 sign petition ask
ing LOT communication Oh sentence lie Is
phe democratic nominee Tor the lesisla-
| ture III the county ne Saiu ,nat ne let
the members OF the colnnnittee Know inll
| wen "hdt ne enousnt Vi ~. ne considered
| u an outrage lot the committee TO ask
| ihat ne sign such petp'oh winch would
nave peen a petlayai ol ms Trust III the
conduct OF the case
niue lilt came up between solicitor
! Aimon ana Mr. 81 Jonn. Inc Juror put