Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-04
lust DEFEND HIS
LIFE SECOND TIME
WRITTEN LAW WILL BE
INVOKED
Sc Of wllIlaT Wilson, Who Killed
Young Musician, Is Similar to
the Thaw-White Trial
In New York

For the second time within two
n,hs william r. Wilson of Long
hch today will face jury in depart
mt one of the superior court on a
lrge of murder preferred against him
the killing of Wallace Belden. a
ing Long Beach musician, who was
bt to death August 20 on one OF the
lch city's thoroughfares. .
Wilson has already faced the ordeal
one murder trial, and whether or not
will be able to survive a second
IN ordeal is question of specula-
n, for since his incarceration in the
inty tall on the murder charge he
4 become weaker daily from worry,
kiety and humiliation, until at pres
physicians have made very grave
,orts relative to his condition.
rhe trial of Wilson at this time VIII
particularly interesting because Of
fact that the killing of Wallace
lden by Wilson is q parallel case
the murder of Stanford White by
rry Thaw, now on trial before q
v in the New York courts.
Wilson Differs from Thaw
'here are but two different points in
cases. One is that Wilson has sor-
yed so much because of his position
L 1t may eventually mean his death;
lie Thaw has evidently never given
killing n second thought. The other
L Thaw is wealthy, with every
ans of securing attorneys and with
ry desire to be granted; while Will
Is so poor that since his arrest he
| been compelled to remain in Jail
ause of lack of bail money.
n the east half-dozen prominent
orneys are fighting for Thaw's life;
the west, Attorney Earl Rogers, who
doing the work more out of charity
N for any other reason, will appear
a second time in Wilson's defense.
,haw killed Stanford White because
young man alleged the elder had
he'd his pretty young wife. Wilson
It and killed Belden because Belden
alleged to have ruined Wilson's lit
stepdaughter In both cases the
ioting is admitted. There is no ques-
d who fired the shots. Thaw killed
nford White in the evening in one
the most popular theaters in the
rid in plain view of hundreds, and
de no attempt to escape. Wilson
It Belden while they were standing
one of the most popular streets of
ng Beach at an hour of the morning
de no attempt to escape, but, after
dling the body with bullets, he stood
ting for the arrival of officers. In
h cases it is simply a question Of
tive. In New York attorneys for
aw are pleading that their client was
ane. In Los Angeles, when Wilson
tried for the first time, Attorney
gers pleaded that his client was at
moment insane brooding over his
pbles. The unwritten law stands out
ongly in both cases.
Was Member Of Band
selden, the young man who was
led. was a member of the Long
hch band. He had been warned sew
j times before, according to the evil
Ice at the former trial, to keep away
IN little girls. and had been particu-
ly warned against going with Will
rs daughter. One day the little girl
4 her mother of Belden's actions.
that moment Belden came along
I Mrs. Wilson, a small woman,
Red up a revolver and fired twice at
, musician as he rode away on a BIZ
lie.
Wilson at that time followed in pur-
with q shotgun, and 1t was taken
ay from him. He then swore out q
rrant for Belden and Belden swore
} out against him. The two were on
hr way to the court house for pre-
linary examination on the morning
1t Wilson met Belden and the trag-
I occurred.
1t Wilson's first trial the jury failed
agree and the man must again go
'ough the ordeal. Following his trial
4 come that of his wife on a charge
assault with a deadly weapon.
Whether or not Los Angeles will set
lrestige for New York in a verdict on
unwritten law Is simply a question
to which trial will be the first to be
lshed.