The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-24
WILLIAMS CASE ID
 BE HEARD TODAY Another Chapter in Famous
 Hipp Murder HISTORY OF THE CASE Governor Conner Favors Reynolds Compulsory Education 5iIl-Mont- eomery Will Have a Sky.
 scraper HoteI-Notes.
HISTORY OF THE CASE

Montgomery, Ma 2S.-(Special.)- )-An- other chapter in the romantic and sensa- tional history of John Williams, the slay- CT of Robert L. Hipp of Cullman county, will be presented tomorrow when the att torneys for Williams appear before the state board of pardons and urge that the sentence of the defendant be changed from death by hanging to Imprisonment for life, if, on investigation, it be found that he is under sentence at all. Because of the interest in the hearing 1t will be held in the hall of the senate, where there Is abundant room for all who care to hear to assemble.
 Williams will be represented by Erie Pettus, who has stood by him in his long fight for life, who is now located in Bir- mingham; Judge Zell Gaston, also of that city, and F. E. St. John of Cullman county. David Almon, solicitor of the ci1 = cult court in Cullman county; George H. Parker, member of the legislature from that county, and John A. Lusk, senator from Marshall county, will appear for the State. The governor is expected to sit
  of Secretary of State Frank Julian, Audi tor William w. Brandon and Attorney General Alexander M. Garber.
 The old pardon board sat in this way to hear the same sort of petition in the case just after the supreme court refused to order a new trial Governor Jelks was with them and the petition for commuta- ton, the same that will be asked here, was turned down by the board two to one, former Secretary of State and for mer Attorney General Wilson being against 1t and former Auditor Carmichael for 1t. Governor Jeks announced at Gadsden that he was against clemency agreeing with the majority
 History of the Case.
 On April Il, 1905, three officers, accom- panied by Senator Robert l.. Hipp, went out from Cullman to the home of John Williams, near place called Joppa, to put Williams out of possession of some property for which he had not made pay ment to client of Hipp In such satis- faction as to relieve him of obligation. Williams demurred at getting out, saying that his wife was i'll and he had nowhere to go, it then being very late in the aft ernoon.
 However, the officers were insstent, ard told him he must vacate at once. This seemed to anger Williams, and he went into the house, returning in a moment with pistol. He fired in the direction of the party, it being said that he was try ing to shoot Deputy Sheriff Dunlap. The ball struck Hipp In the head and he died in a few hours. Williams escaped and was later captured in Madison county, where he was held until day of trial in Cullman county.
 A special term of the Cullman circuit court was called for May %. 1905, at which time Williams was placed on trial. A hard fight was made by his attorneys to secure q change of venue. 1t being as- serted that he could not get a fair trial there. This was lost however, and the defendant forced to hearing. In a very short time he was convicted and given hls death sentence. the date of execution ebing set at July IA, 19O5
 His attorneys gave notice in the regu- lar way that an appeal would be taken to the supreme court and the case was submitted to that tribunal on November 30 1905, stay having been secured by reason of notice of appeal. The case was affirmed June [ 1906, the opinion being written by MT. Justice now chief justice) John R. Tyson. Application for rehearing filed June 20 was denied and the higher court set July 27 as new date of execu- ton.