The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1909-02-26
MURDER WAS
THE VERDICT
Aaron Williams Convicted of Kill
ing Patterson, near Viking
PRISONER INDIFFERENT
Even When Sentence of DEATH Was Pro-
nounced-Declared His innocence
Before Receiving Sentence

eve, the jury, find the defendant
guilty of murder in the first degree as
charged in the indictment" was the
verdict in the case of Aaron Williams.
the negro charged with the murder of
James Patterson, a negro, near Viking
on the night of December 18th last.
The jury was out but twenty minutes
before they reached a verdict.
The case was called on the opening of
court Monday morning, and considera-
BILE difficulty was experienced in secur-
ing a jury, large number being ex-
cused because of scruples against cap
ital punishment in conviction on circum-
.stantial evidence. All of Monday was
taken up in examining talismen, and
when court adjourned eleven jurymen
had been selected. The jury was com.
pleted Tuesday morning and sworn. 1t
was a representative and intelligent
body of men, and it was the general
opinion that no more competent jury
had ever been drawn in similar case
in Florida. The jury was composed of
the following: C.. F. Olmstead, Chas.
Bemenderfer, R. l.. Goodwin, G. s.
Blocker, F. R. Horton, Frank Sherman,
R. f. Minis, T. J. O'Brien, A. ]. Brew
err, John Schottler, c.. S. Bixby and w.
E. Tedder.
State Attorney Jones after reading
the Indictment outlined the case. James
Patterson, negro section hand and
Aaron Williams had been seen walking
together down the railroad track short
ly before the arrival of the evening
train. Immediately after, Patterson
was found in the ditch beside the track
with a fractured skull. He asserted
that the State would prove that Pat
terson came to his death at the hands
of Williams, and while the evidence
was circumstantial it was sure.
Witnesses testified to the finding of
the injured negro in the railroad ditch,
near the packing house Of j. W. Hodge,
near Viking. He was removed to the
packing house under the direction of j.
Helseth, by several negroes, and was
asked how he received his injuries,
the supposition being that he had been
struck by train. His articulation was
poor but the witnesses testified that he
insisted that he had not been hit by
train, and replied: "Nigger done it
Aaron Williams. 1t was brought out
by the evidence that Patterson also
said, Eighteen dollars" indicating
that he had been robbed of that sum.
Several witnesses who saw the injured
negro before his death, testified to the
above facts.
After the assault, Williams was next
seen three miles from the scene, where
he me two men. He had Patterson's
basket and hat and told these men that
two strangers had assaulted his friend
and killed him, and that he had run
away. He then went to the home of
man named Jones and asked to be pro-
tected as he was afraid that harm
would come to him. Jones made
strong witness for the prosecution, as
the facts related occurred only about
two hours after the crime.
DR.. w. E. VanLandingham was call
ed and gave professional testimony as
to the cause of death of Patterson and
the State closed.
A. D. Penney, attorney for the de-
tense, announced thst he would not
present witnesses, and even the de-
PENDANT was not placed on the stand,
BY this move the defense secured The
opening and closing address to the jury.
In his opening address he attacked the
theory of the prosecution and dwelt at
length on the fact that Williams car
ried the basket belonging to Patterson.
He argued that an assault had been
made upon Patterson and Williams ~
two strangers, and that Williams had
run away. He ridculed the words that
witnesses had testified the injured maa
uttered, saying it was impossible fof 81
man in his condition to speak at such
length. His plea for the life OF lis
client was eloquent in both addresses.
The State Attorney reviewed the evil
dence and declared that circumstantial
evidence was better in some cases than
direct, because it could not lie. He ap-
pealed to the jury for verdict of MUIR
der, as an example and for the protec-
ton of their homes. He assured the
jury that if they brought in verdict
of murder they should have no feeling
of sorrow; they had but done their duty
and the law alone would be responsible
for the death of the prisoner.
In his charge to the jury, Judge Jones
read the law in the case and defined
circumstantial evidence. He told the
jury they must either bring in verdict
Of mot guilty" or guilty of murder
in first degree" and that they might
make a recommendation for mercy.
Within twenty minutes the jury re-
turned and announced its verdict.
Throughout the whole trial Williams
was unconcerned and did not appear to