The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-21
STATE EXPECTS TO
PLAY STRONG CARD
AGAINST OAKLEY
THIS MORNING
CONTINUED From Page one)

be misconstrued for saying that capital
punishment should be abolished, for while
| know it will not do me any good it
might keep some other man from going
to the gallows for crime of which he
is innocent
81 have tried to make my peace with
my Maker In fact. l have read every
chapter of the Bible and / want to say
that every chapter shows conclusively
that every man should be Christian and
live a decent life. My regret is to leave
my wife and children legacy of felon S
DEATH"
| While Arthur Jones was talking his
| brother who is confined in the same CELL
was a silent but seemingly interested lis
| tener. When asked if he cared to say
anything. he replied:
Not a word
I Watson is confined in an opposite cell
and had viewed with some interest the
proceedings.
Watson Talks
| "I have made my peace with the Lord"
was his greeting Every day since 1
have been in jail have been down on
my knees and prayed for my wife and
children first, and then for myself. l am
innocent of the crime for which I was
| convicted and IL given further time L
| have no doubt l could prove my inno-
cence. / have confidence in my friends
and relatives and believe that l will be.
given a chance. However, If | am to die
| know that / will go to my Savior, who
has been my refuge and mainstay while
/ | have been in Jail and | don't think
| He will desert me now. 1 have wife
and two sweet babies who need me and
God knows what will become of them
should I be taken away. | have re-
| ceived the kindest treatement at the
hands of the sheriff and his deputies while
have been in jail. That is all
| Early this morning the Rev. Mr.. Haynes
of the Church of God will administer
| spiritual consolation and baptize Arthur
Jones. Watson has already been bap-
| tized and is a member of the same
| church.
| All preparations for the double execu-
| ton have been made by the sheriff. The
| gallows has been erected. 1t was at first
decided to hang both men together. but
at the request of Jones the execution
will be made separately. As Jones was
| the first man convicted of the crime for
which they are to pay the penalty he
| will be hanged a II o'clock. 1t was esti-
mated that 1t will be noon before Wat
| son will ascend the gallows.
Attorneys Talk
| Julius Davidson and Judge N. B. Fea-
1
| hour last night where they had gone
| to make a last appeal to Governor o Neal
| to reprieve or respite VIII Watson.
| 1--WE were much disappointed and sur
prised at the failure of the large num-
/ Der of letters and te>egrams and Pc
tition. signed by 1900 or more citizens
| of Jefferson county to influence the gov
| ernor to reprieve VIII watson was the
| ioint statement of both attorneys. THE
! only thing that can be done to save the
| life of this man whom we believe to be
| innocent. is for the people of Jefferson
| county who feel as we do to send tele-
grams to the governor asking at least
| respite in order to give us the oppor-
| tunity to show the character of the tes-
| timony on which this man was convicted.
"Watson has borne most excellent
| character and has not been convicted of
| anv offense against the laws of the state.
| No greater number of persons have ever
Voluntarily offered their services to save
anv life than has been made to save
that of Will Watson.
1--WE can only ask that all those who
feel sufficiently interested will send
telegram Immediately to the governor
asking clemency."