Gilpin observer., 1914-06-25
WILLIAMS TRIAL CLOSES
IN GOLDEN THIS AFTERNOON
TAKING TESTIMONY MORNING AND PLEAS 70
JURY WILL HouRs-vERDIcr EXPECTED THIS
EvENNe-EvIDENcE RICH, RARE AND RAcx

! The trial of Dan Williams, the
Black Hawk citizen charged with hav-
ing killed three infants, the offspring
OF his daughter, Rossella, was com
menced in Golden Monday, to which
place a change of venue was taken
from Gilpin county. Much of the evil
dence given was very sensational and
some too salacious to print. 1t was
expected that the case would be CIV
en- to the jury last night, but owing
to the nOn-arrival of one of the wit
nesses from Black Hawk, the trial
will not be finished until today.
Judge H. S. Class heard the case,
the defense being in charge of Attor-
neys Chase Withrow and l.. ]. Will
ans, and the prosecution being con-
Quoted by District Attorney johnson.
Contrary to all expectations, a jury
was secured in a very short time,
less than three hours. Owing to the
seriousness of the charge, with
7, chance that capital punishment
might be the sentence in case of a
conviction, it was expected that near
ly all of Monday would be consume ed
| in securing a jury. The following
men made up the jury: Samuel Bow
ser, w. C. Bradley John Branger,
Frank Nolin. ]. T. Kennedy, George
Elsie, II. A. Brown, John DUNCAN,
George Brownson, Louis Drummer, J.
NJ. Compton, Chas. Crittendon.
1t had been expected, that on ac-
count of the sensational evidence
which might be produced. the case
would be tried behind closed doors.
but the trial was open, and the court
room was crowded with spectators.
The first witness called to the
stand was Joseph Walters, who lived
in the house formerly occupied by the
Williams family, and who found the
mummified bodies of the three in
fants- He testified that he found
them wrapped in quilts in the garret
of the house, having gone there to
seal up cracks in the weather board
ing. The three bodies were lying in
a heap, all of them wrapped up in
blankets or quilts.
| When Walters took the stand, the
district attorney ordered the remains
brought into the court room, and a
hush came over the crowded room
when the three tiny skeletons were
| PYnnSR6 fn xrta nna Of dc
was separated from the body.
Coroner Hamllik was called and
testified to the finding of the bodies
and their condition. Several women,
former lodge members with Rosella
Williams, testified as to the girls
condition at about the time of the al
legged crimes, their testimony COM
pleting the first days trial
! Other witnesses who took the
stand for the prosecution were Dr.
Ashbaugh, DR.. Froid, Charles Frost,
Charles Niccum. Alfred Skeels repre-
sented the Gilpin county grand jury
Miss Rosella Williams, the complain.
ing witness, took the stand, and in
unfaltering and almost brazen tones
told the jury that her father strangl-
ed her child as soon as it was born
and told her he would bury it She
also stated that her father was the
father of the child. She said that
he forced his attentions upon her at
the point of a gun.
| A number of neighbors of the Will
ans family testified as to the condi-
tion of Rosella at various times.
The witnesses for the defense went
on the stand Tuesday morning. and
concluded yesterday. when the testi-
mony in rebuttal was taken up.
| The defense did not attempt to
prove there had been no babies, but
evidently tried to show that the Will
ans girl had been intimate with 9TH
er men. and number OF names
prominent in Central and Black Hawk
were brought into the case.
Four half sisters and a half broth
er Of Rosella Williams appeared in
behalf of the defendant, and their
testimony was to the effect that their
sisters conduct with other men was
highly improper, but that the father
had been all that father should be
to all the girls. Rosella included.
Dan Williams. the defendant. took
the stand in his own behalf. He tes-
titled. that although he had been In
the house with his daughter. Rosella,
n great part Of the time. she being
In charge of the household, he had
never even suspected that she was to
have become mother or had become