The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-03
ROBERTS BOYS
TO HANG FOR
WYMAN CRIME
State Supreme Court Up
holds Verdict of Lower
Court in the Case.
STAR WITNESS IS
NOT ASTONISHED
Elder Mitchell Says He Was
Satisfied They Would Be
Hung For Murder.

For the murder of Peter Wyman
and wife in early part of 1915, Percy,
James and Brady Roberts, white, in
the county Jail at Milton, viii be exc
cuted, unless the governor changes
their sentence from death to life i'm
prisonment. The appeal which was
taken to the Florida supreme court
was passed upon yesterday, and the
verdict Of the lower court is sustain
ed. That means that three white
men viii be executed in Santa Rosa
county and the final chapter of one
OF the most heinous crimes in the
states history will be written.
The supreme court passed upon the
case Wednesday. In due time the
governor will set day for the triple
execution, and Sheriff Harvell Of
Santa Rosa county viii be called upon
70 send the souls Of the three cul-
prits into eternity.
Mitchell is interested.
ness in the case of the Roberts broth
ers, who are in Jail at Milton, was told
yesterday while in the Escanbia Jail
that the state supreme court had up
held the verdict of the lower court
in the case against the three broth
ers, and that in the course Of events,
unless executive clemency is extended,
they would be hung.
"Just What | Expected"
"Well, It's nothing more than ex-
pected," said Mitchell, standing be-
hind the bars. "Those boys killed
the old people; they know they done
it, and if they hang, it will be moth
ing less than expected would be
done to them"
Mitchell is the witness who is also
under indictment for murder, but who
has never been tried because the
state has used him as star witness.
He appeared greatly interested in the
information from Tallahassee that
the supreme court had passed upon
the appeal Of the three young men.
You people know that l was not
there when the old people was killed.
And, another thing, I sure did not
/ know what the boys were about when
we started out for the house. You
{ see, after I seen the gun, they made
/ me afraid. Yes, it was time when
I had the rabbit BAD, and you know
I stayed away from the house, Yes
/ heard the guns shoot, and believe
the boys killed the old people, but I
/ did not help. have been in here for
/ fourteen months; wonder when I'm
| to get out"
| Asked If he wanted to go to Milton
TO see the execution, Mitchell ans
wered without hesitation; 'rWhy, yes;
/ / would not mind it. Sure III go if I
( am allowed"
Case of Roberts Boye.
The case Of the Roberts brothers
was passed on yesterday by the Flor
ida supreme court, and the verdict Of
the lower court was affirmed. The
brothers, James, Brady and Percy
have been sentenced TO death BIZ
4 Judge A. q. Campbell, tollowln e
their conviction at special term Of
the circuit court at Milton in July
1915. At the following regular term
Of the court, the three brothers, with
the addition Of James Barbara, were
tried and convicted Of murder, with a
recommendation for mercy. This
means a life Imprisonment for them.
Of course the Roberts boys, who
are under the death sentence, viii suf-
fer the death penalty, unless pardoned
by the governor. Barbara Of course
win spend the balance Of his lie be
hind the bars, or, rather, in the state
convict camps.
The Roberts boys were convicted Of
numbering Peter Wyman and wife
an aged couple who were here be