The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-14
Most Drastic of Murder
Trials Brought to
a Close.
BROTHERS MUST
EXPIATE THE CRIME
Bob Blackwell Pleaded That
His Wife Be Also Sen
fenced With Him.
By Thomas Ewing Dabney,

CrestvleW, July 13.-Friday,
the thirteenth, will be forever
memorable in Crestview-no
matter in what month it falls,
Friday the thirteenth may we'll
be considered an anniversary.
For on Friday the thirteenth,
the stain of the blacklist crime in
Florida, blacker because longer
premeditated than the Wyman
murder, by which it was suggest-
ed, anG one of the blacklist in
me criminal annals of the United
States, was wiped from the
scItcheon of Okaloosa county,
with the conviction of Win and
Bob Blackwell of the murder of
Bud and Nancy Davis on the
night of March 81, last, and
warning was hung up on Friday
the thirteenth, that will make life
safer in West Florida.
The jury was out three hours; the
first ballot was unanimous for con-
vietion, but two members were in
favor of recommending mercy for
Bob Blackwell, the man WHO, though
equally guilty with his brother, was
led by him into the crime, and whose
heroic little wife has won the hearts
of all.
Both the prosecution and the de-
tense asked for conviction in the first
degree or an acquitNl-neither side
wanted life imprisonment.
Will Blackwell still affairms that
he is the victim of a political con-
spiracy. Asked why he had not prov
ed his charges when he was given the
opportunity on the witness stand, he
said that he was afraid.
"Tm well satisfied with the ver-
dict" said he ''It viii at least feng-
then our lives a year or so, because
we will take this to the supreme court
and maybe get change of venue. Had
we been acquitted we would not have
lasted three minutes"
Bob Blackwell, however, does not
think there would have been any mob
violence, and in this he is expressing
the opinion Of everybody l have talk
ed with.
The verdict was a surprise to no
one. As a darker crime can not be
found in criminal annals, so would
it be hard to find one in which the
evidence was clearer.
81 lays " appeal
Motion for a new trial was denied
and the defendants were allowed sew
enty-five days in which to present
their bill of exceptions to the supreme
court.
Asked by Judge Campbell if there
was anything he desired to say be-
fore sentence was pronounced, Will
Blackwell rose and declaring anew
that he was being dragged to the gal
lows by some political juggernaut
said, 81 will go into eternity an in
nocent man. My blood will be on the
hands of those who have found me
guilty. May God have mercy on their
souls.
Says He Is Innocent.
LAS for myself, | don't much cav
what becomes of me! | wouldn't live
| long, anyway, five years at the out.
set, and I haven't anything to live
/ for. But am sorry for my brother
He has his dear wife"
Bob Blackwell rose in his turn anc
said, 81 am innocent. l have some
thing to live for-my wife, | DOM
mind parting from my dear father 81
much, but l do mind leaving thi'
child" and he turned towards hi
wife.
81 am very sorry" Bob continues
simply, that you can't impose tn
same sentence c1~- Shat you hav
on me, that we both might die to
gether, happy, as we have lived"
Bob was strongly moved. as wa
everybody in the court room.
Judge Campbell pronounced tn
sentence of death, and for the frs
time since the trial. the little wifi
wept-not audibly, hut the terribl
silent tears. But let the curtain
, drop.
The Last Chapter.
Resuming the discussion cS/circum
stantial evidence, where he left of
, last night, Mr.. Stokes declared tina
t we'll connected chain of circum
, stances testified to by thirty or fort
witnesses is stronger and more rel
able evidence than the testimony G
? two or three who say they saw tn
= deed" That mistakes have been mad
t on circumstantial evidence, is tru'
$ but then mistakes have been made O
direct evidence as we'll; one, two, {
three people might lie. their sense
might even deceive them, but whe
: the testimony of scores dovetaile,
> when incident fitted into incident liz
e the works of a watch, there could /
II no question.
(, The Best Evidence.
VI IF only direct evidence were admi
<, sible, said Mr.. Stokes. what erin
e would be punished? The man wi
Continued on Page Two.)