The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-29
|DLACKWELlS HAPPY
lover PROSPECTS OF.
Al D Their HEAR|NG.

VIII and Robert Blackwell, held in |
the Escambia county Jail, when in
formed by Deputy Hartsfleld that the |
supreme court had given them new |
trial, were hilariously happy. Will
Blackwell could not keep from remind
ing those near him that his predictions
were coming true, and that not only
would they be gwen u new trial. but
eventually they would walk forth free
men, exonerated of the killing Of the
aged Davis couple, in the southern part
| Of Okaloosa county
VIII Blackwell has never lost hope,
and when it became known that the
| supreme court was about to pass on
| his case, he prepared a statement for
the press, which is printed below. That
| they will get a new trial was decided
| by the supreme court, and one Of the
reasons for granting the trial is that
| they were refused a change of venue
when such motion was presented in due
form. This indicates that they will
either be tried in Jackson, Walton, Bay
! or Escambia county, as it is claimed
| they will still press their request for
change of venue if the cases are set for
Santa Rosa county. 1t is claimed that
/ that county, which was once the same
| territory, or part Of the same enDrac-l
/ ing Okaloosa county, will not guaran-
tee a fair and impartial trial, although
there are people in Santa Rosa who
are not familiar with the case Of the
Blackwells.
| MY predictions are coming true,
/ every one OF them" said VIII, when
told that they would be given the op-
portunity of a new hearing. II Always
said that we would never be held for
the charge which was against us, and
that the conviction would never stand"
| he said.
Sheriff Van Pelt was highly inter-
| ested in the news from Tallahassee.
He was at home when Deputy Harris
| field informed him of The Journals
special, and said that he was surprised,
as he thought that the conviction
would stand. He followed the trial
closely, and thought that 1T was free of
error. The sheriff was custodian of
the two brothers when they made their
famous getaway in the height Of one
of the worst storms ever felt by Inis
place. While the wind howled at about
a 90-mile rate, one, or both OF the
brothers, aided, it was afterward
shown, by white man named Phelps.
cut bars on the south side of the
county Jail and succeeded in getrlng
l-away, going as far as Clarke county,
alabama, before they were finally ap-
pretended. Sheriff. Van Pelt was
present when they were recaptured,
and it was stated at that time that
one of the Blackwe1ls told him that
they would never suffer for the convic-
ton, as it would never stand. VIII
Blackwell always stated that there
were gross errors throughout the trial,
and that this feature was one which
| they depended on in a great measure
to get a new trial. First of all, he said,
he would make change of lawyers.
| A written statement was prepared by
THE boys in the county jail, part OF
(which is as follows:
Statement of Brothers
| Will Blackwell said there would be
many changes made in the case be-
tween now and the next trial One OF
the first changes to be made. he said,
is that one lawyer will fall from
the rank of chief counsel. 1t will
be remembered that there has been
wide difference of opinion between
Twill Blackwell and one attorney since
long before his trial, but 1t was not
definitely known what the real differ
ence was.
81 have always believed that if my
attorneys had done their duty by me-
I would have won this case on point
of law, The next man who handles
shrewd, skillful lawyer of 100 per cent
efficiency" said Will Blackwell.
Both of the brothers appeared very
| optimistic and expressed themselves
as being in favor of an early trial.
There were many manifest errors
and other serious mistakes which
crept into the case when on trial be-
fore that were never taken advantage
of by objections and exceptions. We
expect to contest every inch OF the
ground next time, and will meet and
overcome the prosecution on their own
grounds continued Will.
| In Good Spirits
Will Blackwell has always appeared
to be in the best of spirits and has re-
peatedly remarked that he would
never be hanged. He said in the be-
ginning that a conviction on the evil
| dence in this case would never stand
and that he would be a free man In
| less than two years. Thus FAR he mas
made good his predictions He SAYS
The is now an innocent man. as in the
eyes of the law, he is clothed with the
presumption of innocence and such
presumption will remain with him and
operate as evidence in his favor until
he has again been proven guilty ana
bevond a reasonable doubt.
When Judge A. G. Campbell SEN
fenced him to be hanged he calmly
smiled and remarked to friends that
he would never hang. The cool calm
and deliberate attitude he has main
| tanned throughout the case has won
for him many admirers and has been
a subject of comment throughout the
state He is a man of most pleasing
and entertaining personality and when
visited at the jail. though behind
prison bars, he tries to make his
friends feel easy.
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