The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-16

Bill Wilson of the murder of his wife several years ago.
 And it is very likely Bill Wilson's rep resentative in the house of representa- tives will sponsor the bill, although this information does not come from the Blount legislator. Representative Adams was behind the bill which appropriated s350O for "the relief of Bill Wilson, this money being compensation for the three years Wilson spent in state prisons, en- during the hardships, suffering the hunil- iation that comes from confinement; he did not commit, and a crime which almost cost him his life.
 One of the most widely known men in Blount county, a former judge and a man who took interest in Bill Will son, was in to see the governor seN- eral days ago. The judge plans to draw up a bill which will take from the juries in Alabama the power of sen- tencing a person to death on circum- stantial evidence.
 Circumstantial evidence was produc- ed at the trial several years ago of Bill Wilson, then coal miner. Blount county citizens know the evidence that convicted Wilson of murder and they are said to be using this case as ar gument against the death sentence be- ing imposed when circumstantial evil dence is produced. The bill of the Blount county judge will permit the sentence of life only on circumstan- tial evidence
 Wilson came before the court E1ain- taining as strongly as possible that he was innocent of wife-murder. Clever officers. however, wove about the man a strong case. They produced the bones of & human being found near the little Wilson home in Blount coun- ty after the wife had mysteriously disappeared months and months ago. Added to this there were other cir- cum stances.
 Wilson defended himself as best he could. He employed legal talent of the best in that neighborhood. But the charge was first degree murder and public sentiment is said to have been against the man. Developments prov ed that Bill Wilson was just as much in the dark as to the whereabouts of his wife as the neighbors were when she disappeared.
 The jury debated the case when the circumstantial evidence was in. Some considered hanging Wilson for murder. Deliberations. however. resulted in the life sentence, and the imposition of such a sentence gave the state and
 
 the facts.
 But suppose Bill Wilson had died on the gallowss for the murder of his wife" exclaimed Judge J. F. Kelton, former probate judge of B1ount county, and man who has had charge of the Wilson case these many years.
 More than three years passed. and Wilson worked in the lumber mills of the state, serving the state government without pay.
 During the time Mrs. Wilson was in the west, unmindful of the fate of her husband. One day last year Mrs. Will son came back to Alabama and back to Blount county. There she learned of the act of the court. She explained the sudden disappearance, and Gov. Charles Henderson granted Wilson a pardon.
 Judge Kelton is sure that the jury in Blount county discussed the ques tion of hanging Bill Wilson. The yer dict could be nothing but death, life inn prisonment or liberty for Wilson.
 Wilson is telling story of being severely whipped while serving the state. Scars still are on his lower limbs, each indicating the use of the heavy strap alleged to be used often in Alabama's prisons
 The last three months Wilson be- came afflicted with pellagra. This, he says, took away all desire to work and his days were made miserable, he says, once this disease had a hold on him. His work did not satisfy the prison guards. and the whipping resulted.
 There appears to be no doubt but that the Bill Wilson case will be the beginning of agitation against imposf- tion of death sentence on circumstan- tia1 evidence in Alabama.