The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-04-10
SPEEDY JUSTICE
In HAMILTON
Will Washington Sentenced
for Murder While Crime Was
Still Being Discussed.
GEN. CHAMLEE TALKS

| The speedy way the courts Law,
acted~in Hamilton county has pre-.
vented the mob law spirit from being
shown here in any way afor years
and despite the fact tina some crue
and cold -blooded murders have beer
committed the law has been allowed
to assume its course. One OF the
eases cited as proof OF this TACT Is
That or Will Washington, colored. who
was convicted and sentenced to die
Tor the murder of o. j. Carlson be-
Tore the crime had ceased TO be dis
cussed about the streets. Gen.
George w. Chamlee, in discussing
and reviewing the Washington case
Saturday morning. said
Q. J.. Carlson was murdered about
july ~, 1919. at his home on the
body was taken rom his home a dis
lance OF about two miles and thrown
over the bluff
Mr.. Carlson had previously purchased
watch In Chattanooga and owned an
automobile.
win Washington was arrested the
week following Carlson's death, while
In Louisville. KY, trying to dispose OF
me automobile, and Carson's watch
was found in pawn shop In Chatta-
iiOOkus MitIe w WASHINGTON mad DlntR0d
1t for SIS.
Washington previously owned an au-
tomobile himself and had gotten bnl
Tor Sl.75 repairs done on II by Hassler
Brother OF Chattanooga, Tenn. Wash
lngton told me he took this bill for
repairs which Hassler Bros. had given
to him and wrote out n bin OF sale
Tor an automobile and forged sigma
lure on II TO cover up the larceny of
the automobile
washington was tried and the Jury
Imposed the death penalty and soon
thereafter and before the time to hear
the motion for n new trial Washing
ton made confession to Judge Me-
Reynolds. and day or two later con-
fessed 10 me, that he was In n party
as he described 1t OF flour, who had
and rob him of his money.
washington said that he was pres
ent with the party who called Mr. Carl
son to the door and shot him In the
head and killed him, that they then
TOOK ms watch. money and automobile,
and Washington brought the watch and
automobile 10 Chattanooga and then
went on TO Kentucky. Washington do
MED all knowledge of and connection
with the killing while he was on trial.
Insisted that one Boyd had given him
the automobile; denied that he had seen
the watch; insisted that he was not on
signal mountain near that time, and In
general that he was not guilty,
AFTER having been convicted and tho
death penalty staring him In the face
and all hope of escape by legal means
seeming to have slipped away, he made
q confession, describing in detail how
this murder was committed and that he
had then fled from this part of the
I'VE requested the governor To re-
spite him until the trial of one OF the
parties that he claimed was implicated
In the crime.
The trial is now over and we do not
that ] know of.
=, THE murder was cold blooded, de- |
iberate and wicked This man admits !
That he was present aiding and abettlng |
md ready to assist In the robbery when !
Carlson was shot
He has been ~tred In the manner
provided by law, before n jury of hi.
county and convicted
THE Judgment pronounced was no
Ioording to the forms of the laws in
his state
mo appeal was taken because tho
defendant admitted his guilt. and that
vas before the court on >the motion
or n new trial.
., MT. Carlson was a respected citizen
u this county and had accumulated n
Iome and some money. and his murder
vas n shock to tho community.
MOD law and mob violence has been
uDdued ny the quick and swift enforce
1ent of the criminal laws
Human life has become the cheapest
hing with certain classes of men that
nd its quick and severe pennltles' md
he deterrent effect thereof, are thg
lost potent arguments for the pre-
ention of crime"