The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-31
YOUNG MANS FATE
RESTS WITH BOARD.
BOTH SIDES HEARD.
Serious Doubt Arises Over
business Of Verdict, VIII
sons Attorneys Claim
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU !
THE AGE-HERALD !
Montgomery. Ala. May 80 J


Governor Brandon established
precedent at the capitol Wedn sday
afternoon when he sat with the state
board OF pardons in the consideration
of the petition of Tom Wilson, SEN
fenced to be hanged in Limestone
county, June 8, for the murder of
Kirby Cole, who has requested the
Communication of the sentence to life
Imprisonment. Governor Brandon
and members of the board of par
dons heard arguments of r. b. Pat
ton of Athens and Roderick Beddow
or Birmingham in support of the petit
ton and of Fred Wall, solicitor of
Limestone county, in opposition.
Attorneys for Wilson contended
that serious doubt has arisen as to
the justice of the jury's verdict and
insisted that Wilson should not be
hanged in view of information that
he was in another county at the time
Cole was killed Solicitor Wall. argued
that positive evidence was submitted
to the jury in support of the states
theory that Cole was killed by a per-
son who fired from the back seat of
an automobile and that Wilson was
the person who fired the shot.
The board of pardons took the petit
ton under Amusement 1t will make
fore the governor gives any consid
Grafton to it.
Take Exception To Letter.
Declaring that We are not here
asking for one particle of mercy for
Tom wilson," Mr.. Patton in present.
ing an appeal for the man sentenced
to hang June for the murder Of
Kirby Cole, urged a curbing of 1.-The
liberties" of the press, and asserted
that letter printed in an Athens
paper had been edited by the dep
uty solicitor and made misleading.
The sentiment in Limestone coun-
ty at the time of the trial was such
that it was utterly and literally i'm
possible for Wilson to get a fair
trial. Mr.. Patton declared. was a
motion made for chance of
Davis asked and the lawyer replied
in the negative.
Mr.. Patton exhibited copies Of the
two Limestone county papers con-
tanning articles which were declare d
to be lnflammatory. Addressing Gov
elnor Brandon, he urged that action
be taken to curb the liberties of the
that statements deliberately mis-
leading had been printed, and as
serted that the liberties of the press
must be stopped where the defend
ants rights Begin
Mr.. Pattons remarks about the
press brought forth remarks from
Secretary of State S. H. Blan, who
stated that he had been a newspaper
man for 25 years. and that he knew
the two editors in Limestone county
referred to and did not believe that
either would deliberately seek to
mislead their readers on any subject.
Mr.. Patton replied that the state
ments, even il made with good intent,
jury.
Denies COmmercializatiOn.
Another interesting point was when
Mr.. Patton referred to, charges that
the defense was attempting to COM
mercialize the Wilson case. He stated
that he had personally hired one
man to ascertain the nature of pub
lie sentiment, as he put it, this as
certainment consisting of obtaining
signatures to a petition for Wilson s
parole. He further stated that sew
eral women, including his wife and
the wife of Mr.. Rankin of Athens,
another lawyer for the defendant,
timent among the good women Of
Athens, but denied any wholesale
commerce alization of the matter.
Mr.. Patton stated that Wilson con-
fessed to pulling Coles body from
the car and robbing it of either Is
or So cents. he did not recall which
amount. This confession was made
because Wilson was in jail in Hi
rois facing the probability of an
eIght-year sentence there, and was
told that he could get out of the case