The Indianapolis times., 1931-12-03
DOOMED YOUTH
CLINGS TO HOPE
Continued from Page u


he did not believe he would die in
the chair
Something will save me-" he sid.
ut won't be my age. 1t will be be-
cause I was drunk"
There was more hope than con-
viction in his voice.
Il
DUT it is because Americans
~ cringe at the thought Of a IT.
year-old boy, his birthday just
passed, dying in the electric chair
that letters and kilograms have
come from all over the nation, urg-
ing that his sentence be commuted.
One petition taken before the
state board of pardon and parole Oy
Attorney B. ]. Knight bore 5000
names. The board declined to in
terfere. On itc decision the Gov
ernor based his refusal.
At Rockford, where Russell con-
fessed he shot and killed motor
man William Sayles "a, after hold
ing up and robbing him and seven
passengers on his street car the
night of Aug. 20, most people be-
lieve the sentence should be carried
out.
His father and his mother, Mr..
and Mrs. Robert McWilliamS. are
clinging to hope.
He was always a good boy" Rus
sells mother Sobbed when she heard
that the Governor had turned down
the plea for communication. "It was
the liquor that made him do it,"
d USSELL McWILLIANIS' boy
Az hood and his teen years had
no reason why he should be facing
death for murder. The tall, light
haired, friendly chap does not look
like murderer. Only his close
clipped hair and his prison garb
mark him from thousands of boys
Of high school age.
He was one of the last group of
prisoners to have his hair clipped.
They no longer shave prisoners
heads at Joliet.
Russell was born at Exline, Ia,
he moved to Rockford with his
parents and his brother Theodore,
five years ago. The family lived in
a modest home on the outskirts of
Rockford. Russell did not do par
ticularly well in school. He quit
when he was 13, while in the
seventh grade. He twice had failed
to pass.
But his reason for leaving school
was understandable at least to his
parents. He was moro interested in
working around machinery. He
could take apart any piece of ma
chinery.
Russell wanted to earn his own
money, He went to work for the
Chapel brothers meat packing
plant. Out of his earnings he
bought roadster, collie dog, and
collegiate clothes. He had a good
time with his friends, boys and girls,
and worked steadily.
"T HAD nothing wrong at home
4 at ALL" the youth said, remi-
niscing in his cell. my parents
treated me all right. I got along
with other people. I had plenty of
friends.
i went to the movies lot. I
like wild west pictures. Then I
fooled around with guns and my
car. 1 could lie around all day in
grease under a car. I was cut out
for mechanic all right. I don't
blame any one for the jam I'm in.
I blame myself and the liquor"
On Saturday, Aug. %, this youth,
who apparently had everything a
boy would want or expect, within
reason, started out from home with
a revolver in one pocket and a pint
of grain alcohol in another.
He had drawn his $40 pay check
that day. He drank the alcohol
and drove to a street car line.
When the car stopped, he boarded
it, held up and robbed those aboard
it.
n n
IT HARDLY could see what I was
4 doing. I thought the motorman
made a pass at me-" he says. st
thought fired once. They said in
court that I shot five times. Then
I jumped off and got in my car. It
wouldn't start so I forced a couple
to drive me to Freeport. They
caught me there"
Russell confessed. Witnesses were
heard by Judge Fisher and then he
pronounced the death sentence.
do want t. die?" he says. "Of
course not. I'd rather do life in
prison, although I'm not afraid to
die if I have to. I hope they do a
good job of it if I have to go.
Meanwhile, In going to sleep all
can and read the Bible a lady
sent me. That seems to helm. Il