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Walter X. Williams at I^arg^e— Judge Warrrn Keleases Him on a $0 OOO llond-Oar readers certainly have not yet forgotten the terrible tragedy which took place near the city on the night of the 17th of July last. It was the assassination of Mrs. Brocket in which three miserable wretches, yclept men played different parts. The three men were Walter T. Williams, John Williams and Robt. Durham. The murder was arranged by Walter Williams, who paid his brother John and ltobt Durham, after plying them with mean whiskey, to go to the humble log cabin of the widow Brockett and take her life. He, Walter, then goes to a neighbor's house and spends the night in order to prove an alibi before the coroner’s jury which he knew was inevitable. Durham and John Williams went to Mrs. Brockett’a house, saw her lying on the floor, with her little child beside her, when Durham fired the contents of the gun, buck and small shot, into the victim killing her almost instantly and wounding the child. Such in biief are the facts under the teBti-. mony. The men were all arrested 2 weeks af|jr the murder, and all waived a commitment trial and went to jail.Learned, able and eloquent legal counsel were employed by the Williams Brothers, and Judge Fleming called an extra term of the Superior Court last August to try them. After several days it was decided to try John VViUiams alone. For over a week we may say the trial raged with a fmy seldom known. Delav seemed the policy of the deience and immediate trial that of the prosecution. However, Williams went to trial, and the jury returned a verdict by a vote of 8 to 4 of imprisonment for life. Sentence was passed counsel appealed to the Supreme Court where the case now stands unreached, and John Williams has beeu in jail here ever since awaiting their decission. Bail had never been asked in a crime so shocking, and the other prisoners were glad to wait in durance vile the trial of their crime.In the meantime the lamented Judge Fleming died, and Judge Warren, a confirmed in valid was appointed in liis stead, hence the other trials have never been proceeded with. The counsel for Williams, however, were never idle—always at work. So they asked Judge B’arren to turn Walter T. Williams oat under bond, and to fix his bail. This the Judge contented to do, and did do, fixing the amount ox bail at $6-000! Our.commuuity were startled, shocked, stupified when this announcement was made. Six thousand dollars bail for the instigator of one of the most foul, bloody, inexcusable and damnable assassinations tbat ever stained the records of crime!Last Tnedsay the bond was given to the Sheri ffand be at once set the prisoner tree. Autl here are the names, of those composing the bond :Mrs. Eliza Williams, Wife of Pnsouei.Miss Teua Donlson, Sister-in-law of Prisoner.Mr. Robert Donalson, Brother-in-law of Prisoner.Mr. 8. J. Donalson, relative of Prisoner’s wife.Mr. Alfred FarnelL ir. M. L. Jones.We have heard it freely stated that the bond was one of “st'aw,” besides not legal. Of this we are not now prepared to say.The community, however, feei tbat they have been outraged; and we believe that Williams’ liberation will add a great impetus to crime in this county. These Brockett murderers have already cost the conuty many , thousand dollars. And what the end will be, God alone o*n tell.
Newspaper Details
Bainbridge Democrat
Bainbridge, Georgia, US
Thu, Jun 22, 1882
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 25 Aug 2024
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