ie oritginally entered a plea of puilty, but, on advice of counsel, he
changed the plea to not guilty and this was done in:thr presence of
the prospective jury panel, At the trial, he repudiated the confess~
ion, claiming that it had been obtained through violence and intimi-
dation, but it was allowed in evidence against him and he was convict-
ed and sentenced to die, The convictionwas affirmed by the Pennsyl-
vania Supreme Court on appeal and the United States Supreme Court de-
nied a WKXEMXSX certiorari, On December 8, 19117, he was electrocuted
at the Pennsylvania State Prison, He made no special request for a
last meal, eating the regular prison fare, and he went to his death
gfalmly,
PRILADELPHIA INCUIRER, Philadelphia, Pa,, Becember 8, 19,7
53 ATLANTIC 92nd) 96; 68 SUPREME COURT LO)
He originally entered a plea of puilty, but, on advice of counsel, he
changed the plea to not guilty and this was done in:the presence of
the prospective jury panel. At the trial, he repudiated the confess-
ion, claiming that it had been obtained through violence and intimi-
dation, but it was allowed in evidence against him and he was convict-
ed and sentenced to die, ,The convictionwas affirmed by the Pennsyl-
vania Supreme Court on appeal and the United States Supreme Court de~
nied a HKXHKXHK certiorari, On December 8, 197, he was electrocuted
at the Pennsylvania State Prison, He made no special request for a
last meal, eating the regular prison fare, and he went to his death
éalmly,
PHILADELPHIA INCUIRER, Philadelphia, Pa., December 8, 1917
53 ATLANTIC 92nd) 96; 68 SUPREME COURT LO),
He ortginally entered a plea of guilty, but, on advice of counsel, he
changed the plea to not guilty and this was done in-thr presence of
the prospective jury panel. At the trial, he repudiated the confess-
ion, claiming that it had been obtained through violence and intimi-
dation, but it was allowed in evidence against him and he was convict-
ed and sentenced to die, The convictionwas affirmed by the Pennsyl-
yania Supreme Court on appeal and the United States Supreme Court de-
nied a HKXKMXMX certiorari, On December 8, 197, he was electrocuted
at the Pennsylvania State Prison, He made no special request for a
last meal, eating the regular prison fare, and he went to his death
éalmly,
PEILADELPHIA INCUIRER, Philadelphia, Pa,, Becember 8, 1917
53 ATLANTIC 92nd) 963 68 SUPREME COURT .10),
‘Minami most, mztainy Payy Pear 8, k7
IEE vent) ay" 6S aoe oe a
CHAVIS, William
Chavis, alias Wilburn Chambers, was a 2l-year-old black man who was
released on parole from the Eastern Pennsylvania Prison an December,
1915, after having served 24 years for rape. ,He returned to the home
which he shared with his aunt at 66 East Sharpnack St., Philadelphia,
and ebtained employment as a pinboy in AXMHHX the Johnny Dykes Bowling
Alley where he sometimes slept at night. Shortly after midnight on
the morning of May 11, 196, after having previously armed himself
with an 18 inch length of lead pigle which he had stolen from a junk ,
yard, he crept up behind Francis Erhard, a 2li-year-old white veteran
and student at the University of Pennsylvania, who was returning to
his home at 5521 Morris St, after having left a train at the Chelten
Ave. station of the Chestnut Hill branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
and struck him over the head, Knocking him to the ground and taking
his wallet, Chavis fled while Erhard managed to stagger home and re-
port the assault and robbery to his family, Erhard diedk shortly
afterwards and the pipe was found near the scene of the attack while
Erhard's wallet was found in a restaurant three blocks away. Chavis
was arrested while sleeping in the bowling alley on June 12 and the
next day he made a complete confession after breaking down and crying —
during the interrogation, He a&so accompanied officers, to the scene
fe) robber uy eee i
CHAVIS, William W
Chavis, alias Wilburn Chambers, was a 21-year-old black man who was
released on parole from the Eastern Pennsylvania Prison tin December,
195, after having served 24 years for rape. ,He returned to the home
which he shared with his aunt at 66 East Sharpnack St., Philadelphia,
and ebtained employment as a pinboy in AXM#HX the Johnny Dykes Bowling
Alley where he sometimes slept at night. Shortly after midnight on
the morning of May 11, 1946, after having previously armed himself
with an 18 inch length of Lead pig which he had stolen from a junk.
yard, he crept up behind Francis Erhard, a 2li-year-old white veteran
and student at the University .of Pennsylvania, who was returning to
his home at 5521 Morris St, after having left a train at the Chelten
Ave, station of the Chestnut Hill branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
and struck him over the head, Knocking him to the ground and taking
his wallet, Chavis fled while Erhard managed to stagger home and re-
port the assault and robbery to his family, Erhard diedk shortly
afterwards and the pipe was found near the scene of the attack while
Erhard's wallet was found in a restaurant three blocks away. Chavis
was arrested while sleeping in the bowling alley on June 12 and the
next day he made a complete confession after breaking down and crying
during the interrogation, He akso accompanied officers, to the scene
° ; robber Kt Ts is
CHAVIS, William Vv.
Chavis, alias Wilburn Chambers, was a 2uyeer sols black man who was
released on parole from the Eastern Pen
195, after having served 2} years for ae bier returned to the home
vhich he shared with his aunt at 66 East Sharpnack St., Philadelphia,
and ebtained employment as a pinboy in
and student at the University of Pemeylvania, who was returning to
his home at 5521 Morris St, after having left a train at the chelten
Ave, station of the Chestnut Hill branch of the Pennsylvania Railroa
and struck him over the head, linocking him to the ground and taking
his wallet. Chavis fled while Erhard managed to stagger home and re-
port the assault and robbery to his family, Erhard diedt shortly
afterwards and the pipe was found near the scene of the attack while
Erherd!s wallet vas found : in,a restaurant, three blocks aways, Chawis
was arrested vhile slee in the alley on June 1B. and the
next day he made a comp, ete conc ee sion after pace een down ene erying
Bee (ii Beast ait Wo Te Semana 8, to
robbery
tay es ieee orig
