and the body wis found two days later, ‘Wiles was taken into custody
that night and after first attempting to implicate two other men, he
finally confessed that he alone was responsible, He said that when
they reached the deserted house, the boy became frightened and showed
fight ang nee he had then killed him, He had ‘become a Suspect when | an
Though there was no real threat of mob violence, he was, at the direc-
tions of the Governor, taken to the State Prison for safekeeping until
his trial which was held on January 13, Convicted by a jury which de-
liberated for only a few minutes, there was no appeal and he was elec=
trocuted at the South Carolina State Prison on March 12, 193h, He
went to his death calmly, admitting his guilt again after being seated
in the chair and singing a hymn until the current was applied,
KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL, Knoxville, Tenn., 12-26-1933
COLUMBIA STATE, Columbia, So Oey Mar, 11, March 12, March 13, 193h
and the body was found two days later, Wiles was taken into custody
that night and after first attempting to implicate two other men, he
finally confessed that he alone was responsible, He said that when
they reached the deserted house, the boy became frightened and showed
fight and that he had then killed him, He had become a suspect when an
acquaintance informed police that he had seen Harris ride off with hin,]
Though there was no real threat of mob violence, he was, at the direc-
tions of the Governor, taken to the State Prison for safekeeping until
his trial which was held on January 13, Convicted by a jury which de-
liberated for only a few minutes, there was no appeal and he was elec=
trocuted at the South Carolina State Prison on March 12, 193), He
went to his death calmly, admitting his guilt again after being seated
in the chair and singing a hymn until the current was applied.
KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL, Knoxville, Tenn,, 12-26-1933
COLUMBIA STATE, Columbia, S, C., Mar, 11, March 12, March 13, 193)
and the body wis found two days later, ‘Wiles was taken into custody
that night and after first attempting to implicate two other men, he
finally confessed that he alone was responsible, He said that when
they reached the deserted house, the boy became frightened and showed
fight and that he had then killed him, He had become a suspect: when ar
acquaintance informed police that he had seen Harris ride off with hin,
Though there was no real threat of mob violence, he was, at the direc-
tions of the Governor, taken to the State Prison for safekeeping until
his trial which was held on January 13, Convicted by a jury wnich de-
liberated for only a few minutes, there was no appeal and he was elec=
trocuted at the South Carolina State Prison on March 12, 193}
went to his death calmly, admitting his guilt again after bei
in the chair and singing a hymn until the current was applied,
KNOXVILLE NBYS-SENTINEL, Knoxville, Tenn,, 12-26-1933
COLUMBIA STATE, Columbia, S, C., Mar. 11, March 12, March 13, 193)
le tas aia!
WILES, Robert
Wiles, a l9-year-old white native of Columbia, S. C., was an automo~*
bile mechanic who had worked during World War I as a civilian emp Loyee
with the Motor Transportation Division, In 1925, his wife left him
with a man named Gordon, t aking their two daughters with her, He
followed them to Durham, N. Ce, and there shot and killed both of
them. At his trial, he contended that the Slaying of his wife had
been accidental when she threw herself in front of Gordon at whom he
was shooting, Acquitted, he returned to Columbia as a celebrity for
his protection of his home under the so-called unsritten law, In
Dece, 1933, he was unemphoyed and he plotted the kidnapping of Hubbard
H, Harris, Jr,, the son of a vice president of a chain of stores. On
the evening of Dec. 22 he telephoned the Harris house and asked the
boy's mother to have him meet him the next day at the Thrift shop to
do so¥work, giving a false name. The next morning, he borrowed an
automobile,a picked the KAXXH boy up and drove to a deserted house on
an old plantation about eleven miles from Columbia, There he bludgeon-
ed young Harris to death with an angle iron and concealed the body
under some cotton, Even though he never asked for the $1,000 ransom
which he had planned to seek, he did meet the pees father on the
streets that afternoon and wished hima "Merry Christmas." When
Hubbard did not return home that night, searching parties were formed
WILES, Robert
Wiles, a l9-year-old white native of Columbia, S. C., was an automo~°
bile mechanic who had worked during World War I as a civilian employee
with the Motor Transportation Division, In 1925, his wife left him
with a man named Gordon, t aking their two daughters with her, He
followed them to Durham, N. C., and there shot and killed both of
them, At his trial, he contended that the slaying of his wife had
been accidental when she threw herself in front of Gordon at whom he
was shooting. Acquitted, he returned to Columbia as a celebrity for
his protection of his home under the so-called unsritten law, In
Dece, 1933, he was unemphoyed and he plotted the kidnapping of Hubbard
H, Harris, Jr., the son of a vice president of a chain of stores. On
the evening of Dec. 22 he telephoned the Harris house and asked the
boy's mother to have him meet him the next day at the Thrift shop to
do soWwork, giving a false name, The next morning, he borrowed an
automobile,a picked the MEX boy up and drove to a deserted house on
an old plantation about eleven miles from Columbia, There he bludgeon-|
ed young Harris to death with an angle iron and concealed the body
under some cotton, Even though he never asked for the $1,000 ransom
which he had planned to seek, he did meet the pee father on the
streets that afternoon and wished hima "Merry istmas," When
Hubbard did not return home that night, searching parties were formed
WILES, Robert
Viles, a li9-year-old white native of Columbia, S, C., was an automo="
bile mechanic who had worked during World lar I as a civilian employee
with the Motor Transportation Division, In 1925, his wife left him
with a man named Gordon, t aking their two daughters with her,
followed them to Durham, N, C.
Acquitted, he returned to Columbia as a celebrity for
his protection of his home under the so-called unsritten law. In
Decs, 1933, he was unempboyed and he plotted the kidnapping of Hubbard
K, Harris, Jr., the son of a vice president of a chain of stores. On
the evening of Dec, 22 he telephoned the Harris house and asked the
boy's mother to have him meet him the next day at the Thrift shop to
do sovork, giving a false name, The next morning, he borrowed an
automobile,m picked the MAXX boy up and drove to a deserted house on
an old plantation about eleven miles from Columbia, There he bludgeon:
ed young Harris to death with an angle iron and concealed the bo:
under some cotton, Even though d for the §
which he had planned to
s'
Hul
Reet nates ecsrlare sr
