Ti XINGTON HERALD, Lexington, Kentucky, March 22, 1913; March 18, 1913,
Crime was late on afternoon of 2-28, Williams had been employed by
Mrs. Moffett's husband, a prominent farmer near Troy for some time
and had been sent to the house on an errant, Attacked Mrs, Moffett
and when Mrs, Black, 80-years-old came to her resaee, he attacked her
also, Weapon was a rolling pinyon Mrs, Black and Mrs, Moffett beaten
with a steel frying pan, Leaving both women lying unconscidus on the
floor, he poured coal oil around, set fire to it, locked door and
fled, Made way cross-country to home at Deantown, just across line
in Jessamine County, <A neighbor saw flames coming from Mrs, Black's
house and rushed there, pulling both women from building. Mrs.
Moffett able to tell of attack while Mrs, Black died without regaining
consciousness, Moffett a miller, sent Williams to Black home for some
oil, Williams said to have been ‘practically raised by Mrs, Blacks
When he surrendered, he said KXXXX#X that he had accidentally s truck
Mrs, Moffett when he theww a ‘stick towards house while going for rope
as sent by Mr, Moffett, Denied killing either, Some reports said he
was 16, LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, Kye, 3-1519136
Subsequently stated that he attacked Mrs, Moffett when she rejected
a sexual proposition, LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, 3-2-1913.
Ti XINGTON HERALD, Lexington, Kentucky, March 22, 19133 March 18, 1913,
Crime was late on afternoon of 2-28, Williams had been employed by
Mrs. Moffett's husband, a prominent farmer near Troy for some time
and had been sent to the house on an errant, Attacked Mrs, Moffett
and when Mrs, Black, 80-years-old came to her resaee, he attacked her
also, Weapon was a rolling pinxyon Mrs. Black and Mrs. Moffett beaten
with a steel frying pan, Leaving both women lying unconscidus on the
floor, he poured coal oil around, set fire to it, locked door and
fled, Made way cross-country to home at Deantown, just across line
in Jessamine County. A neighbor saw flames coming from Mrs, Black's
house and rushed there,. pulling both women from building. Mrs»
Moffett able to tell of attack while Mrs, Black died without regaining
consciousness. Moffett a miller, scent Williams to Black home for some
oil, Williams said to have been "practically raised by Mrs, Black.
when he surrendered, he said KXXXKHR that he had accidentally s truck
Mrs, Moffett when he theww a‘stick towards house while going for rope
as sent by Mr, Moffett, Denied killing either, Some reports said he
was 16, LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, Kye, 31619136
Subsequently stated that he oeeacked Mrs, Moffett when she rejected
a sexual proposition. LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL, 3-2-1913.
IE XINGTON HERALD, Lexington, Kentucky, March 22, 1913; March 18, 1913,
Crime was late on afternoon of 2-28, Williams had been employed by
Hrs, Moffett's husband, a prominent farmer near Troy for some time
and had been sent to the house on an errant, Attacked Mrs, Moffett
and when Mrs, Black, 80-years-old came to her resuee, he attacked her
also, Weapon was a rolling pinyon Mrs, Black and Mrs, Moffett beaten
with a steel,frying pan, Leaving both women lying unconsciéus on the
joured coal oil around, set fire to it, locked door and
Made way cross-country to home at Deantown, just across line
4n Jessamine County. A neighbor saw flames coming from Mrs, Black's
house and rushed there, pulling both women from building, Mrs,
Moffett able to tell of attack while Mrs, Black died without regaining
consciousness, Moffett a miller, sent Williams to Black home for some
oil, Williams said to have been practically raised by Mrs, Black.
when he surrendered, he said KXLHE that he had accidentally struck
Mrs, Moffett when he threw a stick towards house while going for rope
as sent by Mr, Moffett,’ Denied killing either, Some reports said he
was 16, LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, Louisville, Kye, 3-161913.
Subsequently stated that he attacked Mrs, Moffett when she rejected
a sexual proposition, LOvISVIL! 1913.
“WILLIAMS, Silas | ELVA) Ve
Williams, a 17-year-old black youth, lived in- Woodford Co., Ky. On
Feb. 2h, 1913, he went to the rural home occupied by an elderly white
woman, Mrs, Susan Black, and her daughter, Mrs,.Lee Moffett. After
brutally beating both women, he raped Mrs, Moffett and, as he was
leaving the premises he encountered a man who he warned not to go
near the house, ,The man, his curiosity aroused,. investigated and
found Mrs, Black dying and Mrs, Moffett seriously injured, Williams
made his way to Lexington and surrendered to a policeman there, con-
fessing the murder and assault, He was held in the jail in Lexington
until BHEXX before daylight on the morning of March 17 when he was
taken by automobile to Versailles for his trial, When the officials
arrived to escort him to Woodford County, he begged that he be take
directly to the State Prison instead of to Woodford County as he
feared that he would be lynched there, A tremendous crowd gathered
hs the trial and, as the court room would not hald all present, the
erapnds surrounding it was packed densely, After the jury had been
ed, the judge appointed two attorneys to defend Williams who
sentenc e and as promptl
State Prison at Eddyville where he ana re ectrocut ed’ on
March 21, 1913, less than one month after the crime,
d
phish frdnuhes Before sent for ning. Ves fe aury_ os deliberated one an
WILLIAMS, Silas ioe a iced
Williams, a 17-year-old black youth, lived in- Woodford Co., Ky. On
Feb. 2h, 1913, he went to the rural home occupied by an elderly white
woman, Mrs, Susan Black, and her daughter, Mrs..Lee Moffett. After
brutally beating both women, he raped Mrs, Moffett and, as he was
leaving the premises he encountered a man who he warned not to go
near the house. .The man, his curiosity aroused,. investigated and
found Mrs. Black dying and Mrs. Moffett seriously injured. Williams
made his way to Lexington and surrendered to a policeman there, con-
fessing the murder and assault, He was held in the jail in Lexington
until KHEX¥ before daylight on the morning of March 17 when he was
taken by automobile to Versailles for his trial, When the officials
arrived to escort him to Woodford County, he begged that he be taken
directly to the State Prison instead of to Woodford County as he
feared that he would be lynched there. A tremendous crowd gathered
for thg trial and, as the court room would not hald all present, the
SY es surrounding it was packed densely, After the jury had been
seated, the judge appointed two attorneys to defend Williams who
Bhecegseu Ay e"G.Poneg fee Petey TES AY ie Tee Scns iy
aken to the State Prison at Eddyville where he was electrocuted on
March 21, 1913, less than one month after the crime,
WILLIAMS, Silas F/B
Williams, a 17-year-old black youth, lived in Woodford Co., Kye On
Feb. 2h, 1913, he went to the rural home occupied by an elderly white
woman, Mrs, Susan Black, and her daughter, Mrs, Lee Moffett. After
brutally beating both women, he raped Mrs, Moffett and, as he was
leaving the premises he encountered a man who he warned net to go
near the house, The man, his curiosity aroused, investigated and
found Mrs, Black dying and Mrs, Moffett seriously injured, Williams
made his way to Lexington and surrendered to a policeman there, con-
fessing the murder and assault, He was held in the jail in Lexington
until HAMI¥ before daylight on the morning of March 17 when he was
taken by automobile to Versailles for his trial, When the officials
arrived to escort him to Woodford County, he begged that he be taken
directly to the State Prison instead of to Woodford County as he
feared that he would be lynched there, A tremendous crowd gathered
for the trial and, as the court room would not held all present, the
grognds surrounding it was packed densely. After the jury had been
td, the judge appointed two attorneys to defend Williams ‘who
nd
pee ey ee et cee
rison at Ville whe was electrocuted on
BS 21, 1913, ‘less than one month after the crime,
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