1912

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DECEMBER

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Mobile, ALA., Dec. 6 –

The jury in the case of William J. Brown, a building contractor, charged with the murder of Alfred Percy, returned a verdict tonight at 8:45 o’clock finding the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree and fixing the punishment at hanging.

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Notice of an appeal to the Supreme Court was given by the attorney for the defense.

Brown entered a plea of insanity. He shot and killed Percy last July. At the time he claimed his victim had alienated Mrs. Brown’s affections.

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There was not a dissenting vote among the jurors. They deliberated for two hours. When they brought in their verdict the crowded court room reverberated with applause. Mrs. W. J. Brown, the wife of the prisoner, nodded her satisfaction. The widow of Brown’s victim, Mrs. Alfed Percy, clapped her hands with delight.

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“I would not take a thousand million dollars for that verdict,” she exclaimed a minute later.

Brown along sat unmoved, nonchalant.

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“It’s alright,” he said. “I’ll win on my appeal.”

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Montgomery Advertiser, December 7, 1912, 1.