Atlanta Daily World

Man Convicted
Of Murder Gets
Death Penalty

A 27-year-old man was convicted of first degree murder late last night by an all-white jury.

The jury did not recommend mercy, thereby making the death penalty mandatory.

Aubrey Lee Williams, 27, 2044 Penelope Road, N. W., was indicted for the slaying of a white liquor store clerk last October 4. The shooting occurred at a liquor store on Peters Street, S. W.

Several Negro witnesses, residents and employees of the nearby vicinity of the alleged holdup, testified in court yesterday they saw a man fleeing from the general direction of the murder scene. Others declared they later saw Williams with a huge roll of large bills, which he reportedly lost in a dice game at a Decatur St. tavern.

Robert McDowell, of 317 Hills Ave., S. W., said he saw a man last October 4 coming from Trenholm St., and headed toward Hills Ave. "He was walking very fast and looking back." McDowell said. However, he was unable to identify Williams as the man.

James Arnold, of 312 Hills Ave., and M L. Williams 83, of 312 Trenholm St., said they saw a man, later identified as Williams come from beside Williams home with a pistol in his right pocket, the handle exposed. This testimony was upheld by Mrs. Trene Smith, of 312 Trenholm St., although she could not identify Williams.

Willie McCord, of 388 Richardson St., who runs a sandwich shop at 330 McDaniel St., S.W., said he saw an unidentified man climb over his
fence the day of the slaying and flee.

Although he was unable to identify the man he declared police brought a man back to the scene later. "He showed the officers the spot where he crossed the fence."

Under cross examination he said, "He admitted the crime in my presence." But when asked to identify Williams as the man he asserted, "I couldn't swear he was the one."

Williams' movements were further traced through the testimony of Charlie Harris a dry cleaning man at the corner of Maher and Fair Sts., who said he picked up a man at Cole C and gave him a lift to a pool room on Decatur Street. Harris said the youth explained he was going to get a hair cut and shave because his sister was in town. Harris identified Williams as his passenger.

More testimony, however, was offered by a waitress and proprietor of a Decatur St. tavern. The waitress, Maggie Jones, said Williams came into the place and showed her a "big roll" of money.

Joshia Kainer, who runs the tavern at 109 Decatur, said he joined a dice game with Williams and another man the day of the slaying. He said Williams lost most of his money to the other man, but he won $30 or $40. Asked if the roll Williams was carrying was large, Kainer asserted, "Yessir, it was a great deal of money."

He added the bills apparently were in denominations of ten and five dollar bills.