Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1920 — SLAYER OF MARTHA HUFF TO DIE IN CHAIR [ARTICLE]

SLAYER OF MARTHA HUFF TO DIE IN CHAIR

1 11 ' ’ Indianapolis, April 27.—William ; Ray, colored, 19, was sentenced to ’ be electrocuted August 5 at the i Indiana state prison, Michigan City, by Judge James A. Collins, of the criminal court here tonight when a jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. Ray is said to have stabbed to death 14-year-old Martha Huff, a white ,girl, on April 19. The Indiana law provides that death penalty shall not be executed until at least 100 days have elapsed after conviction. Ray will be the first person to die in the electric I chair in this state and he will pay the penalty in the minimum time permitted and exactly 108 days after the crime was committed. Prisoner Dazed. The court room was deathly quiet when' the clerk read the jury’s verdict of guilty and fixed the penalty at 'death. Ray seemed stunned. He had refused to take the witness stand and the first words he spoke all day were when he was sentenced by Judge Collins. “I didn’t mean to kill the girl,” he said. “I was overpowered by passion and I didn’t know what I was doing.” Quick Trial. Ray was placed on trial this morning. Only witnesses, court attaches, police officers and newspaper men were permitted in the court room. The defendant was closely guarded and every precaution taken to prevent any attempt at mob violence. Ray stood mute when arrainged and a formal plea of not guilty was ordered by the court. A jury was quickly selected from, the special venire of 125 men. Unanimous Verdict. Eighteen witnesses were examined and they testified that Ray enticed the little girl to the river bottoms last Monday evening and criminally assaulted her, stripped her of her clothing, stabbed her thirteen times in the throat and threw her body into Eagle creek, where it was found the next evening. Ray was arrested the following night The । prosecution rested its- case at 4 ' o’clock. The jury deliberated 20 I minutes and only one vote was taken, it was said.