case man williams app known case man murder murder england took hood defendant wore travelling court murder police inspector witnesses little forensic evidence medical student told police friend committed murder power helped police conduct sting operation catch williams police interrogated williams girlfriend confessed having helped williams hide murder weapon later story man came forth claiming know identity real killer new evidence behaviour judge initial case appeal case controversial members parliament major political parties directly questioned home secretary matter despite requests appeals denied williams executed case investigations britain use emerging science background october driver horse drawn carriage noticed man near door house located known possess large amounts valuable jewellery married rich hungarian nobleman driver informed man presence police inspector sent investigate walls arrived scene observed man lying door walls called man come man fired shots struck killed walls police clues garden hat found nearby police took trace hat success routine questioning local residents police learned earlier afternoon murder man seen sitting heavily pregnant young woman bench end man seen wandering street young woman sat bench leading police suspect man assessing lay land following day medical student named visited police claiming knew identity murderer power said murderer living pregnant girlfriend power knew williams williams brother power best friend williams brother received note morning williams passed power power gave note police read save life come road ask bring cash urgent power told police letter written williams williams tried house killed inspector walls according power williams met girlfriend murder decided bury gun beach send letter williams brother asking money return london given power power motive coming police love order trap williams power asked williams meet street station following day police lying wait arrested power williams station police covered williams head apron prevent photographed possibly influencing witnesses murderer face selected williams identity parade power immediately released release power went told police knew happened way save williams dig gun safer power retrieved gun october police officers lying wait immediately arrested power power released hours later retained questioning pregnant poor condition physically mentally hours questioning wrote signed statement williams statement stated williams left half hour near house night murder returning hat throwing away rope hook end burying revolver beach broken despite statement williams maintained innocent murder saying papers political purposes doubt mixed foreign political business commit crime like williams appeared initial hearing represented solicitor pleaded guilty way court williams head covered apron prevent photographed press accordingly dubbed man police decided witness stand soon possible avoid going told police called witness box treasury counsel time statement line line physically exhausted times witness box meant initial hearing took days eventually case referred trial trial trial murder inspector began december sitting judge time williams found solicitor arranged represent court crown represented sir cecil trial proved popular crowds people outside court house trying defendants involved local newspaper described sensational murder trial living history person called witness box said statement false told charged murder immediately disrupted case prosecution clear opening statement case rested primarily testimony low received permission judge treat hostile witness despite refused williams hastings cross examine asking said court true said burst tears calling number minor witnesses including cab driver owner building williams lived prosecution called power testified williams shooting walls response powers poor shot according power williams responded saying good shot referring shot killed walls williams hastings later described power utterly human met cross examination hastings highlighted power betrayal close friends williams defendant called williams claimed package containing rope gun given fellow thief called asked package mike came collect murder williams scared suspected gun arrested previously following testimony power williams clear jury convict williams based witness testimony evidence found police williams possessions showed evidence revolver recently inside police enlisted aid expert new science forensic times police use case churchill able prove firing different gun design bullet killed police officer fired revolver calibre gun reported williams prosecution needed proof bullet fired particular revolver suggestion chief photographers attempted photograph inside gun barrel order prove bullet fired particular revolver attempts unsuccessful churchill instead cast inside gun dental wax method called far satisfactory sufficient convict williams judge commented acts defendant hiding gun fleeing acts guilty man likely told jury direct evidence linking williams murder cases resulted conviction evidence minutes jury returned verdict guilty sentenced williams death immediately verdict read williams solicitor announced appeal verdict asked hastings represent defendant time court met january consisted lord justice hastings argued justice jury initial case decision void lord dismissed appeal hearing argument saying find evidence hastings felt biased start later writing outset hearing apparent satisfied prisoner guilt legal argument impression appeals execution shortly appeal dismissed williams received letter stated know real murderer murderer twin brother killed police inspector fleeing france williams immediately showed letter solicitor contacted accompanied chief inspector williams solicitor visited told story copy letter sent home secretary statement claimed confession given threats police statement known public petitions campaigns free williams organised country petition containing signatures requesting sent home secretary soon house_of_commons opened january questioned labour conservative liberal mps speech asking home secretary account conflicting accounts lack direct evidence way judge directed jury pardon williams supported replied house understand home secretary duty throws greater responsibility painful exercised connection mercy course man glad find evidence reason reason enable save human life duty understand act accordance law traditions office investigated story foundation traced family history man calls find question admission shadow foundation story beginning end said twin brother twin brother said twin brother friend twin brother night people story invention having known past like think hanged concluded saying law course refused grant pardon williams applied home secretary permission marry denied williams request williams petitioned second time williams executed january
Case of the Hooded Man