Ayanna asked: Can you share any more information about John Williams, the man accused of shooting Lillian Louise Shoemaker? Or about his other victims?
I searched and searched and could not find either John Williams or either of his other named victims in the records for Benton Harbor, Michigan and Chicago! I found the two news items below and that’s all! Sorry Ayanna.
A MYSTERIOUS CASE
Girl to Whom John Williams Was Engaged is Here.
She Tells: a Strange Story About Her Affairs With Him.
Denial of the Statements – Mattie Hammond’s Visit to the Jail.
Miss Mattie Hammond, of Paw Paw. who was at one time engaged to be married to John Williams, the alleged assailant of Mrs. Shoemaker, is here upon important business. Last summer she left a trunk containing many of her belongings at Mrs. Williams’ house in this city. While she was away Williams procured it and refused to let Miss Hammond have her belongings. She is now after her trunk, which the commencement of the trouble between Williams and Mrs. Shoemaker was taken to Attorney Hammond’s office.
Miss Hammond tells startling story concerning her affairs with Williams. During this last summer she was working in Chicago and Williams went over once to see her. On one occasion he took her out several miles south of Chicago near the Calumet river where Williams claimed he owned large amount of property. The girl went on to tell in straight forward manner how he told her about what a fine place they would have when they were married and how without any warning he assaulted her and threw her down; and when she resisted he beat her. Finally Miss Hammond escaped and afterwards saw no more of Williams. She says she was engaged to him before that, but she added “I am not now.”
With representatives of the press she was then allowed to see Williams who is at the county jail.
She went around to his cell and be sprang up at the sight of her and held out his hand with the greeting, “Mattie” The girl looked scornfully at him and refused to touch his hand and then he whispered something to her. Her answers were only “Yes” and”No” until he finally asked “are you ashamed of me?”
Miss Hammond replied “Yes, you ought to have kept out of trouble.” She then added “where is the certificate?” but Williams replied evasively.
She then bade him good-bye and left. Williams when asked “Who was that?” replied “My wife,” but his answer is not credited. He went on, “‘we were married in Chicago in June and she has been living in Chicago. I have the marriage license.” He would not show it, however.
“How about assaulting her,” was asked.
“I don’t know anything about it.” Further than this Williams would say nothing and the case is very mysterious one.
Williams’ head appears to be muddled and it is doubtful if the true state of affairs is known in the Shoemaker case.
THE DAILY PALLADIUM.
BENTON HARBOR, DEC. 23. 1898,
Benton Harbor and Vicinity,
TO IONIA
John Williams, James Lee and Tom Golnes Go to Prison.
Sheriff Ferguson left this morning for Ionia and with him were John Williams, James Lee, and Tom Goins, sentenced to prison for four years, two years and twenty one mouths respectively.
Williams was convicted of assault on *Mrs. Shoemaker and Lee and Goines were convicted of larceny.