Louis Williams

Louis Williams

AN AFGHAN SHOT - NEGRO SENTENCED TO DEATH Sydney. October 11. An American negro, Louis Williams, was placed on trial at Tamworth to-day on a charge of having murdered Mullah Mahomed, an Afghan, at Terrie-Lichie, in June last. According to the evidence the parties were camped on a creek, and the accused visited the Afghan's camp and complained about some matches the Afghan had sold him. The accused hit the Afghan, and Mullah took up a piece of wood and threw it at him. The accused afterwards said, "I will go and fetch a gun." He returned with a gun, and, standing behind a tree, fired at Mullah, who fell, and died three days afterwards, in the Moree Hospital. The jury found Williams guilty, and he was sentenced to death.

1904 'CHARGES OF MURDER.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 12 October, p. 8. , viewed 15 Aug 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5027447

The sentence of death passed on the American negro, Louis Williams, for the murder of the Indian hawker, -Mullah Mahomet, at Terrie-Lichie has been commuted to penal servitude for life.

1904 'NEW SOUTH WALES.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 26 October, p. 6. , viewed 15 Aug 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57357182

1920 Louis is applying to return to St Louis USA, His father Bill is deceased, he has a brother Lucas, another Walter and sister Belle Winfrey. He has two children Joseph and Louisa. He had been an ordinary seaman on the vessel he arrived in in 1898 the John A Briggs and departed the ship in Sydney. He claimed he was attacked by the Cameleers and defended himself and hence killing one.