Tom C. Clark

“ It may be that Willie Lee Stewart 'had an intelligence level in the moronic class,' but he can laugh up his sleeve today for he has again made a laughingstock of the law. This makes the third jury verdict of guilt-each with a mandatory death penalty-that has been set aside since 1953. It was in that year that Willie walked into Harry Honikman's little grocery store here in Washington, bought a bag of potato chips and a soft drink, consumed them in the store, ordered another bottle of soda, and then pulled out a pistol and killed Honikman right before the eyes of his wife and young daughter. ”

“ Willie answered: 'I am always the stand; I am everything, I done told you.' Thereafter Willie was excused as a witness, whereupon his counsel approached the bench and made his motion for mistrial. He asked for no curative instruction. ”

“ Willie Stewart's 'gibberish' comprises nine pages, representing perhaps some 20 minutes of testimony. It came during the third day of the trial. Mr. Carey, Willie's counsel, had placed him on the stand. He had asked on direct examination, 'Have you ever taken an oath?' Willie replied, 'Not that I knows of.' Willie was also asked by his counsel, 'Did you ever stand trial before this trial for the murder of Harry Honikman?' He answered, 'Well, you talk. You just go ahead and explain yourself. Have you ever stand trial? ”