 
The
true story of William Williams, the last man executed by the state
of Minnesota: his love, his crime, his botched hanging.
This
is a story that almost wasn’t told, because the press was
barred from publishing details of executions or witnessing them.
But they found a way in, and told the people what they saw.
Williams’
love was his “best friend and partner” Johnnie Keller,
a teenager. They roomed, traveled and worked together for over a
year, but after Johnnie’s parents persuaded their son to break
it off, Williams continued to pursue the boy.
His
crime came in a fit of rage one night in the Keller’s St.
Paul home. He remembers the fight and the gun smoke, but not the
moments in between.
His
botched hanging resulted in three deputies delivering an alternate
punishment.
The
William Williams Effect is about love and passion, obsession
and crime, and the impact one man brought to a family, a community
and our state.
The
original script is culled from actual trial transcripts, historic
newspaper articles, and Williams' personal letters to Johnnie. |
