Self Defense

Defining Jim Williams "self-defense" that ended up killing his boyfriend Danny Hansford. My opinion towards Jim's self defense was pure jealousy. He was jealous that Danny's mistress would steal him away from Jim, jealousy took over Jim's actions and ended up killing his lover. 

Currently

Currently, it's May 15 11:24 AM in AP English and I'm half way done with the book. It's interesting to me how women are so into Jim and his home. So far everyone that lives in Savannah is questioning everything that happen when Danny was found dead. News reporters and investigators are trying to find and discover the clues to Danny's unexpected murder. 

Jim Williams

JIM'S CONVICTIONS 

- His first murder conviction came in February 1982. He appealed.

- A re-trial brought another conviction. He was sentenced to life in prison Oct. 8, 1983.

- The Georgia Supreme Court ordered a new (third) trial, which ended in a June 1987 mistrial.

- A May 1989 trial in Augusta ended in his acquittal.

Feb. 4, 1982 Jim Williams greeted outside jail by mom and sister. 

Williams would become the first person to be tried four times for murder in the state of Georgia, according to John Berendt's book.

Williams barely had a year to celebrate when he was found dead in his Mercer House home Jan. 14, 1990. He was 59.

He died in the same room where he had shot Hansford.

Case facts

Even as a teenager, Jim Williams was an extraordinary entrepreneur.

When Jim came to Savannah after he left the Air Force, he often didn’t have enough money to buy food.

Jim hung out at the Greyhound bus station looking for attractive underage boys to “befriend.”

Since Jim did not come from an “old Savannah family” or “old money,” he found ways to insert himself into Savannah high society that were immoral and illegal.

One of Jim Williams’ houses was reputedly the most haunted house in Savannah.

The excellent restorations of historic buildings that made Jim Williams famous did not make him rich. It was the antiques business that made his fortune.

Despite his wealth, Jim engaged in numerous frauds.

Jim had loaded pistols in every room of Mercer House and many thousands of dollars in cash stashed in various hiding places.

Danny Hansford was right when he said that his mother was trying to get rid of him—and for good reason.

Danny Hansford’s girlfriend, Debbie, opened up to investigators about her unusual sex life with Danny.

Danny was afraid that Williams was attracted to Debbie.

Even though Debbie was never called to testify, what she told investigators gives key clues to what likely happened the night of the killing.

A juror in one of the Jim Williams’ trials pointed out a piece of evidence that prosecutors and defense attorneys had all missed.

It was only by chance that the legendary attorney Sonny Seiler learned of the key evidence that changed the outcome of the last trial.

The fourth trial was the last one the Jim Williams could get.

Jim’s will left $10 and rights to his papers and his Psycho Dice game to his only sibling.

Jim Williams had a royalty-sharing contract with author John Berendt that continues to benefit the Williams’ estate.

In the closet.

Jim Williams, who in real life was a gay art dealer who shot his whoring house boy in his home office, spent years on trial, beat the rap, and fell dead of a heart attack in the same room. 

Danny Hansford

After three decades, the ghost of Danny Hansford still haunts the Mercer House in Savannah 

As I'm reading along, Danny Hansford was introduced into the book. There is Danny Hansford a rather unstable young man who works for Jim Williams. Jim Williams murdered Hansford. Two juries concluded that he was murdered by antiques dealers and preservationist Jim Williams in what some called a lower's quarrel. A third trail ended with a hung jury and fourth acquitted Williams, who claimed that in 1981 he shot and killed Hansford in self defense.

Beginning

James A. "Jim" Williams

This suspenseful story of an 1981 murder trail cases in Savannah, Georgia that is base on a true events and characters. note that it is not a novel John Berendt creates vivid pictures of Savannah residents that all revolves around money, illusion, isolation and good versus evil. Jim William, wealthy elusive and mysterious lives in a enormous home full with valuable antiques. He is also known for being an antique dealer.