In June 1903,[2] while hospitalized for diphtheria, Williams befriended local teenager John Keller, who was recovering from the same disease.

The letters contained threats if Keller did not comply, Williams wrote: "I want you to believe that I love you now as much as I ever did, it won't be long before we will be together."

Keller was killed instantly when he was shot in the back of the head whilst he was in bed; his mother died from a gunshot wound a week later.

When Williams took the stand, he told the court he didn't sleep for three nights prior to the murder and had been drinking heavily on the day of the shooting.

[citation needed] On 13 February 1906, Williams was executed in the basement of the Ramsey County Jail in Saint Paul.

Before execution, Williams spoke from the gallows and insisted his innocence: "Gentlemen, you are witnessing an illegal hanging, I am accused of killing Johnny Keller.

Three sheriff's deputies working for Ramsey County took turns hoisting the hanging rope upward so Williams would be suspended in the air, causing him to slowly strangle to death.