Jim Williams
Jim Williams, primarily known as the main character in John Berendt’s book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” was a significant figure in Savannah in the second half of the 20th century. While he is most known for his alleged murder of 21-year old Danny Hansford, his most important and notable work was in the field of historic preservation.
Williams, a Georgia native, was born in 1930 in the city of Gordon, Georgia. Upon relocating to Savannah, he became an esteemed antiques dealer in the Savannah Historic District and began his historic preservation efforts. At just 24 years old, Williams purchased three properties on East Congress Street, which became his first completed restoration projects. The following 30+ years brought him considerably more work in the business, and throughout his life, Williams revamped over 50 historic buildings, resurrecting important works that would have otherwise fell into disrepair.
Williams life story is not complete without further explaining the Danny Hansford murder. Hansford, was a locally known prostitute, and an employee of Williams in his antiques selling business. It’s said that Williams and Hansford engaged in an argument in the early hours of May 2nd, 1981 inside Mercer-Williams House on Monterey Square. Williams claimed to be sitting in his study when Hansford entered wielding a gun pointed at him. In what he claimed to be self defense, Wiliams drew a gun from his desk drawer, and shot Hansford, leading to his death.
Williams was immediately taken into custody and charged with murder. The years to follow would be filled with four trials as Williams attempted to clear his name and have the murder charges dropped. At his first trial in 1982, Williams was convicted to life in prison. He posted bond, and appealed the decision of the court upon discovering contradictory information in police reports. Due to this newfound information, Williams’ guilty verdict was overturned, with a new trial pending. The second trial began in the fall of 1983 - less than a year after the initial charges were dropped. At this trial, Wiliams was again found guilty, and similar to his first trial, the verdict was overturned nearly two years later. This time, it was due to technicalities regarding testimonies presented at the trials. The third trial was held in 1987, wherein it was declared a mistrial as a result of a hung jury.
May of 1989, nearly eight years after the original conviction, would finally see the end to Williams’ trials in the death of Danny Hansford. Here, he was acquitted on the charges and would be a free man once and for all. This chapter consumed much of Williams’ later years, and upon successfully clearing his name, he only lived to see an additional eight months of life before passing away. Coincidentally, Williams passed suddenly while in his study, the very spot where Danny Hansford died by his hand.
Berendt’s book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” would go on to be published shortly after his death, detailing the story, and later being adapted into a Hollywood film.
