James Williams was executed at the Nevada State Prison on August 25, 1950 for the crime of murder. He was convicted of killing Abraham Gutierrez on October 31, 1948.

Williams had an extensive criminal record, having served terms in two different penitentiaries. He was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in Deeth, Nevada which is in the eastern portion of the state. Williams killed Gutierrez and then went to the home of Louis Evans and shot and killed him also.

Williams was born in Fort Worth, Texas and at the time of his death was 32 years old. He came from a very poor family in Texas, where he was one of eight children, his father had left home at an early age. Williams was illiterate, and according to the family pastor never had a chance in life