The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-15
THE KILLING OF WILLIAMS
HAS EXCITED GREAT INTEREST
johnson County Is Stirred Over the Crime and
the Arrests That Have Followed.

prominent farmer, and told him that
they had found Clayton Williams dead
in the road near the SchoolhouSe about
a half mile away. Accompanied by
Mr.. Pare, all returned to the corpse,
which was scarcely cold. remained a
short while. when Price and brother
of the dead man. who had arrived in
the meantime, left for Wrightsville,
and reported the death to DR.. Har-
ris. the coroner.
A Jury was summoned on Sunday
morning, and the scene was viewed,
some evidence was taken: but, on ac-
count of a desire to await develop
ments, and secure the attendance OF
important witnesses. some of whom
had disappeared, or could not be found
at that time. the taking of evidence
was continued until the latter part OF
the past week.
All of the persons under arrest were
sworn as witnesses at the inquest, on
account of the fact that they reported
themselves as having tavelled that way
In two buggies on the night of the
Homicide and having discovered the
dead body. Being sequestrated during
the examinations Of the various wit
nesses, and not allowed to hear the teS-
tinony of one another, In some particu-
lars the stories told by them were found
to vary and contradict and hence the
suspicion was aroused that they knew
more than they were telling. For in
stance, one of the defendants deScrib-
ed and identified some potatoes which
she had placed in Walkers pocket be-
fore beginning their journey, which po-
tatoes had been found on the morning
after the homicide along the road where
Williams had fed from his pursuers,
his course being marked by the blood
running from his wounds; another OF
the defendants declared Williams was
hardly dead when all arrived there, that
he had seen him make an effort to
speak, and saw him roll his eyes sew
eral times in the agony of death; an
other of the defendants said Williams
had apparently been dead twenty or
thirty minutes before they found his
body; another had told Mr.. Page of
putting his hand on the corpse, and
of certain words he then used, which
act and words the witness denied hav-
ing related to Mr.. Page.
The negro, Robert Pullen, testified
to certain language used by the oc
cupants OF the buggy which passed his
house just after Williams had gone;
and one of the defendants testified to
similar language used in the buggy
occupied by her about that time and
place. These were merely some of the
incidents and slight circumstances
leading to the suspecting Of the de-
PENDANTS. At the conclusion of the evil
dence, the jury, composed of some of
the most substantial citizens of the
county, recommended that the defend
ants, three or more of whom they be-
lieved to have committed the crime,
be committed to Jail without bail to
await the action of the grand jury.
1t was at first thought that rob-
berry was the object of the crime, but
k1Ts lii 81
were found near the body, which
would indicate that such was not the
case, though it is said Williams had
$50 or $40 on his person at the time he
left his store, and only a very small
amount was found near his person.
Nevertheless his clothing bore no ap-
pearance of having been searched, ex-
cept that a small valise which he car
ried had been cut open, searched, and
left near by.
williams was horribly mutilated,
having been cut, shot and beaten, and
presented a CHASTITY spectacle when
viewed by the coroner's jury.
Owing to the mystery surrounding
the tragedy, public interest in the de-
lection and prosecution of the guilty
parties has been stimulated to the ut
most; and 1t is estimated that 500 or
more citizens Of the county attended
the conclusion of the inquest. Some
think the guilty parties are among
those now under arrest, some think
others are implicated in the crime with
those now in jail; while still others
thinks the prosecution entirely on the
wrong trail.
Since being in jail. the accused have
employed counsel. demanded a trial
before a court Of inquiry, and develop
ments are anxiously awaited. The case
l.. ssrafOofad and OfIifn
an array Of counsel pro and con will
appear I'm the trials. Judge William
Faircloth has been retained TO assist
the solicitor general in the prosecu-
ton, while Judge V. b. Robinson, Hon.
J. l.. Kent and Mr.. A. $. Bussey are
among those who will appear for the
defense.