Americus times-recorder., 1919-12-10
THOUSANDS H0MEL ESSBYSOUTH GOD
BINYARD SAYS
GUILTY. GIVEN
YEAR ON GANG
No Attempt To Deny
Part In Edge Killing
Case Ended

A year on the chain gang, without
the alternative of reducing any part
of it by the payment of fine, was
the sentence passed by Judge Little
john in Superior court today upon
Henry Binyard, the negro taxi driver
in the Edge murder case, when he
stood before him and entered plea
of guilty to a misdemeanor indict-
ment, charging him with being an ac-
cessory after the fact in the murder
of Edge, for which Walter W. Wilson,
a white man, was convicted last week
and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Instead of denying that he was
guilty and asserting that he was
pleading guilty as the easiest way
out of the charges, as had been hint
ed, Binyard told the court, when ask
ed if he had anything to say before
sentence was passed, that he was
guilty. His attorney, W. 7. Lane,
later in his statement to the court
made no intimation that Binyard real
ly was not guilty.
81 am guilty of the charge you all
have got, and | hope you will have
mercy on me-" were the words of Bin
yard, following which Attorney Lane,
who has been representing him since
his arrest in connection with the
killing, explained that he had known
Henry long time, that he was indus
trious, agreeable and accommodating
as a public auto driver, and that he
had never known Of him being in
trouble before.
There Only AS Chauffeur.
eff he was present at this unfor-
tunate homicide" Mr.. Lane contin-
ued, 81 am sure he was there only as
a chauffeur, being employed only as
any other taxi driver might have been
to take this man out there, without
any intention of murder or any
knowledge that any crime was to be
committed. I ask that he be given
the privilege of paying a reasonable
fine for his part in it."
Solicitor FELTON, was asked by
Judge Littlejohn if he had anything
to say as the representative of the
state.
81 don't think this man was guilty
of this murder, or l would not con-
sent to this plea, with another indict-
ment for murder standing against
him." he said. Wilson, of course,
was the actual perpetrator of the
crime. l have taken this course as
the proper one in this case. with the
consent of Mr.. Fort, who was asso-
ciated with the state"
Judge Littlejohn then addressed the
prisoner as those in the court room
listened intently.
White Mans Tool.
Henry, / don't know all about
your connection with this case" he
said, "but from what do know l
think the men who represent the
state have taken the right view.
/ know white men can use darkies and
do use them in a way to get them
into trouble, and l don't know that
we will ever be able to stop it. But
the darkies must be careful, and es-
pecially is it up to taxi drivers who
are required to carry people who ask
them, to see to it that they do not
carry people on improper missions.
am sure no city and no police would
make trouble for man who refused
to carry any one for an improper
purpose.
"The old alibi defense won't work
like it used to, since the automobile
has come and made it possible to get
around, even long distances, quickly.
Il am going to make your sentence
IL months on the chain gang. don't
think fine the proper thing to give
in case of this kind"
With the sentencing of Binyard
the Edge murder cases come to an
end. Wilson has been convicted and
sentenced, and with the plea of
guilty in the misdemeanor case hav-
ing been offered by Binyard, the state
will dismiss the felony Indictment
against him. The two negro women
in the case, Lena Coolidge and Jensie
Mccullough, who have been held in
Jail for weeks as material witnesses,
will now be freed.