Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-29

assist in the prosecution.
THE people of Jasper county are
been circulated through the news
papers that we are unwilling to in
Vestigate this matter, and l do not
believe we have been treated fairly.
I would like to take this opportuni-
ty to say that the aid Sheriff Persons
while in company with Clyde Man
ming on tour of investigation at
the Williams farm, deserves to be
especially commended"
Nanning's Statement
Il didn't want to kill anybody, but
didn't kill them niggers he would
kill me. and I knew he meant what
he said" stated Manning on Monday
morning.
"Mr. Johnny has beat me lot
Of times, and L have seen him beat
other niggers, and I knew that he
meant what he said. I thought about
running away, but I didn't have any
money, and I knew couldn't get
away without some money. I amt
had more than fifty cents at one time
in over a year.
81 knew that if I ran away and
was caught, Mr.. Johnny would kill
tIle, anu L KNEW COulul get away
without some money. If I had left
and told anybody how Mr.. Johnny
had treated me, they wouldn't be-
lieve my story, and they would have
taken ME back to his farm.
MIR Johnny called me up to his
there and he said to me, Clyde, it
wouldn't do to let all of those mig
gers get back to Atlanta They
know too much on me and would send
me to the changing. You must kill
them.
N.Y. clyde says he replied. 49,
neck or THEIRS" Williams replied,
according to Manning.
Il knew he meant what he said,
and I then thought about leaving
it. Later he came to me and asked
if l was going to kill them.
Il don't want to do it," Manning
said he replied.
eff you don't do it t will kill you"
Manning says Williams declared.
that he would kill me if L didn't do
it. SO when Mr.. Johnny took Johnny
Williams and me down into the pas
kure and he told me to kill Johnny,
[ just did it because l knew that 1
had to do it.
"The next day was Sunday, and
Mr.. Johnny asked Johnny Green and
Willie Ovens if they wanted to go
home. They both told him they did"
Killed Two More
Manning says that Williams prom
ised to take them home that after
pasture to repair the fence.
"Charlie Chisholm, Mr.. Williams
and me went down into the pasture
and Mr.. Williams gave me the axe
and told me to kill them. Charlie
walked off with Willie so he couldn't
see me kill Johnny. After l had killed
Johnny, Charlie and Willie came
back, and 1 killed Willie. We left
them on the ground and came back
that Sunday night and buried them"
One day Mr.. Johnny came to me
and Charlie Chisholm and told us to
take Big John over on the Campbell
place and dig well. He told us
when the we'll was deep enough to
kill Big john
when we got the hole about waist
deep Mr.. Johnny came up with the
axe in his hand. Charlie Chisholm
him to get out and let Big John
dig some. Just as soon as Big
John got into the hole Mr.. Johnny
handed Charlie the axe and told him
to hit Big john
Charlie hit him, and Big John
just 1Cll w 6I Ill Tic we'll llSll AhI
Johnny told us to cover him up in
d hurry.
"FIetcher Smith was killed by Mr..
Johnny on top of a high hill on the
Campbell farm. He had told me he
was going to kill him and sent me
back [ heard gun and when L got
there Fletcher was dead. He had
been shot with a shotgun. Mr.
Johnny and me buried him there.
John Brown, Little Bit, Harry
Price, Lindsay Peterson, Willie Pres
ton and Charlie Chisholm were all
put in the pond. Mr.. Johnny asked
wanted to go home. They all wanted
to go, so he said he would take them
home after they had finished work.
We would take them one or two
at the time down to the river and
throw them in.
"As soon as we would get within
two or three miles of the river, Mr..
Johnny would tell them he was 60
ing to kill them, and would then
tie them up with the chains. There
didn't a one of them fight, all they
did was beg him not to do it. Harry
into the river, and Mr.. Johnny let
him do it. He united his legs so
he could walk, and let him climb
up on the bridge railing and jump
off. Mr. Johnny then watched him
float down the river until he went
under for the last time.
Charlie Chisholm
"Mr. Johnny went to Charlie CHS
holm one afternoon and told him he
wanted him to go over to Covington
with us. When we got near the
river, Mr.. Johnny told Charlie that
he had been talking too-much.
81 am going to throw you in there
with the rest of Them" Manning
claims Williams said to Chisholm.
"Charlie denied saying anything
about what we had done, and begged
Mr.. Johnny not to throw him in, but
Mr.. Johnny wouldn't listen to. him.
HE begged us to knock him in
the head, but Mr. Johnny wouldn't
do it,
II have worked for Mr.. Johnny
for thirteen years." Manning stated.
land he has whipped me lots of
times. He has whipped most all of
the negroes that worked for him.
"He promised to pay me $40 a
month to work for him, and did give
me some money until year ago. |
amt got any money now for over
year. My wife cooks for his fam
lily, and he promised to pay her
something, but never has done it.
When seen in his cell at the Full
ton county Jail Monday morning, Mr..
Williams not only refused 10
Journal reporer. but he went back