Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-19
DEATH FARM PROBE
REVEALS ONE MORE
ALLEGED KILLING

The story of still another alleged
killing on the notorious Jasper coun-
ty murder farm"-that of the
three-day-old baby of one of John
S. Williams cooks, was narrated In
Atlanta Saturday by witnesses who
had previously laid the gruesome
details before investigating agents.
1t brought the list of supposed dead
to eighteen.
According to the witnesses, whose
names are withheld for the present,
Williams ordered the negro cook to
"do away with that baby-you've
got to cook and have no time, to
mind children" On the following
morning the baby was missing, the
witnesses declared.
Partial corroboration of this new
Undiscovered evidence was given
by Miss Sarah Weaver, young
trained nurse, who lives on Atlanta
avenue, just off South Boulevard.
She was nursing Mrs. Williams dur
ing the summer of 1919 and in addi-
ton to seeing blood stains, she said
she heard negroes on TIE place dis
cuss the baby's death.
Miss Weaver told narrowing
story of conditions on the murder
farm" as she found them during her
three weeks stay during the "flu''
epidemic in 1919, when the wealthy
farmers wife was dangerously ill
with influenza and double-pneu-
monia.
Tells Of "Guardhouse
She said she remembered the
"guardhouse," where the farm hands
were confined at night; she described
a remote section of the big planta-
ton which she said was known as
the whipping ground" where she
said Williams and his sons flogged
the laborers; she recalled the gentle
disposition of Williams young
daughters and his then bed-ridden
wife. and the brutal treatment ac-
corded the farm hands by the planta-
ton owner and his sons, and she re-
marked upon the wonderful things
tie family had to eat at every meal"
She characterized Mrs. Williams
and her daughters as 1.-The most de-
lightful people I ever met" She said
Williams and his sons also went
out of their way to make me COM
Portable"
"Rut the newspaper stories that
have been published about that farm
were not too strong-Mr. Williams
and those boys, Huland, Leroy and
Marvin, were very, very rough in
their handling of the negroes on
the place." she added.
just returned from France" said
Miss Weaver, land all three of them
were relentless and brutal in their
treatment of those negro workmen.
Negroes were whipped continually,
and quite often, without any SEEM
ing provocation."
Miss Weaver several e times referred
scary place" She declared she was
more than glad to get away and
come back to Atlanta" and said she
was more or less frightened as Ions
as she remained on the place.
Good to Family
but whatever folks may say about
John s. Williams, there is one thing
that must say in his behalf-he was
good to his wife and children" con
tinued Miss Weaver. "Ie never lost
his patience in his house-and there
We're twelve children in all, too
While Mrs. Williams was so i'll, he
sat up with her all night every night
dAu 1QldHu SIdySu dL AcI sue dl
day. Another nurse alternated with
me in attending her.
'Mr. Williams talked with me
about the farm hands he brought
from stockades in Atlanta and Ma.
con-he advised me not to go out OF
the house at night, saying some OF
the negroes might get out of the
guardhouse and run wild. He de
clared they were bad lot," she went
on.
Miss Weaver said one thing the
negroes never had a right to kicl
about was the food they got" She
declared the entire population of the
plantation "dined in great STYLE"
"I'll never forget the many, many
good things we had to eat every time
we sat down to the long table,
was heavy with choice things" sh,
said
Other Developments
Other developments in the cas-
Saturday were:
1. Attempts by newspaper report
ers to interview Clyde Manning a
An order had been posted at tn
tower, signed by Judge John E
Hutcheson, of the Stone Mountai
circuit, forbidding any one excep
Sheriff B. L. Johnson. of NewtoI
county. and Solicitor General A. M
Brand 10 see the farm boss" VIII
was the star witness against hi
employer in Newton county superio
court two weeks ago.
2. Sheriff Johnson announced it i
quite likely Williams will not b
tried in Newton county under eithe
Of the remaining murder Indictment
against him. He declared C1yd
Manning will not be placed on tria
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