Evening star., 1921-04-08
PE0NAGE-SLAY|NC
CASE IN FINAL DAY
Lawyers Make Their Pleas to
Jury-Charge Will Be
Given by Court.
BY the Associated Pre.s.

| By the Associated Press.
CONVICTION, Ga, April S.-John S
| Williams. Jasper county planter, was
willing to sacrifice the "oDnvict lives
! OF eleven negroes on his farm to his
! the jury trying him for murder of one
| of them was told here today by fer
| mer Congressman Howard.
Only those negroes who had been
| bailed out of jail, and whom he said
| Williams held on the farm by force
! to work out their debts, were subject
| to this dreadful contagien of DEATH
he said in making the closing argu-
ment for the state.
Green f. Johnson followed with the
final plea for acQuittal and 1t appear
ed that the judges charge would be
completed and the case In the hands
of the jury before night.
Arguments on Evidence.
Howard coutended that even IL the
jury didn't believe the statement of
Clyde Manning, negro farm boss, that
he helped Williams kill the men, the
fact that they were killed and that
Williams alone had the motive re-
manned.
johnson assailed Manning as "a con-
fessed liar and an admitted mur-
derer,' who. on his own statement.
Knocked u niger in the head as he
would an OK"
Manning's ignorance had allowed
him to believe he was as guilty as
Williams" of peonage, and that fur
nished him motive for the killings,
he declared.
cases, and has never had a client
hanged.
Barring mistrial, there are three
possible verdicts, according to open
ing argument of both sides-acquittal.
conviction of murder. or the latter
might be accompanied by a recon-
mendation for mercy, which would
automatically change the death PEN
atty to life Imprisonment.
Should Williams be acquitted of
the present charge. he would not be
free, as Solicitor General Brand an
nounced he would be held for trial
on the two other murder items re-
connection with the deaths Of three
negroes
The courtroom was packed to ca
pacity again today. spectators stand
ing shoulder to shoulder in the aisles
and in the space between the spec
tators' seats and the railing of the
bar. High school students were given
the morning off from school to hear
the closing arguments.
Mr. Howard, closing for the state
named the eleven farm hands killed
and pointed out that all came from
5ails in Atlanta or Macon except one
who was bailed out of Jail in Month
cello. and all worked for Williams or
his sons.
Farm as "Plague SpOt.o
The Williams farm and those ad-
Joining operated by his sons were re-
ferred to as the plague spot" by Mr.
Howard, who turned to the subject of
peonage, briefly outlined it's origin in
Mexico. and traced it to the south.
Federal laws were made against it,
he said, and he told of Investigations
by Department of Justice agents on
the Williams place February 18.
He turned to the defenses claim
that Clyde Manning, believing he was
as guilty as Williams was" of the
peonage charges. might have killed
the men. The speaker denounced
voice rising to high pitch for the
first time. launched into a discussion
Of that invisible thing-motive."
If the jury did not want to believe
story accusing Williams,
and left it out. the attorney contin-
ued, the fact that the killings took
place remained and the reasons for
them remained.
Mr.. Johnson started the final argu-
ment after a recess. outlining in a |
1uiet tone what he proposed to do in !
MS address.