Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-04-06
KILLED TO STOP
TESTIMONY, SAID
Two Federal Agents Swear Peon
age Conditions Existed
TELLS OF DEATH RIDE
Negro Informer Describes Killing
Of Three Farm Hands
(By International News Service)

(By international News Service)
CONVICTION, April 6th.,-With a
warning from Judge Hutchinson to
the crowd to refrain from demonstra-
ton of any kind, the second day of
murder trial of John Williams opened
at nine o'clock this morning.
The star witness today is expected
to be Clyde Manning, the negro who
is on alleged sensational confession
accused Williams of particing in the
deaths of eleven negroes employed on
Williams large plantation. G. w.
Brown, a federal department of JUS
tice agent was the first witness.
Manning and fifteen other state wit
nesses were put under the rule of the
court and taken out of the courtroom
when Brown began his testimony.
Brown told of a trip to William
plantation to- investigate charges of
peonage. He had talked with Will
liams and his sons and saw the me-
groes alone, with objections from
Williams. Brown described the stock
ade on the farm as strongly built with
heavily shattered and barred widows
with doors fastened with heavy chains
at night. A. J. Winer, another federal
agent who visited the plantation, cor
roborated Browns testimony. A Wig
orous effor was made by the defense
to exclude the testimony of the federal
agents.
Clyde Manning was called to the
stand and flutter of excitement ran
through the court room. Judge Hut
Crimson told the negro he would not
have to answer questions that would
incriminate him. Manning named a
number negroes working on the farm
with him, including Gus Chapman
among them. The eleven whose bod
les were found on the plantation and
in the rivers, saying that most of them
came from the stockades in Atlanta
and Macon. The line of questioning
indicates tire prosecution desired to es-
tablish the unusually keen memory of
the negro.
AS Colonel William Schley How
ard, prosecuting attorney, named the
victims, the witnesses said, Hes
dead"
Willie Preston, Lindsey Peterson
and Harry Price were killed the same
night, Manning testified they were
thrown off Aliens bridge over the
Yellow River one night about last
February with heavy weight around
their necks.
Ma ming wildly related the death
trip from the plantation to the river,
saying that besides the three victims,
Charlie Chisolm, who later was killed,
Williams and himself were in the
party. They stopped at a country
store where the trace chains were
fastened about the necks of the VIC
Tins with sacks tied to the chains.
were fastened about the necks of the
victims with sacks tied to the chains
They then drove to the bridge in an
automobile and after a scuffle, the
two were thrown over the bannister
by Williams order.
Howard asked manning what be-
came of Price and when the witness
replied he was taken to the South
River, Col. Greene Johnson, counsel
for tn defense, objection was overrul-
ed.
The dates given by Manning show
ed that the men were killed after the
federal investigation of peonage charg-
es.
Resuming the stand after recess for
lunch, Manning testimony testified
to further details. I'VE went to the
South river, he related, Mr.. John Will
liams drove the car with me and Char
lie Chisholm and Harry Price in it.
Price had his hands tied. When we
got out, Price said, don't throw me
over, I'll co. Then he said, Lord have
mercy on me- and sat on a rail.
"He jumped off into the river with
a chain around his neck and weight
in sacks tied to the chain. Mr.. John
Williams was there" Chisholm Will
liams and Manning drove back to the
place after the drowning Manning
said. Manning said Williams told his
victims they were being taken to a.
train and would be allowed to go a.
way. He declared when Williams
preached the subject of killings to HIM
he didn't want to do it. "Well it's
your neck or theirs, I'll let you de-
eide" Manning testified Williams told
him.