The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-04-13
GEORGIA FARMER
FOUND GUILTY
Lie Sentence for Georgia Farmer In
Murder Case.

LIE sentence Tor Georgia Farmer In
Murder Case.
Covington, Ga, April 9.--John S.
Williams, accused Of the murder of
eleven OF his negro farm hands to malt
a federal investigation Of peonage. was
found guilty Of murder by jury II.
Newton county superior court today
and sentenced to life Imprisonment.
Motion for new trial was Immediately
MED and hearing on the motion set for
April ~, at Decatur, Ga, before Judge
John B. Hutcheson, who presided at
the trial.
Tho verdict OF murder with recon-
mendation for mercy which under
Georgia law automatically carries q
life sentence. was road exactly 1s
hours after tho case went to the Jury
and was calmly received by Williams,
a moment later, rs his wife and chill
dren began to sob almost inaudtbly
he seemed to be struggling to restrain
MS own emotions. Just after court ad-
lourned. the mans two daughters be-
came hysterical and wero led from the
room by friends.
Williams appeared moro affected
by his family's suffering than he had
been by the verdict. He was on trial
charged specifically with tho murder
Of one OF the negroes found drowned
In Newton county. Clyde Manning, a.
negro farm boss for Williams, and
Jointly indicted with him, testified that
on Williams order he and another
negro, afterwards killed had done the
killings.
Williams had maintained cheer
ful attitude during tho trial and had
stoutly maintained his innocence, al
| though having admitted ho might be
technically guilty Of peonage, as he
Raid he had paid fines for negroes and
let them work out the dobt.
Sentence was formally passed with
In few moments after the verdict was
announced; Judge Hutchesofi restated
the verdict rs read by IT. r. Starr, a
farmer and foreman of tho jury. and
added:
And tho verdict h the sontonoo of
tho court"
Tho Terdlct WAS not in exact form.
but In open court both aides agreed
that 1T was legal by Supreme Court
decisions ana no exception would bo
taken
Tho motion Cor now trial was
naado on the grounds that tho verdict
was "contrery to the evidence; eon-
traIy TO tho law and witheat ovidsAce
10 SuDDort It"
The Jury wes oenpoSed OF seyon
aarnera, the othoro Aasn8 marohants.
clerks and @ harbeG. AeSt OF tho
Jurors wore yoaag nen. ata Of dhaza
sewing on q yury sop tao arsb tsrne.
The case went 10 trfal kuat Eeeg-
cay. one day beiAg takon up with ar
guments for postponement and soleo-
tion Of @ Jury. The stata took littlo
| moro than o day 10 present Its evidence
while tho defenso rolled solely On the
uaSwora statenent Of Williams.
The Jury went out at 1851 p n. yes-
terday and was said to have taken
moro than five or six ballots, much Of
the time being devoted to discussion Of
the case. Tho first ballot stood six for
a verdict OF murder with no recon-
mendations. thus carrying death SEN
tence and the other six voting to ac-
Quit williams. according to jurors
Save for q brief recesD FOR supper,
tha Jurors considered the case until
shortly before midnight, when they
rousted the judge and opposing coun-
sol out OF bed and had the entire charge
repeated. Foreman Starr said the jury
Twas not certain as to the exact point
Of law In doubt
williams will be taken back to At
lanta pending the hearing ON his mo-
ton for q new trial.
Solicitor Brand has announced Man
ming will be tried or the murder iz-
dictment agaisAab htua but no date has
yet been set.