Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-31
MAN|V|NG DECLARED
He WAS FORCED To
KILL, W|TNESSESSAY
BY HUBERT BAUGHN
(Stan Correspondent of The Journal)


CONVICTION, Ga, May 3O.-Clyde
| Manning, negro farm boss on the
| John S. Williams murder farm
| was placed on trial here today for
| the murder Of Lindsey Peterson, one
| of the eleven farm hands who were
put to death on the Jasper county
plantation early in March.
Through his attorney, E. Marvin
| Underwood. of Atlanta, Manning
pleaded not guilty. He will contend
that he killed the farm hand under
duress by Williams in order to save
his own life.
The defendant was brought under
heavy guard to Covington from the
Fulton tower early this morning. He
was dressed in overalls when he came
into court. He sat directly behind
Attorney Underwood and was appar-
emily calm and collected
Assisting Solicitor General A. M.
Brand in the prosecution was Attor-
ney William NJ. Howard. of Augusta.
Mr.. Howard appeared for the state
when Williams was tried early in
April.
Judge A. D. Meadows, of Coving-
ton, was associated with Attorney
Underwood in the defense of Man
ming.
Interested onlookers were c. c..
King and w. H. Key, attorneys for
John S. Williams. 1t was announced
that Greene Johnson, of Monticello,
chief leading counsel for Williams,
would also attend the trial.
Two jurors had qualified at 1O:15
o'clock. They were Bob Cason, of
Oxford, and Joe Black, Of the Oak
Hill district. Both are farmers.
Williams Relations Barred
In striking the jury, defense at
torneys requested Judge Hutchinson
to direct Solicitor Brand to question
all Jurors concerning their relation
ship to John Williams, stating that
he has many relatives in Newton
county. They pointed out that he
and Manning were jointly indicted,
and that persons related to Williams
would not be qualified to serve as
jurors in Manning's case. Solicitor
Brand was opposed to questioning the
jurors along this line, taking the
position that relationship to John S.
Williams would not disqualify them
in Manning's case.
Judge john B. Hutcheson over
ruled the solicitor and directed him
to disqualify all jurors who admitted
relationship to any member of John
S. Williams family.
The court room was only partly
filled when the trial opened, although
large number of farmers from
the surrounding territory were in
Covington.
Attorneys. for the prosecution and
defense predicted that Manning's fate
will rest with the jury not later
than Tuesday afternoon.
The jury was complete a I 10:45
o'clock. 1t follows: Bob Cason,
farmer; Joe Black. farmer; c. D.
Clarke, contractor; Henry c. Biggers,
farmer; F. A. Briscoe, manufacture
err; Coley Bird. farmer; P. F. Austin,
bus line operator; ]. L. Milton. book
keeper, w. "A. f1uESl, IHeICAdAI 4hA III
err; Paul L. Dyer, farmer; Otis Har-
deman, merchant farmer; ]. P. Mos
ley, merchant farmer.
First Witness
After excluding from the court
room all men whose names were in
the jury box, Judge Hutchinson or
dered the trial to proceed. Solicitor
Brand swore the jury and asked
for sequestration of the witnesses.
The state called Carl Wheeler as
the first witness. He testified he aid
ed in recovering the bodies of Lind
say Peterson and Willie PreSon
from Yellow river. near Allen S
bridge. The bodies were tied to-
gether with a trace chain and bags
of rocks were fastened around their
necks, he said. The defense did not
cross-examine him.
DR.. c. l.. Hardeman, who said he
resides near Aliens bridge, was next
called. He told of the recovery of
| the bodies of Peterson and Preston
On March IS.
In my opinion, the bodies had
been in the water ten days when
| found" he testified.
Sheriff B. L. johnson told Of the
recovery of the bodies. He said
Moppipo hodiaS