The Washington times., 1921-04-06
FARM SLAYER
TAKES STAND
Clyde Manning Expected to Tell
Jury How Planter Had "a
Workers Killed.

CONlNGION, Ia, April b.-Ihe
story Of how eleven negroes went to
their deaths was expected in Newton
county's courthouse hero today, and
a crowd Of murder fans was on hand
early, following the promise of at
torneys for the State in the trial of
John William that Clyde Manning,
whose alleged confession brands him
as executor Of some of the eleven
would be placed on the stand at once.
TO AIR GRUEsOME STORY.
Manning was expected to detail
how he knocked these negro workers
in the head with an axe on orders
from Mist Johnny" or escorted
them to bridges over the Yellow ana
AIcovy rivers, fastened weights
about them with chains, and then
showed them of into the water.
The story was expected to be suf-
hciently gruesome for any of its hear
ers, for Manning showed great powers
Of memory when he unerringly led a
party of twenty-five men to places
where Ave OF the unfortunate negroes
nad been buried and then pointed out
the spot in the Yellow river whore
three others had been drowned. Corn
had been planted over the lonesome,
shallow graves, but Manning found
them.
LONE MURDER CHARGE.
II has- been sunounced that VIII
6Ams b on trial for tho murder Of
L,nAtAy Peterson. one OF the negroes
who was found in the Yellow river
in Newton county before the investi-
cation that resulted IN discovery Of
the eleven got under way. 1t had
been the intention of the State to try
Williams on the charge involving the
death of Willie Preston.
The law In Georgia forbids
evidence of one murder being intro
duced during . trial for another. but
tho state hoped to circumvent this
through Aanning's testimony by
which they will seek directly to con-
meet all the alleged crimes.
George w. Brown, an agent for the
United States Department of Justice,
was the nrst witness called by the
state. Clyde Manning. his wife, his
mother and several of his brothers
were among fifteen witnesses brought
into the court room for the State, but
all were excluded from the trial room.
Three Federal agents, including
Brown, also were present.
DESCRIBES .sLAvE- sTOCKADE.
Charges Of peonage on the williams
plantation had reached the govern
ment some time ago. according to
Brown. and he investigated these re-
ports on February 2S. He described a
stockade he found on the farm of
Huland Williams, a son OF John Will
liams, where he said negroes were
kept 1t was strongly constructed
wooden building, with heavy shutters.
secured by bars over the windows A
heavy chain. he said. ran through the
building and was fastened to the
doors at night
The defense made a vigorous ef-
fort to exclude testimony of the
Federal agents, but the state won its
point by stating that the investiga-
ton of alleged peonage created In
williams mind a fear of exposure
through the negroes he was charged
with having slain thus establishing a
motive.
MANNING TAKES STAND.
Negroes were taken from prison
stockades in Atlanta and Macon to
the Williams Farm. according to
Brown, who said Williams admitted
this to him.
/ A. ]. Wismer, another Federal
agent, corroborated Browns testi-
mony. He said he accompanied Brown
on q trip to investigate conditions on
the williams plantation.
Clyde Manning was then called to
the stand and a hutter of excitement
ran through the spectators. Judge
Hutcheson told the big negro he
would not have to swear to any ques-
| tions that would incriminate him.
HAS REMARKABLE MEMORY.
Manning said he was twenty three
years old and was born In Jasper
the williams plantation lies. Thir-
teen years Of his life. he said, had
been spent on the williams farm.
II worked for wages on Mr.. Will
iams' place." he said, and added that
his wife was one Of the cooks there.
Manning showed an astonishing
memory. He detailed various routine
matters and then. at the request Of
| attorneys ran over a list OF names
of persons Identified with the Will
liams plantation. He recalled names
of children and grandchildren In the
Williams family. and named host
of negroes who had worked on the
plant alton. Among these were the
| eleven whose bodies were found on
the plantation and in the rivers.
He gave DEFINITE information re-
garding the places where these work.
ers came from. Some came from the
Atlantic stockade and some from the
Macon stockade, he said. but his
memory was faithful when he re-
| called that one man came from the
jail at Monticello. capital Of Jasper
county.