Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-09
TRIAL OF WILLIAMS,
DEATH FARM OWNER,
NEARS ITS CLOSE
Continued From Page u

the defendant had made his state
ment He made q sweeping denial
of the entire list of allegations of
the state.
Evidence Concluded
The only witness for the defense
was Williams himself, who told the
jury, Before God. L am is innocent
as a man can be-"
Williams told the jury he had Icld
federal agents he might be techni-
cally guilty of peonage if their state
ment as to the federal laws were cor
rect. and said Clyde Manning, negro
farm boss, had told. him the agents
said Manning was as guilty as Will
lianlS was"
Williams confined his remarks to
the cases of Lindsey Peterson, Harry
Price and Willie Preston, three me-
is specifically on trial for the death
of Peterson.
Court recessed for lunch when Will.
liams left the stand and the argu-
ments were assigned to start at the
afternoon session, each side to have
three speakers,
The last two states witnesses who
testified were put on the stand to
corroborate statements of Clyde Man
ming, negro farm boss. Manning told
the jury yesterday Williams directed
the killing of the man, three Of
whom were drowned in Newton
county.
Rena Manning, wife of Clyde Man
ming, testified in confederation Of
her husbands statement that on the
night Peterson. Willie Preston and
Harry Price were last seen alive,
Williams carried them and Manning
and Charlie Chisholm, off in his car.
Sheriff b. l.. Johnson, of Newton
county, testified that Manning identi-
T E..or -
and Price found in Newton county
rivers and told where the other bodies
could be found.
At the conclusion of his testimony,
the state rested" and the defense
conferred fifteen minutes after
which Williams took the stand. After
his statement. the defense rested and
recess was taken.
.. Court Opens
Judge Hutcheson called . order
Thursday morning at sos o'clock
heavily yelled. entered the room
arm in arm.
The state called Rena Manning,
wife of Clyde Manning, as the first
witness of the day.
The witness said the defendant
came to her house and found Clyde
Manning, Lindsay Peterson. Harry
called them out. A few minutes la
ter she said she heard them drive
away in Williams automobile.
clyde came home that night at
IL o'clock" she said in answer to
questions from Attorney Howard.
Price or Willie Preston come back
with him." she was asked.
mo, sir, [ never saw any of them
again. They are dead now," she said
On cross examination, Attorney
Johnson brought out from Rena that
that she frequently quarreled with
her husband.
Rena said she cooked for Mr.. and
went to the death farm ten days
ago, and took her to Atlanta, She
said they questioned her closely.
said the witness.
Did you know Lindsay Peterson
and Willie Preston?" questioned At
/ torney Howard.
When did you last see them?"
Williams farm to take some hogs
to Mr. Johnny Williams house"
what day was that?" asked the
"Onl Saturday night" Rena an
swered.
cross-Examination
groes who s'never came back" were
employees of Huland Williams and
not of the defendant
"What time did Mr.. Williams call
Peterson, Price and Preston out of
your house?" asked Mr.. Johnson.
Rena said it was about 8 O'Clock
at night. Judge Hutchinson here told
Rena to take her finger out of her
mouth.
She vvoc r7opip,,1atipu q buua ouid
of chewing gum.
Rena declared the automobile in
which the negroes drove away was
a Chandler and not a Ford. She said
she could tell by the sound Of the
exhaust.
Attorney johnson asked Rena if
federal agents had not instructed her
to say the car was a Ford.
I'm fact. haven't they told. you ex
actly what they want you to say?"
he asked.
NO sir" she answered.
Didn't you once leave Clyde Man
ming because he tried to kill you and
your brother?' asked Mr.. Johnson.
No sir" she answered
The state next called Sheriff B. L.
Johnson. of Newton county.
River and South River are located
and described the depth of these
streams at the point the negroes
were SAID to have been thrown in
He said the water under the bridges
across the streams was deep" He
told OF the discovery of a negro body
in South River on March IL At
torney Johnson said he Inferred the
states theory was this was the body
of Harry Price. He objected to the
sheriff's testimony on the ground it
was irrelevant.
The objection is overruled," said
Judge Hutchinson.
The sheriff told of Mannings
original confession and of his trip
to the rivers and the death farm"
to identify bodies.
Manning identified the bodies Of
the deceased negroes as fast as
they were discovered" said Sheriff
Johnson.
Attorney Howard asked this ques-
ton to the sheriff: WAS any at
tempt made by you or any other Of
ficers to force Manning to tell his
story?"
absolutely not" said the sheriff
"Are you sure" asked Mr.. How
ard. that he was not beaten. abused
or cursed in an effort to make him
| talk?
Sheriff Johnson asserted Man
ming opened up and talked volun-
| tarily."