Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-09
Trial OF Williams,
Death arm Gunner
Is Near It's Close
BY HUBERT z. BAUGHN

(Staf Correspondent of TIe Journale
CONVICTION, Ga, April S.--Out-
side interference by the special
prosecutors in developing the case
against John S. Williams. proprietor
of the Jasper county death" farm,
was scored here today in the closing
argument in the case today by
Greene F. Johnson, leading counsel
for the defense.
The case was to go to the jury
Immediately after the charge op
Judge John S. Hutcheson, following
the conclusion of Mr.. Johnson's
speech. The charge was not expects
ed to be longer than thirty minutes
and every indication pointed to the
jury's beginning their deliberations
early in the afternoon.
Attorneys C. C. King, for the de.
Tense, Graham Wright, for the
state, w. H. Key for the defense,
and Solicitor A. NJ. Brand, for the,
state, argued in turn before the
jury Thursday. Counsel for the state
joined in charging Williams with
wholesale murder and demanded the
death penalty. The defendants at.
torneys centered their attacks on
the testimony of Clyde, the negro
farm boss" upon whose story Of
the murders the state is relying
upon conviction.
Williams came back into the court.
room at 1:45 o'clock after he had
lunched with his wife in the sher-
ifs office. He called his children
around him after lunch and talked
to them. Then he asked them to
let me talk to mamma for a little
while alone"
| The defendant walked with
steady stride to his seat directly be-
| hind Greene F. Johnson, who was to
speak to the jury for an hour and
half longer in an effort to save
the farmers life.
Williams was more serious as the
last session Of the trial began than
he has appeared heretofore. His
wife also wore a solemn expression,
| and the children seemed to realize
their fathers fate was hanging in
the balance.
Williams Confident
1T will be over now soon" said
Williams, as he patted Greene john
son on the back, land Il believe wo
have whipped em."
He congratulated the brilliant lave
yer who has fought so hard for his
acquittal and told MIN he. had done
mighty fine work"
1T am sure that l will come clear"
reiterated the defendant. as Judge
Hutchinson reconvened court and or
dered Attorney Johnson to proceed
with his argument
Williams seven-year-old son sat in
his lap with his arms around his
neck. The courtroom was packed
almost to suffocation. Attorney john
son said 1T is too hot in here"
Judge Hutchinson ordered all persons
sitting in windows to find other
places. Pacing back and forth in
front Of the jury box, Mr.. Johnson
continued his argument.
II have already pointed out the in
herent improbability of mis- negro
further The state says Williams is
an arch criminal. But don't you
know if Williams killed eleven me-
groes to hide peonage, he would
nave maze out the dozen ana GOT
Manning, too?"
Two vigorous speeches marked the
morning session of the court. the
first by former Congressman Will
liam M. Howard special prosecutor,
and the latter by leading counsel for
the defense, Greene F. Johnson, Of
Monticello, the former calling the
farm "a plague spot" infected with
the "Scourge Of DEATH"
Williams was willing to sacrifice.
the convict lives" of eleven negroes
on his farm to his own security and
pride of position, Mr.. Howard said.
Only those negroes who had been
bailed out of Jail, and whom he said
Williams held on the farm by force,
to work out their debts, where sub
ject to this dreadful contagion of
DEATH" he said in conclusion.
Mr.. HoWald contended that even
if the jury did not believe the state
ment of Clyde Manning, negro farm
boss, that, he helped Williams kill
the men, that the fact that they were
killed and that Williams alone had
the motive, remained.
Both sides closed their cases
Thursday and lengthy arguments by
opposing counsel began shortly afE
terward
Conclusion of the evidence came
swiftly before midday recess after
Continued on Page 6. Column ~