The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-04-08
CLYDE MANNING TELLS
OF ALLEGED MURDERS
Negro Farm Boss Repeats on Witness
Stand Story Tod Officers Of
Death Of Eleven Negroes

Ccvirgton, Ga, April 6.-Fear of
his own life was the motive that
prompted Clyde Manning, negro farm
boss, to help kill II negro farm hands
employed on the Jasper county plan
tation of John S. Williams. the negro
told the jury trying Williams in New
ton county superior court here today.
Manning asserted on cross examina-
ton he did not want to help kill them,
but was afraid to disobey Williams
who, he declared, was trying to do
away with the negroes for fear they
might testify regarding peonage con-
ditions on the Williams farm
."They wasn't abothering me-" said
Manning, a coal black, short, stockily
built man of about $50 pounds, "and
1 didn't want to get 'em out of the
way" but he added, few moments
later, "Mr. Johnny said, It's their
necks or yours. "
The negroes met death shortly af-
ter federal authorities started an in
vestigation Of alleged peonage on the
farm, six of them according to Man
ming, being chained to rocks and
thrown alive into rivers, and five
knocked in the head or shot and bur-
led on the farm.
Williams is on trial charged with
the murder of Lindsey Peterson, one
of three negroes alleged to have been
brought into Newton county and
drowned. The defense sought to con-
fine the witness to his account of
Peterson's death and to bar him and
two federal agents from testifying to
peonage conditions. Judge John B.
Hutcheson overruled both motions
and Green F. Johnson, chief counsel
for Williams, indicated he would ap-
peal on these grounds to higher
courts in event of conviction of VIII
Fliams.
Throughout an hour ofocross exami
nation the negro who was indicted
Jointly with Williams stolidly denied
any pressure had BEEN brought to
bear on him to make him tell the sto-
ry. 1t was only after long question
ing by officers, he said, that he first
told his story, but he denied he had
been beaten, threatened with drown
ing or promised light sentence if he
would help convict Williams as the
latter's counsel intimated.
Gust Telling the Truth"
"I'm just telling the TRUTH" Man.
ming told the attorney and added that
! he had not talked when first arrested
"because Mr.. Johnny told me not
to-"
"Well drilled" was the only COM
ment that could be obtained from
Williams after the trial. He had
watched the witness closely through
out the day, ard on one occasion
smiled broadly when Manning describ-
ed how in his one attempt to operate
his employers automobile he had run
into a mail box.
Huland, Marvin and Leroy Will
ans, sons of the defendant for whom
Gov. Hugh Dorsey has asked indict-
ments in Jasper county when the
grand jury there takes up April IL
: investigation of the deaths Of the
eight negroes in that county, were
not in court again today, but DR.. Gus
Williams, the oldest son fatty denied
report that they had left the state.
They probably will attend the trial
later, he said.
The state put un four other wit
nesses besides Manning-two federal
agents, Clyde Freeman, negro farm
hand. and a negro woman cook-and
was expected to conclude it's case by
tomorrow night The defense indi-
Gated it would conclude its testimony
in about one day and that the case
should go to the jury Saturday.
HONOR ROLL OF LONG LANE