The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-04-05
FARM OF WILLIAMS
VISITED BY AGENTS
FEDERAL AGENTS RAID HOME
OF GEORGIA MAN
Negro Farm Hands Taken in Gus
tody-Son of Accused Man
Talks to Newspaper Men

eral agents raided the farm in JAS
per county today of John S. Will
liams, charged with having caused
the murder of II negroes, and ar
rested several negro farm hands
whom they wanted as material wit
nesses in the investigation Of al
legged peonage conditions on the
farm which are declared to have
caused the killings.
Williams; it was announced today
by Judge John B. Hutcheson, pre-
siding judge in the Newton county
superior court, will be placed on
trial here next Tuesday on one of
the murder indictments which fol-
lowed the findings of the bodies of
three negroes in river in this
county. More than 100 venire men
have been summoned. Governor
Dorsey has suggested to officials that
Williams be tried on each of the
charges separately. There are three
murder charges in this county
against Williams, who, according to
Clyde Manning, his negro farm
boss, brought three negroes into
this county and had them drowned.
The Jasper county grand jury will
meet April II to inquire into the
deaths of eight negroes whose bod
les were found in that county, and
the governor has asked the jurors
not only to induct Williams and Man
ming, but also the three younger
sons of Williams.
Reports that the three younger
sons of the plantation owner had
sought to incite white residents
against the negroes by spreading re-
ports that the negroes planned an
uprising were investigated again to-
day by the grand jury here, which
recessed tonight without taking def
mite action. 1t was announced the
inquiry will be taken up at an early
date.
Stories alleged to have been told
the grand jury by Floyd Johnson, a
young white man, that there had
been a concerted effort to cause ra-
cial trouble and to make it appear
negroes killed the men found dead
in the hope of influencing public
sentiment in favor of John S. Will
Iiams were discussed today by DR..
Gus Williams, hero Of the Somme
retreat, where his services won him
the British war cross.
DR.. Williams Talks
The older Williams and his three
youngest sons, Julian, Huland and
Garvin, have consistently refused to
discuss the case since the father IS
sued his first statement after ar
rest, categorically denying the
charges, but the oldest son, DR.. Will
liams, called newspaper men and Of
fered to answer any question. DIR.
Williams declared his father and
brothers we're innocent of the muir
ders and also of the alleged attempt
to incite race trouble following the
exposure of alleged conditions.
'sThe first they (the three younger
sons) knew of the latest attempt to
arouse public sentiment here against
u.s." the physician said, 'was when
told them the other night about
rumors 1 had heard in Eov:ngton.
The truth about the situation is this:
Johnson came to my mothers house
the day after father had beea ar
rested and old of meeting car filled
with negroes on the Allen bridge over
the Yellow river.
"He stated that he mad seq two
black bodies in the car and that the
negroes had told him if he told any
one they would kill him. At tie time
they told him this, he said, they held
their guns on him, and since he has
been sleeping with his gun. He told
my mother that he had decided to
come voluntarily to her and tell CT
the occurrence, because ne wanted to
help my father. And now they tell
me he has confessed in Covington be-
fore the grand jury that it was all a
"frameup."
DR.. Williams then described con-
d;tions on the farm, saying it had be
come badly run down during the
war, as he and the three youngest
brothers were all in the service. He
said his father lately had paid the
fines OF the negroes, who otherwise