The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-06-21
HENRY WILLIAMS, WHO KILL
ED LITTLE GIRL, PUT TO
DEATH NEAR MOULTRIE.
CONFESSED HORRIBLE CRIMES
Took Brute From Officers After He
Had Been Tried and Sentenced to
Be Hanged. Quick Action of the
Court Awaited Nothing.

Tohn Henry Williams, negro, accus-
ed of the murder OF Lorena Wilkes
the l2-year-old girl whose body was
found near Autreyville in Colquitt
county, Monday of last week, was
taken from officers by mob Satur-
day morning, carried back to the scene
of his crime and lynched
The officers were overpowered
while taking the prisoner from court,
where he had just been convicted.
The Jury voted the death penalty,
and the prisoner was sentenced to be
hanged July 18th.
Absolute order prevailed throughout
the trial. People began gathering on
the court house lawn in large num-
bers Just before the hearing was con-
cluded. When the officers with the ne
gro appeared on the steps OF the east
side of the court house shout went
up from the crowd.
Immediately what seemed to be a
shrieking multitude closed in. Across
the court house lawn they pushed
their way into the streets and on
down to warehouse, where automo-
biles with motors running were wait
ing. The negro was thrown into one
of the cars and then the automobiles
sped away.
Negro Admits Both Crimes.
Williams was taken to the scene OF
the diabolical crime. In the presence
of more than five hundred men in a
semi-circe in front of him, the front
row sitting or squatting to allow
those behind to see, he admitted both
crimes. He talked in an unconcerned
Unconditional manner, being apparently
not in the least disturbed by the real
ization that soon he would be dead
He told of the details Of the crime;
how he had assaulted the girl, and, as
she had begged for her life, had fear
ed she would tell of his part i'll it, and
slashed her throat from ear to ear, and
buried her body in the water.
Somebody yelled, Let's. get light
wood knots" and in less time than it
takes to tell there were at least fifty
brought The negro was chained to
one especially large knot, and all the
Others were piled near him. The fire
was set and as the flames cracked
against his flesh he began singing and
continued as long as it was possible to
do so.
AS soon as he was dead the mob
dispersed and in less time than it took
to burn him the entire place was de-
serted and only the charred remains
of what was once John Henry Viii
liams was left as mute evidence OF his
crimes and the punishment therefor
Quick Work of Court.
Events happened rapidly in the Will
liams case. The crime was committed
on Monday of last week, and the grand
jury of Colquitt county was convened
by Judge W. E. Thomas Friday morn
ing, when the negro was indicted. He
was tried Saturday morning, the trial
coming as a surprise, it having been
announced that the date had not been
set. The mob, Immediately after the
trial, executed the sentence.
From the time of his arrest by
Sheriff Beard on the day of the crime,
when the sheriff and his prisoner were
pursued by several hundred enraged
people in automobiles, Williams was
carried from jail to jail, being finally
landed in the Muscogee county Jail,
from which he was taken to Moultrie
for trial.
The crime for which the negro was
lynched happened when Lorena
Wilkes, a little white girl, was muir
dered and probably assaulted. She was
but twelve years old and the victim S
body was thrown into pond of water.
Her throat was cut and she had been
thrown into the pond more than two
hours before the crime was revealed.
Early that morning she was sent by
her mother, a widow, to do some shop