Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-01
PE0NAGE IN>.GE0RGIA
j; Charges Against VI! Williams az TO A! be I'm
diattelys Investigated. 'I!Sl
NEGROES ,tARREsTEDiIi ASss, WITNESSES
son>of Accused Farmer says*That His
Father is Not Guilty Of crimej; That
the System He Practices is the Same
as that of Other Farmers.

ratHeF is NOT 1uiiry OF SFimeJ nal
the System He Practices is the Same
as that of Other Farmers.
Covington, Ca, March 3o.-Federal
agents raided the farm in Jasper county
today of John S. Williams, charged
with having caused the murder of II
negroes, and arrested several negro
farm hands. whom they wanted as ma
terial witnesses in the investigation OF
alleged peonage conditions on the farm
which are declared to have caused the
killings.
Williams, it was announced today by
Judge John p. Hutcheson, presiding
judge in the Newton county superior
court, will be placed on trial here next
week on one Of the murder indict-
ments which followed the finding of
the bodies of three negroes in a 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 muir
der charges separately. .3i::-
There are three murder charges in
this county against Williams. who ac-
cording 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 bodies were
found in that county and the governor
has asked the jurors not only to indict
Williams and Manning but also the
three younger sons of Williams.
Williams Elder Son Talks.
Reports that the three younger sons
of the plantation owner had sought to
incite white residents against the
negroes by spreading reports that the
negroes planned an uprising were in
vestigated again today by the grand
jury here, which recessed tonight with
out taking definite action.
1t was announced the inquiry would
be taken up again at an early date.
Stories alleged to have been told the
grand jury by Floyd Johnson, young
white man, that there had been a con-
certed effort to cause racial trouble and
to make it appear negroes killed the
men found dead, in the hope Of In
public sentiment: in favor OF
JOHN S. Williams. were discussed today
by DR.. Gus Williams, a'hero Of the
Somme retreat, where his services won
him the British war cross.
The elder Williams and his three
youngest sons. Julian, Huland and
Marvin, have consistently refused to
discuss the case since the father issued
his first statement after arrest, cate
gorically denying the charges, but the
oldest son, DR.. Williams, called news
paper men in today and offered to an
swer any questions they might ask.
Declares Them Innocent.
Dr.. Williams declared his father and
brothers were innocent Of the murders
and also Of the alleged attempt to in
cite race trouble following the expos
ure of alleged conditions.
THE 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 ru-
mors l had heard in Covington. The
truth about the situation is this:
Johnson came to my mothers house the
day after father had been arrested and
told of meeting car filled with negroes
on the Allen bridge over the Yellow
river.
"He stated that he had seen two
black bodies in the car and that the
negroes had. told him if he told anyone
they would kill him. At the time they
told him this, he said they held their
guns on him. and since then he has
been sleeping with his gun. He told
my mother that he had decided to come
voluntarily to her and tell Of the oc-
currence, because he wanted to help
my father. And now they tell me he
has confessed in Covington before the
grand jury that it was all a frame
up"
Conditions on Farm.
DR.. Williams then described condi-
tions.on the farm. saying it had become
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 negroes
who otherwise would have gone to the
chaingang, to get labor.
Are the peonage charges against
your father and brothers true?" he was
asked.
well, if they are guilty Of peonage,
DIR. williams replied, after a lengthy
pause as though studying his answer
there are many other farmers In
Georgia guilty Of the same crime. 1t is
true they have bailed negroes out Of
Jail, but they have paid them wages
and given them clothes to wear"
Advent of Federal Agents.
After federal investigators made
their trip to the plantation III Feb
ruary, Dr.. Williams said, and told the
negroes "they should be making more
money and working only eight hours
l..