New-York tribune., 1921-03-26
Planter Held
As Slayer Puts
Blame on Feud
.Framc-Up.' Says Rich Geor-
cian Arrested ON Serv-
ants Charge He Killed
III Negroes at His Order
Denies Men We're Slaves
Paid His Workers Wages, De-
cIares John Williams in
Attack on His Neighbors
spseso. Dispatch to The Trioxne

Spsctds Dispatch TO The Tyi6Mnc
ATLANTA, March 25.--A smoldering
fsud between the Leverett and Will
nsms families, rivaling those of Ken
tucky; charges of "frame-up to break
willisms's neck in tho Federal Court"
sud story of frequent clashes be-
tween those two factions, were all dis
closed tonight in the denial of John
williams. wealthy Jasper County farm
er, now held in the Fulton Tower un-
der Indictment for murder, of the coh-
f.ssion of John Manning, colored in
volyiug him in the killing of eleven
negroes.
For more than a month the finding
Of three negro bodies in the yellow
River, near Covington, has puzzled
state, county and Federal officials, and
the confession of Manning that he had
Knocked four negroes in the head with
an AZ in one week and helped drown
others at the command of Williams
vas the first light thrown on the
mystery.
This confession was made Thursday
before the Newton County Grand Jury.
Both Manning and Williams were in
dicted for murder and rushed here for
safe keeping. Newton County officials
arrived here with Manning Thursday
night and Williams was placed in the
Tower Friday afternoon, where he dis
eussed the charges against him.
Calls 1t "Frame-up'
asked If the charges made by Manning
we're true. "This trouble all began six
or seven years ago and was caused by
controversies over land lines and stock.
Mrs. NJ. Leyerett and her three sons,
Dave, Tom and Roy, own a farm ad-
jacent TO mine. They claimed 1 had
part Of their land, and since then argu-
ments over stock have occurred.
IF any negroes have been killed bv
Manning it was under other orders
than mine. It's all a frame-up to
break my neck in the Federal courts.
ut is true that l have secured some
negroes from jail. l have them out.
Just as other farmers, and / have paid
them salaries. There has been nothing
illegal IN such transactions of mine"
Williams was asked if there had been
any recent trouble between the two
families.
Yes" he replied. "Last fall the
Leverett brothers charged my boys
with having reported a still to county
officials, and shooting scrape almost
resulted from that. Not long apo
Dave Leverett and ! had a fight.
IF / had killed the negroes, l would
not have carried them fourteen miles
away to dump them in a river, but
would have placed them in the river
hear my farm, where know the depth
Il never shot one of the negroes, nor
'rdered him to hit four of them in the
head, and -neither--did~I haul six of
hem to points on the Yellow River
where they we're drowned 'like cats
Is the negro charges"
Williams appears unconcerned over
lis arrest and the charges against him
ind declares he will "come clear" He
lsserts that he has friends in several
ountles and can prove that Manninr's
statements are not true. His large
plantation is located almost midway
,etween Covington and Monticello, in
Jasper County, near the Newton County
inc.
Negro Charges Pecnage
Il am fifty-four years old, married
Ind have twelve children. l have never
been arrested before in my life and I
I'M going to prove that / am not guilty
If these charges"
The confession Of Manning was re-
,eated by him to-day after he had been
odged in the Fulton County Tower He
described how he had killed five of the
legroes and helped drown six others,
'cting in each instance, he said, under
'rders Of his employer For fifteen
'ears he had resided on the Williams
arm, he asserted, and he charged that
number of negroes were being held in
'eonage there.
II knocked four negroes in the head
sith an axe IN one week and buried
hem in pasture. back of Mr.. Will
lams's house" declared Manning.
Why did I do it? Because the boss
aid he wanted to get rid cf the ne
'iroes and that IL l didn't make 'em
disappear he'd kill me. And I know
lie meant what he said.
Mr.. Williams made me get Charlie
.;nishoim, a negro trusty, and Mr.. Will
iams and | took him to the river one
light and pitched him off the bridge
Tier we weighed him down. Charlie
segged hard, but Mr.. William said:
Let's throw him over and have it over
WITH"