The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-10
Williams in Atlanta Jail
 Pending Action on Appeal
Georgia Planter, Convicted of Murder and Sentenced to Life Imprisonment, Expresses Confidence He Will Finally Be Cleared of Charge
By Associated Prsss

Covingtcn, Ga, April 9.-John s. Williams, Jasper county farmer, was taken to Atlanta and placed in jail today to await action April 30 on his motion for new trial which was made here today immediately after he was convicted and sentenced to life Imprisonment on charge of murder. He expressed confidence he would finally be cleared of the charges.
 The trial was the first one arising from accusations that Williams caused the killing of Il negro farmhands after de- psrtment of justice agents had started to investigate alleged peonage charges on his farm February IS, last Three Of the negroes. including Lindsey Peterson. whom he was specifically charged with killing at the trial ending today, were alleged to- have been brought into New ton county and drowned.
 The other eight negroes were said by Manning. negro farm boss and self-con- fessed accomplice. to have been killed in Jasper county. and inquiry by tho grand Jury with . view to indicting Williams and three of his sons is to open there Monday.
 TAKES CONVICTION CALMLY
 Williams appeared to take his convic- tion calmly, but when his wife and daughters broke into sobs. their grief af- fected him and he struggled to hide his emotions as he sought to comfort them He was allowed to remain in the court room with them for 10 or Is minutes before being taken to Atlanta.
 Date for trial of Williams on the other two indictments here has not been set, nor has the court announced when Man ming will be tried, although 1t was indi- cated the negro would face jury be- fore the regular July term. Counsel for Williams hold that he cannot be tried on the indictment charging murder ot Willie Preston. whose body was found chained to that of Peterson, but the state contends the indictment resulting from the death of Preston is separate one and that he can be tried on it as well as on the third indictment charg- ing murder of another negro. Harry Price. The defense contsnded the drown ing of Peterson and Preston was one act
 TO SEEK INDICTMENTS
 Monticello. Ga. April Establishments assinst John s. Williams and three of his sons and Clyde Manning. negro farm boss. on charges of the murder of a total of 14 negroes and indictments against six or seven other citizens on charges of lynching Eugene Hamilton. negro. will be sought at the grand jury investigation beginning next Monday at Monticello. according to announcement tonight from Solicitor General Doyle Campbell
 Williams. who was convicted and sen fenced to life Imprisonment today at Covington, charged with the murder ot one of the negro farm hands whom he Is alleged to have feared as possible peonage witnesses. was taken to Atlanta today for safekeeping. His motion for a new trial will be heard April 90 and Solicitor General Doyle Campbell an nounced that if Williams is indicted in Jasper county he will not be tried pend ing the outcome of the hearing April 70.
 Two murder indictments still are pend- ling against Williams in Newton county. but action on them has not yet been announced. Manning self-confessed ac-
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