Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-02
WILL MAKE APPEAL
FROM DECISION, SAY
DEFENSE'S COUNSEL
BY HUBERT BAUGHN
(The Journals staff Correspondent.

(The Journals Stan correspondent
CONVICTION. Ga. May 31.-"Guil-
ty with recommendation of mercy"
was the verdict returned by the jury
here. this afternoon in the case Of
Clyde Manning. charged with the
murder of Lindsey Peterson, one Of
the Jascer county death farm" VIC
Tins. The jury deliberated thirty
five minutes. Judge Hutchinson or
dered Manning to stand up and told
him:
1.-THE verdict of the jury is the
sentence of the court-you are sen.
fenced to life imprisonment"
Manning received the verdict with
out emotion.
His attorney, f. Marvin Under
wood, announced he would file a mo.
ton for a new trial.
In his speech. Mr.. Howard declar-
ed that the defense. had not shown
that Manning was in
fear of his own life. On the other
hand. said Mr.. Howard. Manning
of a boss" and carried a revolver.
Same Motive Claimed
Mr.. Howard spoke until IL o'clock,
when the luncheon recess was taken
until o CLOCK. On the
of court, Judge A. B. Meadow. Of
counsel for the defense. began his
speech. He was followed by E. Mar
vim Underwood, of the defense, and
Solicitor A. M. Brand closed for the
state. after which Judge John B.,
charge to the jury was.
made.
A large number of negroes attend"
ed the trial Perfect order was OBJ
served in the court room. and on the
streets no indications OF
excitement or disorder were noted.
Manning took the witness stand here
and pleaded for his life.
He sat back in the witness chair
with his motionless hands folded. He
told simply how. at Williams order
he had killed this negro or that one
with a ak" how he had tled up
Price asked permission Ito die like
a man, not rat. He told of the
guardhouse on the williams farm
and went into detail concerning
the long chain Of killings. All these
things, Manning explained, he TOOK
they must be done and because he
was afraid to disobey Mister john
N.Y.
In conclusion Mr.. Underwood, in
an eloquent outburst, gave a power
full plea for the UNFOLDING of the law
in Georgia.
Declaring that Clyde Manning was
merely tool in the hands Of pow-
erful and driving force" he appealed
to the.s jury to give the negro his
Brands Argument
Closing for the state, Solicitor
General A M. Brand argued that
ample motive and malice on Man.
uings part had been shown by the
prosecution.
and had a malignant heart" he as
serted.
Characterizing the Jasper county
murders as 1.-The most diabollcal this
country has ever known" the solic-
itor charged that Manning was
willing accomplice to all of the MUIR
ders.
THE state admits that Williams
was the master mind in these hor-
rors and had the greatest interest
in their commission, but we contend
that he did not coerce Clyde Man-
Clyde was willing" he said. "He
wanted to gain favor with his boss.
Why didn't Manning run away If he
did not want to help carry out Will
liams' plan of destruction of human
lives? There was ample opportunity
for him to leave"
MANNING'S APPEAL
is SET FOR JUNE 30
John S. williams and Clyde Man.
ming. principals in the famous muir
derS farm" case, who are now under
life sentences imposed by Newton
county juries, will next face trial in
Jasper county, where eight lndlct"
ments charging murder are stand
ing against them.
Williams, the owner of the big
"a a nnnUinfp6
8 in CoVington and sentenced to
spend the rest of his life in the PEN
itentiary.
Manning, his negro farm boss. was
found guilty late Tuesday afternoon
after a two-day trial, and received
the same sentence.
Williams motion for new trial.
filed several days after his convic-
ton, was denied by Judge John B.
His attorneys immedi-
ately took the case to the supreme
court. Although reputed to be
planter. it became known In
Covington Tuesday that Williams
signed 'pauper's oath" to carry his
appeal to the higher court. Friends
of the convicted man said the heavy
expense of his trial. the interruption
of work on his farm. and the sale of
eighty bales of cotton to enable his
three sons to leave the state to- evada
arrest on murder charges, brought
about his financial ruin.
Manning's new trial motion will be
heard at Decatur on June 80 by
Judge Hutcheson. If it is denied, ii
is probable that he will appeal ia
the supreme court.
After his conviction Tuesday, Mans
ming was returned to Atlanta and
placed in the tower to await the outs
come of his appeal for a new trial,
His former employer also is in the
tower in a neighboring cell. awaiting
the supreme courts decision In his
appeal.
Meanwhile, officials of Jasper coun-
against both defendants. Judge J.
3. Park. of the Ocmulgee circuit,
said he would decide on a date for
The trial as soon as Solicitor General
Doyle Campbell reported ready" AS
n Newton county. the defendants
will be tried separately.
In addition to the various state
Indictment for peonage. The Cow
eminent claims he held negroes in
Involuntary servitude and had them
lilled when he feared they would es-
cape or reveal conditions on the farm
% the authorities.
Williams three sons. Huland, Les
10Y and Marvin. all indicted for mur%
Ter and peonage, have been fugi-
ives since their fathers arrest,
heir capture.
Although disappointed over the
utcome and claiming he did not get
. square deal. Clyde Manning, in
is cell at the Fulton county tower
Wednesday, said he was glad they
i'd not sentence him to hang.
I'm carrying another mans load"