The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-07
VICTIMS, CHAINED ID ROCKS, THROWN
 INTO RIVER ALIVE
This Is Testimony of Negro Farm Boss at Trial of Geor- gia Planter on Mur-
 der Charge
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Coyington, Ga., April 6.-Fear for his own life was the motive that prompted Clyde Manning, negro farm boss, to help kill II negro farm hands employed on the Jasper county plan tation of John s. Williams, the negro told the jury in the Williams trial in Newton county superior court here to- day. Manning asserted on cross-ex- animation he did not want to help kill them but was afraid to disobey Will Hams, whom, he said, was trying to do away with the negroes for fear they might testify regarding peonage con ditions 7n the Williams farm.
 They wasn't bothering me-" said Manning, coal black, short stockily built man of about 150 pounds, and didn't want 'em out of the way" but he added few minutes later, Mir. Johnny said it's their necks or yours"
 The negroes met death shortly after federal authorities started an investi- gattcn of alleged peonage on the
 
 ming being chained to rocks 7 and thrown alive into rivers and, five knocked in the head or shot and buried on the farm.
 Williams is charged with the mur- der of Lindsey Peterson, one of three negroes alleged to have been brought, into Newton county and drowned and the defense sought to confine the wit ' ness to his account of Peterson's death md tn hn h tna fn<l agents from testifying to peonage conditions. Judge John B. Hutcheson overruled both motions and Green F. Johnson, chief counsel for Williams indicated he would appeal on these grounds to higher courts in the event of conviction of Williams
 DENIES INTIMIDATION
 Throughout an hour of cross sxams ination the negro who was indicted jointly with Williams, stolidly denied any pressure had been brought to bear on him to make him tell the story. It was only after long ques- tioning by officers he said. that he first told his story, but he denied he had been beaten or threatened with drowning or promised light sem tence if he would help convict Will Hams as the latter's counsel intimated.
 I'm just telling the truth" Man. hing told the attorney and added that he had not talked when first arrested because MT. Johnny told me not to-"
 Well drilled,' was the only com ment that could be obtained from Will Hams after the trial. He had watched the witness throughout the day ano on on occasion smiled broadly when Manning described how on one at- tempt to operate his employers auto mobile, he had run into two mail boxes.
 SONS NOT PRESENT
 Williams sons for whom Governor Dorsey has asked indictments, were mot in court again today but pr. Gus Williams, the oldest flatly denied re- ports that they had left the state They probably will attend the trial later, he said
 The state put up four other wifi nesses besides Manning-two federal agents Clyde Freeman, a negro farm hand and a negro cook and was ex- pected to conclude it's case by to- morrow; night The defense indicated 1t would conclude its testimony in about one day and that the case should go to the jury on Saturday.
 Manning was the states chief wit ness and during his testimony the courthouse was packed to canacitv M Judge Hutcheson. out of deference fo the spectators, permitting all who could'to stand in the aisles and around the bar. The court asked for order and again today, as was the case yesterday ther was murmur from the crowd as men and women leaned forward to catch every word
 Manning seemed little affected bv his recital and rarely changed the in. 1lection of his voice. He is unable to read or write, he said, and about 20 years old, but does not know where he was born.
 when l first remember myself" he eald. T was in Jasper county" DESCRIBES KILLINGS During some three hours of direct leexamination the negro told in detail fof the alleged murder of the eleven negroes giving his description in simplest words. He was not asked to describe the alleged binding of the negroes who were bound but told how they were thrown off the bridges by himself and Charley Chisholm. another farm hand, whom he said he later helped Williams drown sThey were stubborn and bew- gtng," Manning said simply in his versfon of the death of Peterson and Willie Preston. Aand me and Charlie rolled 'en over the han- Ater of the brfdge.n
 The men, as were the others killed, he ,said. had been iured away from the farm by Williams on the pretext that they were being taken to trains and l would be allowed to return to their l homes in Atlanta or Macon where they had been taken from jail by Williams | |paying their fines. Peterson and Preston. Manning said. were bound to- 'gether by 8 trace chain around their l necks to which was fastened a sack | containing about hundred pounds of | rocks. Their hands were bound to- gether by wire, he said Williams was l |presept and drove the automobile in | which the negroes were carried. Man ning testified
 JUMPS INTO RIVER
 MArFy Price, another newro | taken to be arowned jumped off
 the bridge hlmself. Manninx said,
 when he fouAd there was no hope
 for him.
 \ "Dont throw me over, pIl ret
 pwersn Mannln8 quoted Price as | )ayins. and added that the negro E tcsssi..sA = Pssss~.a-se