New-York tribune., 1921-03-29
Seek 10 More
Dead Negroes
In Peon Case
Murder Farm Hunt Goes On
for Missing Men .. After
Eleven Bodies Are Found:
Troops to Guard Trial
Night Scare i'm 3 Counties
Uprising Proves Hoax; U. S.
Agents Fear Other Wit
nesses May Be Silenced
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

MONTICELLO, Ga, March 28.-With
the bodies Of eleven negroes already un-
covered, either on the murder farm of
John Williams, in Jasper County, or
dragged from out of the Alcovy and the
Yellow rivers, investigators are now
working on the theory that there may
be other victims.
1t is pointed out that on the date of
the first murder admitted by CLYDE
Manning, who asserts that he acted
on the orders of his master, John
Williams, there were nineteen other
negroes at work on this plantation
and it is said they are now missing
Whether they have managed to. escape
from the alleged conditions of peon-
age, whether they have been hidden
or whether they have been killed, is
the problem on which the authorities
are at work. Agents of the Federal
government, as we'll as state officers
are searching for every bit Of evidence
possible.
Some Of the state officers believe there
have been no more murders and are i'm
clined to think the negroes have escaped
Other officials, however, will not be sat
isfied until thorough investigation has
been made.
Another development in the case to-
day was an effort of Solicitor Brand of
the Stone Mountain Circuit to have the
case of Williams put on trial in Newton
County on Thursday This was beaten
on the objections Of counsel for the de-
Tense, who asserted it gave insufficient
time for the preparation of their case
Troops to Guard Trial
MACON, Ga, March 28.-The next
move in the investigation Of the peon-
age murder farm of John Williams, in
here, will be decided on at conference
at the Office of Governor Dorsey in
Atlanta tomorrow, it was announced
tonight by Doyle Campbell, solicitor
general of the Ocmulgee Circuit Su-
perior Court. Campbell left his home
at Sparta tonight for Atlanta.
1t now seems certain the trial of the
white man, Williams, and the negro,
Manning, who are being held in con-
nection with the murder of eleven
negroes, will be held in Macon or At
lanta and that the military will be
called out to protect the prisoners
during the trial. This probably will
be decided at the conference to-mor-
row.
Judge J. B. Parks, of the Ocmulgee
circuit, said tonight that he would not
order the three Williams bows to be
taken to the tower at Atlanta, even
though they should be arrested.
81 W0n1d not add RI tho cvr ~ 49,
row of the good people of Jasper
County said Judge Parks. eve have
good officers here, and the good people
OF Jasper County will see that the law
is enforced
IF the young men are arrested thew
will be kept in the Monticello Jail until
they have been tried"
No More Arrests
No further arrests had been made
in the case late tonight and none is
anticipated, at least until after to-
| morrow's conference.
AS result of a call for help from
Sheriff B. L. johnson at Covington
to the citizens of Jasper, Butts and
Newton counties to quell a reported
uprising of negroes residing near the
Williams farm, Jasper County was
thrown into wild excitement early this
morning and hundreds OF armed men
invaded the county
The report of the sheriff was that
the negroes were planning an attack
on Covington and Monticello. Auto
mobile parties from Butts and jasper
counties, loaded down with armed men,
hurried to the scene. On their arrival
at Waters Bridge, over the Alcovy
River. which was the burial grounds
for three negroes, it was reported that
the negroes were headed toward Gov
ington. On reaching that city the
armed parties were met by Newton
fcor<Iru.d N,