Newspaper Page Text
Cljt Atlanta ©rLWeWto Sfourual
VOL. XXIII. NO. 105.
MANNING IS FOUND GUILTY, SENTENCED TO LIFE
PRESIDENT HOLDS
COMM WITH
I. C. C. ON RATES
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(Copyright, 1621.)
WASHINGTON, June I.—President
Harding has taken his flrsf impor
tant step toward solving the railway
problem. He has, in effect, asked the
interstate commerce commission to
reduce freight rates. He didn’t do
so directly—he managed the thing
rery tactfully and diplomatically. For
» president isn’t supposed to ask the
Interstate commerce commission,
which is a quasi-judicial body, to ren
der any decisions. Woodrow Wilson
had some informal conferences once
with members of the commission and
was severely criticized for trying to
Influence the commission to revise
rates.
President Harding adopted a much
more and even bolder course, which
unquestionably will establish a prece
3ent and brush aside for all times
the technical criticism that a presl
lent can’t communicate with the in
terstate commerce commission.
Mr. Harding walked to the inter
itate commerce commission building
ind told the members of the commis
sion that he recognized that the com
mission is a rate-making agent .of
congress and that inasmuch as he
had the official right to communicate
to congress any message he pleased,
he therefore felt free to communicate
iirectly with the agent of congress.
Confers With I. C. C.
With that delicate question of
right off his mind, Mr. Harding enter
ed into a general discussion with the
commission on the subject of rates,
making delicate inquiry as to the
progress the commission was mak
ing on the subject and expressing
lis own solicitude over certain
Hasses of rates. He mentioned par
tacularly the rate on fruit carrying,
which is so much a subject of com
plaint in the west. He was much
pleased to learn that the commission
was endeavoring to bring about a
revision of rates and that the com
mission was proceeding on a plan
whereby the railroads would volun
tarily reduce their scale on certain
commodities where obviously the
rate was more than the traffic could
bear. Mr. Harding left the commis
sion with a parting word that car
ried a great deal of significance. He
spoke of his desire io be helpful and
to remain in closer touch with the
work the commission is doing. ■
Now the visit of Mr. Harding was '
no casual affair, accidentally brought I
about. It was deliberately thought
out as a means of convincing the
country that President Harding rec
ognized the necessity of lower
freight rates and that he hoped the
carriers would see the desirability
of meeting public opinion and achiev
ing economies in other directions.
The w’hole subject was discussed at
the cabinet meeting Tuesday, after
which it was announced that the
president would do something about
rates the very next day.
Psychological Time
» The visit to the commission was
planned by Mr. Harding, not only
after consultation with the cabinet,
but after it became known here also
that the railroad labor board would
hand down a decision cuttting the
price of certain classes of labor and
eliminating an estimated cost of
|400,00QJ)00 a year in wages.
It was, in the judgment of Mr.
Harding, the psychological time to
act. With wages going down, the
public has been expecting freight
rates to go down. Mr. Harding
sought a chance to emphasize the
necessity of the two steps being
taken as close together as possible,
not merely to hasten a return to
normalcy but to console the labor
ing classes who will be accepting
wage reductions with the knowl
edge that the railroads will be oblig
ed to reduce freight rates, too.
Some labor leaders have insisted
that the men would not object to
wage decreases if accompanied by
a reduction in freight rates, which
in turn would be reflected in a re
vision downward of thf cost of liv
ing.
Mr. Harding consulted Senator
Cummins, chairman of the senate
committee on interstate commerce,
and James Davis, who as director
general of railroads, handles all the
affairs hanging over from the period
when the government’had control of
the railroads. Steps soon will be
taken to pay the roads large sums
of money owed them by the govern
ment and to make it easier for them
to pay some of their debts.
Cabinet of Same View
The railroads aren’t eager to re
duce freight rates. They claim it
would still further decrease their al
ready small earnings. But the presi
dent takes the view that the present
rates are more than traffic can
bear and that if the rates are re
vised there will be more business
for the railroads in the aggregate
than is possible now. Chairman
Clark, of the interstate commerce
commission, wrote several letters a
few months ago insisting that rates
could not be reduced.
Senator Cummins has seeded to
think rates couldn’t go down. Nev
ertheless, Mr. Harding believes the
railroads will be better off if rates
are lowered. The cabinet shares
that opinion, and Mr. Harding has
gone ahead blazing the trail almost
alone, as is usually the case with an
executive who is trying to steer the
ship of state in an economic prob
lem which requires readjustments in
revenue whether it be of wages or
gross income.
Bandits Take $ 16,000
From Messenger in
Front Police Station
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., June 1—
Five men in an automobile held up
two messengers of the Millers and
Traders bank here today and escaped
with $16,000 in currency. The bank
is located just across the street from
police headquarters.
WIL OF TRADE
IN EUROPE SEEN BY
EX-SENATO sm
NEW YORK. May 31.—-All signs in
Europe point to an early trade re
vival, former Senator Hoke . Smith,
of Georgia, today told the national
consultation conference of American
cotton growers, manufacturers and
affiliated interests.
"The outlook abroad is most en
couraging.'* he said, "and as far as
Europe is concerned,, all signs are
for the better. We can look for
'some improvement in the next few
months and an early trade revival
may be expected.”
Secretary Hoover met with cotton
goods manufacturers today to discuss
means of developing the facilities of
the commerce department to rendeij
the most efficient service to the cot
ton industry. Representatives from
the south and New England were
present, and the conference was the
seventh the secretary has held with
representatives of leading industries
tn an effort to devise plans for sup
plying the need of timely and ac
curate trade statistics in their re
spective fields.
The plans under consideration, it
was said, would enable the depart
ment, with the co-operation of the
cotton industry, to publish more ac
curate and comprehensive statistics
showing conditions in the business.
The manufacturers would be expect
ed to give the department data at
frequent intervals covering produc
tion, distribution and wholesale and
retail price figures.
Those present at the conference
ncluded representatives of the Caro
lina Cotton and Woolen company,
Spray, N. C.; L. L. Aronld, “Cotton,”
Atlanta; Mr. Glenn. Georgia Cotton
Manufacturers .association, Atlanta.
Hoover’s Letter
Formal by Secretary
Hoover, of the belief that extended
credit facilities are vitally needed in
southern cotton states and that fed
eral reserve system credit cudtail
ments. having served their purpose,
‘now are bringing great hardships”
is contained in a letter from Mr.
Hoover, made public today by former
Senator J. L. McLaurin, of South
Carolina, who conferred with the sec
retary* last week regarding the cot
ton situation al the suggestion of
President Harding.
"I beg *o confirm,” Mr. Hoover
wrote, "the views I expressed at our
conference this morning on the situa
tion in the south.
"First. 1 consider it is vital that
the credit facilities to producers and
egitimate business should now be
greatly extended in the- southern
states. The curtailments through
he reserve system have served their
•rnrpose in reducing speculation and
over planting; they are now bringing
~reat hardship. This is more a
question of volume of credit extend
ed than it is of the rate of interest
demanded, and requires the co-opera
tion of both reserve and member
banks. I believe most bankers are
now agyeed that this policy is neces
sary. .
"Second, we need better organized
export credit machinery. The north
ern bankers will, I hope, succeed in
joint efforts with their southern col
leagues, in creating larger institu
tions unde- the Edge law for han
dling cotton.
Safe Credit Needed
“It appears to me that some meas
ure of safe credit could be estab
lished by Americans placing cotton in
European warehouses under their
own control for delivery to European
buyers against cash. Perhaps co
operation among producers and bank
ers could accomplish something in
this direction.
"Third, for better marketing and
finance of the cotton industry, the
warehousing system should be im
proved so as to permit the issuance
of a cotton warehouse certificate of
such form and character that it can
not only become the basis of mobile
credit, but also can pass as actual de
livery of the cotton. This implies not
oniy guaranteed warehouse Integrity,
but a complete determination of
grade, quality and quantity. This
is already current in some states apd
needs to be extended.
"Fourth, the prospectively much
reduced acreage and yield will, I be
lieve, contribute materially to stabil
izing the situation over the next
year.”
SINGLE STANDARD URGED
IN WORLD COTTON TRADE
NEW YORK, May 31.—Establish
ment of a single sqt of standards of
common acceptance throughout the
cotton trade of the world was urged
by W. R Meadows, of the depart
ment of agriculture’s bureau of
.markets in an address today at the
conference here of the American Cot
ton association.
Mr. Meadows said that a step to
ward attainment of this goal was
hoped for through the world cotton
conference to be held at Liverpool
next month and to be attended by
Chester Morrill, assistant chief of
the bureau of markets, W. L. Pryor,
also of the bureau, and Mr. Meadows.
The expected step forward. Mr.
Meadows asserted, would consist of
an agreement between the depart
ment of agriculture and the Liver
pool Cotton association with respect
to grades and staple standards for
American upland cotton.
“If such an agreement could be
reached.” Mr. Meadows continued,
“there would result a single set of
standards on which American cotton
could be handled throughout the
world.
Hope for Agreement
“The department of agriculture
hopes to reach an agreement that is
mutually satisfactory as between the
American exporters and European
buyers. It believes that a single set
of standards would simplify the mer
chandising of cotton greatly and
would result in foreign buyers re
ceiving more nearly the kind of cot
ton they purchase than they can un
der the existing disjointed situation
with regard to standards.
“The department is anxious, there
fore. that a fair consideration of the
matter of standards be had. and it
will urge, as desired by the Ameri
can cotton trade, that a committee
composed of an equal number of rep
resentatives of the European and
American cotton trades be appointed
at Liverpool with a view of reconcil
ing the discrepancies between the
existing standards and thereby es
tablish a single set of standards
which it is hoped will be accepted
and’ used throughout the cotton
trade.”
Senator Smith Speaks
Former Senator Hoke Smith was
(Continued on Page 6, Column 4)
DOZEN LIVES LOST
TO DATE 111 W
BRANGHESJJONTEST
WASHINGTON, June 1— Prepara
tions for the test to determine
whether the battleship or airplane
is supreme at- sea had cost a total
of twelve lives today.
, The big Curtiss eagle plane, which
crashed, killing its seven passengers
last Saturday nighs, was returning
from Langley field, where inspection
tests preliminary to the bombing of
battleships by army and navy planes
were being conducted. ,
Yesterday a big De Haviland, tak
ing off from the proving grounds
at Aberdeen, Md., to rehearse for
the bombing test, dropped a fifty
pound bomb filled with T. N. T.,
and five more were killed. Eleven
others were injured, two probably
fatally.
The test of strength between the
battleship and airplane was arranged
several months ago. It grew out
of a controversy, led on one side
by former Secretary of the Navy
Daniels, who contended for the bat
tleship; and on the other by Briga
dier General Mitchell, assistant chief
of the army air service.
Despite the fatalities that have al
ready occurred, army officials today
said the tests would go on as sched
uled, beginning June 28, with the
bombing by a fleet of seven planes
of the obsolete battleship lowa, which
will be maneuvered about Chesapeake
bay under wireless control.
The Aberdeen accident occurred
while army officials were conducting
an investigation into the crash of
the eagle
The big De Haviland was about
to take off for the first of the series
of practice bombing tests. She car
ried bombs to be released mechanical
ly. Just before the plane started,
it was decided to turn her around.
While this was being done one of the
bombs was released. The rudder o.t
thq plane hit it.
The list of dead as given out by
the war department here includes:
Private Allen W. Shermer, Hazel
ton, Pa. -*■
Private Elmer H. Grinnell, Belair,
Maryland.
Corporal Raymond F. Bohle, 2414
Orleans street, Baltimore.
Frivatp Lee S, Hite, Martinsburg.
West Virginia.
Robert M. Herr, civilian, of 212?
Maryland avenue, Baltimore. ■
The two men believed fatally in
jured are Captain Joseph E. Hall,
assistant to the chief of the air serv
ice, and Private Samuel Weinstock.
Hall’s home is in Connecticut and
Weinstock’s in Philadelphia.
A new version of the crash of the
Curtiss eagle was given here today
by Charles W. Lippold. who was
driving near the scene of the acci
dent. He said jwst before the plane
crashed it was enveloped in a flash
of lightning which preceded the
storm.
#
Socialist Papers
Given Mail Privilege
WASHINGTON. May 31.—The Mil
waukee Leader and New York Call,
both Socialist newspapers, today
were readmitted to the second class
mail on order of Postmaster General
Hays.
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ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1921.
I COFFIN FOR TALLEST MAN
I LOOKS LIKE SKY-SCRAPER
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taSW'O ■MHSUj !
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This picture shows what is believed to be the longest coffin ever
built in the United States. It was made for the burial of Bernard
Coyne, Anthon, la., who died recently. He was nine feet two inches
tall, said to be the world’s tallest man. The coffin and roughbox
(left) are shown here with a man of average height.
One Killed, Another
May Die, as Result
Os Fatal ’Plane Crash
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 31.
George Lewi* was killed and Andrew
Crumbley may also die from his throat
being cut on a road near Clinton
early Tuesday morning. They were
returning to Knoxville in an automo
bile when they are reported to have
been attacked by other men in the
automobile. Officers believe that the
assailants of the men are the same
who unsuccessfully attempted to hold
up the cashier of a bank at Oakdale,
Tenn., early in the day, escaping in
an automobile after customers came
into - tfre ■ batTlr.
The car was wrecked Oakdale
and a large force is searching for
the men in the woods, bloodhounds
being asked for from Chattanooga,
Petros and Rockwood.
Girl Shoots and Kills
Salesman at Window
TEXARKANA, Ark., May 31.—Clean
Dunagan, aged thirty-five, clothing
salesman, was shot and killed last
night by a fourteen-year-old girl,
when, according to the girl's story to
the police, the man appeared at her
bedroom window.
Seizing an automatic pistol, the
girl ran out of the house, she says,
and after warning the man to flee
or she would shoot, shot in the
darkness, the bullet taking effect in
the left side below the heart. Five
other shots missed the man.
Dunagan ran 4>ut into the street,
into a neighbor’s yard and then back
to the car line, when he fell. He
was dead when an 'ambulance ar
rived.
Police officials' made an investiga
tion of the shooting, but oh learning
the circumstances decided no arrest
was necessary.
Two Soldiers Killed,
Twelve Badly Injured
When Bomb Explodes
- WASHINGTON, May 31.—Two en-
listed men were killed outright, two
J officers and another enlisted man
s were injured, perhaps fatally, and
■ nine others, including one officer,
, were more or less seriously hurt in
. the explosion of a bomb in an airship
s at the Aberdeen, Md., army proving
1 grounds today, according to latest re
i ports to the war department.
i Following is the list of casualties:
The dead: Private A. W. Sherman,
'■ Private E. H. Grimmer, both of the
; Fourteenth bombing squadron, air
■ service.
Probably fatally injured: Captain
Joseph E. Hall, air service; Private
Samuel Weinstock, Thirty-fourth ord
nance company.
Injured—Less seriously: First
Lieutenant Charles C. Eliason, air
service, of Hagerstown, Md.; First
Lieutenant L. R. C. Reese, Corporal
i R. F. Cohl, Thirty-fourth ordnance
; company; Private F. C. Naabe, Forty
: seventh ordnance company.
Car, Two Men and
80 Gallons Taken
’ CANTON, Ga., May 31.—County
| Policeman Tom Curtj® and Deputy
' Sheriff Alonzo Cagle captured two
: men, a large automobile and eighty
gallons of blockade liquor near Hol
brook’s Camp Ground Saturday. The
■ men, car and liquor were brought to
■ Canton, where the sewers were
’ drenched with the "outlawed fluid,”
and the men made bonds for their ap
• pearance at the August term of the
1 superior court. They gave their names
■ as Fred Sullivan and Charles Ray,
both of Atlanta.
REBUKE TO HARVEY
. SEEN BY M'KELUIIi
WASHINGTON. May 31.—Presi
dent Harding’s utterances at Pohick,
Va., Sunday and his memorial day
address yesterday were interpreted
in the senate today by Senator Mc-
Kellar, democrat. Tennessee, as a
“rebuke” to Ambassador Harvey for
his address at the Pilgrim society
in London recently.
Drawing what he termed a deadly
parallel of the remarks of the presi
dent and Mr. Harvey, Senator Mc-
Kellar asked that they be prinnteed
in the Congressional record to show
the “contrast.” He also urged that
Mr. Harvey be recalled from the Cour
of St. James.
Senator McKellar declared that
portions of the Harvey speech con
stituted a libel on the American gov
ernment and every potriotic citizen.
The ambassador’s statement that “we
were afraid not to fight” was char
acterized by the senator as being “as
false as Satan himself.”
The president in “reproving” the
ambassador has proved that he is a
sincere and honest and patriotic
American, Senator McKellar declared
The president’s words always are
of greatest importance, the Tennes
see senaotr said, but he believed they
had special “force and poweer in
pointing out the falsehood, making
clear the edesertion and in repudiat
ing and rebuking the libel”, commit
ted Mr. Harvey.
"I hope the president will go far
ther,” continued the senator. "I
hope that he will take steps to right
the wrong that Mr. Harvey has per
petrated upon the American people.
I hope he will recall him from his
post. After the publication of these
false statements about his own
country, Mr. Harvey ought not be
permitted to represent our people at
the British court. It is a shame to
America to be represented abroad
by a man who thus expressed his
contemp for his own nation and its
soldiers”.
TARIFF IND TUXES
TO HOLD CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, May 31. —The
main purpose of the special session
of congress was to revise the tariff
and lighten the tax burdens but, ac
cording to conservative estimates,
these tasks will not be completed
before late next fall.
The-house ways and means com
mittee, which has been framing the
permanent tariff bill for two months,
has struck several big snags and
hopes that the measure would be re
ported to the house by June 1 have
been blasted completely. Chairman
Fordney now thinks that the bill
may be ready by June 15, but other
members of the committee doubt if
it will be reportfed by July 1.
The house will fight over it for at
least a month. The last big tariff
bill required five weeks of debate
before it was sent to the senate.
By August 1, both houses probably
will be complaining of the Washing
ton heat and it will be difficult to
prevent a recess of from four to
six weeks.
It is estimated that little work can
be done by the ways and means com
mittee toward modifving the tax laws
while the tariff bill is on the floor.
The committee may stay in session
during August for this purpose, but
even then it would be’ mo,, difficult
to pass both hte tax and the tariff
measures by December 1, the open
ing of the regular session.
In fact, some members believe
congress will be showing good speed
as the result of its past slow pro
gress, if the new taxes are ready to
go into effect January 1.
The ways and means committee is
at present finding the chemical, cot
ton, aluminum and other tariff sched
ules are knotty problems to solve.
IL EXECUTIVES
IBE DISAPPOINTED
IN WAGE DECISION
CHICAGO, June 1. —Railroad execu
tives here today declared they were
disappointed in the decision of the
railroad labor board, cutting the
wages of all classes of railroad em
ployes 12 per cent, and thus slashing
■5400,000,000 fyom railroad payrolls
annually.
"We had hoped the decision would
wipe out in its entirety the $600,-
000 increase of last year,” said Presi
dent H. E. Byram, of the Chicago.
Milwaukee and St. Paul.
"We have to find out how much
this decrease will reduce operating
costs before attempting to predict
anything about rate decreases to fol
low this wage cut. This is a ctep
in the right direction, however, and
will help business and unemployment
on railroads.”
The decision of the railroad board
affects approximately 2,0),000 rail
road employes. It provides for cuts
in every class of railroad labor from
engineers to common labor. Approx
imately 600,000 maintenance of way
employes are given wage reduction*’
of S 1-2 cents per hour.
12 Per Cent Cut
“The decision provides for reduc
tions of about 12 per cent in present
wages,” the board announced. “Be
cause of the fact that all employes
in service of carriers are not includ
ed, it is difficult to estimate the ac
tual amount of decrease, but if ap
plied to all employes of all class 1
carriers it would be approximately
$400,000,000. General reductions in
wages as outlined would mean an
average monthly wage of about $125
for all employes, but such an aver
age means, of course, that while some
workers would earn a sum consider
ably in excess of the monthly amount
stated, many thousands would fall
far short of that figure.”
While the decision announced to
day applies only to 86 railroads, all
carriers not a party to it for reduc
tions in all classes of labor are giv
en until .Tuly 1 to file applications
for reductions, so practically every
railroad in the country will be includ
ed in the July 1 decreases.
LATIN AMERICANS
MAY QUIT LEAGUE
WASHINGTON. June I.—With
drawal of all Latin-American re
publics now members of the League
of Nations was predicted by South
American diplomats here today.
It was learned that several repre
sentatives of the southern nations
had already discussed informally ad
visability of their governments re
pudiating league membership with
the state department.
Ambassador Harvey’s “plain Eng
lish” speech, and the growing belief
that President Harding has definitely
turned his back on even a modified
league are the reasons given by dip! i
mats for the agitation in their coun
tries for withdrawal.
Dr. Jacoba Varela. Uruguayan min
ister. confirmed the report today that
withdrawal from the league was un
der discussion in the Uruguayan
congress.
"Argentina’s position is the same
as it was when Foreign Minister
Peuyrredon and the Argentir.an dele
gation withdrew from Geneva—non
participation until our resolutions
are considered." declared Felipe
Espil, charge d’affaires for Argen
tina.
Nicaragua has already expressed
her intention of "resigning” from the
league assembly. It is reported that
Costa Rica. Salvador and other < n
tral American countries are cons'd
ering following suit.
Mexico has never been admitted
to membership, although hope of ad
mittance ’when she mended r ier
ways” was held out. People well in
formed in Mexican affairs sav that
this offer was never particularly ap
predated by Mexicans.
There is little doubt of what Chile
will do in the event of a general
exodus from the League of Nations,
diplomats said here today. It was
pointed out that the Chilean dele
gation at Geneva was only persuaded
after much "courteous and diplomat
ic” effort on the part of the league’s
leaders from following Argentina
into voluntary exile.
Boston Man Drowned
Under Car When It
Runs Off Turnpike
BOSTON. Ga.. June 1. —Mr. E. M.
Fambrougb . one of Boston’s most
prominent men, was killed here this
morning when his car ran off a creek
turnpike within a mile of his home.
Mr. Fambrough’s body was pinned
down by the car, death resulting
from drowning. -He is survived by
his wife and one daughter.
Old Revenue Laws
Supplanted by Dry,
Law, Court Declares.
WASHINGTON, June I.—Passage
of the prohibition amendment served
to annul various internal revenue
laws covering the liquor traffic, the '
supreme court held today. Congress 1
did not intend to preserve the old
penalties, the court said. ,
The decision was a defeat for the
Prohibitionists, the first since pro
hibition became effective. i
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WILL MIKE APPEAL
FROM DECISION. SAY
DEFENSFSJOUNSEL
BY HUBERT BAUGHN
(The Journal’s Staff Correspondent.)
COVINGTON, Ga.. May 31.—" Gui
lty with a 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 Jas;:3r county “death farm” vic
tims. The jury deliberated thirty
five minutes. Judge Hutcheson or
dered Manning to stand up and told
him:
"The verdict of the jury is th®
sentence of the court—you are sen
tenced to life imprisonment.”
Manning received the verdict with
out emotion.
His attorney, E. Marvin Under
wood, announced he would file a mo
tion for a new trial.
In his speech, Mr. Howard declar
ed that the defense had not shown,
conclusively that Manning was in
fqar of his own life. On the other
hand, said Mr. Howard. Manning
walked about the farm in the guis®
of a “boss,” and carried a revolver.
Same Motive Claimed
Mr. Howard spoke until 11 o’clock,
when the luncheon recess was taken
until 1 o’clock. On the resumption
of court, Judge A. B. Meadow, of
counsel for the defense, began his
speech. He was followed by E. Mar
vin Underwood, of the defense, and
Solicitor A. M. Brand closed for th®
state, after which Judge John B.
Hutcheson’s charge to the jury waS
made.
A large number of negroes attend
ed the trial. Perfect order was ob
served in the court room, and on th®
Covington streets no indications of
excitement or disorder were noted.
Manning took the witness stand her®
and pleaded for his life.
He sat back in the witness chair
with his motionless hands folded. Ha
told simply how at Williams' order
he had killed this negro or that on®
“with a ax;” how he had tied up
others for drowning; how Harry
Price asked permission “to die like
a man, not a rat. He told of tha
guardhouse on the Williams farm
and went into detail concerning
the long chain of killings. All these
things, Manning explained, he took
part in because "Mr. Johnny” said
they must be done and because ha
was afraid to disobey "Mister John
ny.”
In conclusion Mr. Underwood, in
an eloquent outburst, gave a power
ful plea for the upholding of the law
in Georgia.
Declaring that Clyde Manning was
“merely a tool in the hands of a pow
erful and driving force,” he appealed
to the jury to give the negro his
freedom.
Brand’s Argument
Closing for the state, Solicitor
General A. M. Brand argued that
ample motive and malice on Man
ning’s part had been shown by th®
prosecution.
"He acted with a reckless abandon,
■ and had a malignant heart,” he as
. serted.
Characterizing the Jasper county
1 murders as “the most diabolical thia
country has ever known.” the solic
itor charged that Manning was a
■ willing accomplice to all of the mur
' ders.
i "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
ning in assisting in the murders for
Clyde was willing,” he said. “Ha
wanted to gain favor with his boss.
Why didn’t Manning run away if he
did not want to help carry out Wil
liams’ plan of destruction of human
'lives? There was ample opportunity
for him to leave.”
MANNING’S APPEAL
IS SET FOR JUNE 80
John S- Williams and Clyde Man
ning. principals in the famous "mur
der* farm” case, who are now under
life sentences imposed by Newton
county juries, will next face trial in
Jasper county, where eight indict
ments charging murder are stand
ing against them.
Williams, the’ owner of the big
plantation, was convicted on April
9 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 a new trial,
filed several days after his convic
tion, was denied by Judge John B,
Hutcheson. His attorneys immedi
ately took the case to the supreme
court. Although reputed to be a
wealthy planter, it became known in
Covington Tuesday that Williams
signed a “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 hi®
three sons to leave the state to evad®
arrest on murder charges, brought
about his financial ruin. ®
Manning’s new trial motion will b®
heard at Decatur on June 30 by
Judge Hutcheson. If it is denied, i(
is probable that he will appeal tq
the supreme court.
After his conviction Tuesday, Man«
ning was returned to Atlanta and(
placed in the tower to await the out
come of his appeal for a aew trial,
His former employer also is in ths
tower in a neighboring cell, awaiting
the supreme court’s decision in his
appeal.
Meanwhile, officials of Jasper coun
ty planned to push the charges
against both defendants. Judge J,
B 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
in Newton county, the defendants
will be tried separately.
In addition to the various stat®
charges, Williams is under federal
indictment for peonage. The gov
ernment claims he held negroes iq
involuntary servitude and had them
killed when he feared they would es
cape or reveal conditions on the farm
to the authorities.
Williams’ three sons. Huland, Le
roy and Marvin, all indicted for mur
der and peonage, have been fugi
tives since their father's arrest,
Heavy rewards have been offered for
their capture.
Although disappointed over thfl
outcome and claiming he did not get
a square deal. Clyde Manning, in
his cell at the Fulton county tower
Wednesday, said he was glad they
did not sentence him to hang.
• “I'm carrying another man’s load,”
Manning said. “I didn’t want to
kill those negroes. I didn’t have
anything against them, but I was
afraid if I <B r l n ’t do what the boss
said, he would kill me. Charlie
Chisholm helped the boss and the
boss killed him when he tried to
un away, and I knew if I tried to
run away they would catch me and
kill me. so I did what I was told
to do. That man (Williams) had
me scared to death.”