Atlanta, Ga., March 29—As a result of a conference today between Governor Dorsey and state and Federal officials to consider developments in Jasper County, where the bodies of 11 negroes have been found on the farm of John S. Williams, a telegram was sent to Judge J.B. Park, of the Ocmulgee judicial circuit, calling on him to convene a special session of the Jasper County superior court on April 11 to investigate the alleged murders.
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Atlanta, Ga., March 29—Investigation of conditions in Newton and Jasper counties, Georgia, was continued today with state authorities inquiring further into the killing of 11 negroes on the John S. Williams plantation and Federal agents continuing their efforts to gather evidence to justify indictments on peonage charges.
Reports current in Newton county Sunday and yesterday that negroes were threatening the whte residents as a result of the killings were expected to be taken up by the grand jury at Covington, where much excitement was caused before investigation showed there was no basis for alarm. County officials were said to believe that the reports were spread with a view to inciting race trouble.
The Newton County grand jury already has indicted Williams and a negro farm hand, Clyde Manning, on the strength of the latter’s confession that three negroes were brought into Newton County and drowned, and the Jasper County grand jury is expected to be called together Friday or Saturday to seek indictments in connection with the deaths of eight other negroes.
From the front page of The Charlotte News, March 29, 1921
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