By the Associated Press
Covington, Ga., April 9—John S. Williams, accused of the murder of 11 of his negro farm hands to hault a federal investigation into the charge of peonage, was found guilty of murder by a jury today and sentenced to life imprisonment. Motion for a new trial was immediately filed and hearing on the motion set for April 30 at Decatur, Ga., before John B. Hutcheson, who heard the case.
The verdict of murder with recommendations for mercy which automatically carried life imprisonment, was read exactly 18 hours a after the case went to the jury and was calmly received by Williams.
A moment later as his wife and children began to sob, he seemed to be struggling to restrain his own emotions. Just after court adjourned, Williams’ two daughters became hysterical and were led from the room. Williams appeared to be more influenced by its effect on his family than he was by the verdict. He was on trial specifically charged with the murder of one of the negroes found drowned in Newton county.
Williams will be taken back to Atlanta pending the hearing of his motion for a new trial. Solicitor Brown has announced Manning will be tried on the murder charge, but the time has not been fixed.
From the front page of The Hickory Daily Record, April 9, 1921
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