Monticello, Ga., April 11—Investigation by the Jasper county grand jury of the wholesale murder of negroes alleged to have been committed by John S. Williams and his three sons, and the lynching of Eugene Hamilton, a negro, several months ago, was started here today at the special session called by Judge J.B. Park of the Ocumulgee circuit.
Clyde Manning, the negro plantation boss, whose testimony forms the principal link in the chain of evidence against Williams, arrived at 8:45 o’clock from Atlanta with several other negro witnesses, in the custody of Sheriff W.F. Persons and deputies. the other negroes were Rena Manning, wife of Clyde; Claude and Clyde Freeman, Julieus Manning, Emma freeman and John Freeman. All are negroes who worked on the farm of Williams or his sons.
Monticello was filled with people from all parts of Jasper county and from adjoining counties when the grand jury convened, but there was no outward sign of disorder.
Doyl Campbell, solicitor general of the Ocmulgee circuit, which embraces Jasper county, expressed a determination to investigate the “murder farm” killing to the bottom. He said he expected to bring to light at least three murders in addition to those previously exposed in the “murder farm” investigations.
Concerning the lynching of Eugene Hamilton, a negro put to death by a mob in Jasper county several months ago, Mr. Campbell said he would seek indictments against six or seven Jasper county citizens whose names were furnished him by Governor Dorsey. There has been a mass of evidence to be presented in the lynching case, he said.
An effort will be made, it was understood, to finish with the testimony of the negroes brought from the Fulton countyu jail and get them back to Atlanta before nightfall. They were brought here under a Federal court order by Judge Sibley, charging Sheriff Persons with the responsibility of delivering them safely back to the Fulton county jail. The Federal court will use them as material witnesses to pending peonage investigations.
Judge Parks’ charge to the jury was preceded by a prayer by Ordinary J.J. Winbury, who petitioned fervently that “justice shall be wrought” and that the grand jury might have “supreme guidance in its deliberations.”
‘I am sure,” declared Judge Parks in his charge, “that the people of Jasper county are anxious to bring the guilty parties in these horrible crimes to justice. Lawlessness in this section has now reached the point where it will cause us to be shunned unless we check it. We will soon reach the stage where no capital will come here and help us to develop our great natural resources. Unless the law takes hold and checks these cold-blooded murders and outrages, I firmly believe God Almighty will soon take the situation in hand.”
The only members of the Williams family who came to Monticello today were Dr. Gus Williams, eldest son of the “death farm” proprietor. In the absence from Monticello of Green Johnson, leading counsel for his father, Dr. Williams conferred at length with W.H. Key, assistant counsel.
Organization of the grand jury was completed by the election of E.H. Jordan as foreman.
From the front page of The Charlotte News, Monday evening, April 11, 1921.
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