Lay This Body Down

In 1921 Georgia, plantation owner John S. Williams continued to exploit enslaved labor, even decades after the Civil War. When a federal investigation threatened to expose his illegal practices, Williams resorted to a horrifying plan: systematically murdering his enslaved workers to destroy the evidence, enlisting his trusted farm boss, Clyde Manning. This true story reveals shocking details of the crimes and the sensational trial that followed, which became a pivotal moment in the fight for Black American rights.