The Nevada journal., 1852-12-24
Trial of .IONpS.

MunsoH. This case has excited mach in
terest in this city, and during the trial the
court room was crowded with anxious listen
crs. The verdict Of the jury was involunta-
ry manslaughter, the facts not proving an
to commit murder. yet showing
recklessness of life, and spirit of ruflianly
bravo that needed severe punishment The
treatment of this case will have q healthy
effect in community. There is too much OF
that wanton display and braggadocio which
consists in f1ourishing pistols and knives and
uttering threats, to the presumed terror of
lockers on. Men get excited by liquor, and
then, under the magn;ied sense of their pro-
wess, 60 into q crowd TO show off perhaps
provoke quarrel. If any sober man is silly
enough to accept a quarrel, somebody is Kill
led or wounded, perhaps passer by. The
miscreant who causes all the damage escapes
in the melee, and afterwards by perversion
of law. We believe the verdict in the case
of Jones to be most righteous, and trust it
marks new era in the administration Of
justice in Nevada county. 1t is the first
conviction among all the ruthless assaults
and killings that have occurred here.
We give below the testimony in this case,
and sketch of the arguments.
Augustine Sdfarogn, a spanish boy sworn
for the people, testified knows dcft. seen the
person killed. her name is Augustine Perra;
was present when she was shot. Ii was
Tuesday, Nov. 10th. between l and l2 o.
clock, p. NJ. Two women had a fight in
the house; young man by the name Of Col
by brought pistol into the house with him,
and gave it to one Of the women who had
the fight. She came with the pistol cooked
to shoot the other woman; several persons
stopped her at the door, and the deft took
the pistol from her; the deft. then said if no.
body wants to get hurt keep out o! my way,
and said he would shoot the first man that
attempted to take the pistol from him. A
Spanish woman who lives where deft. does
wanted to take the pistol from him he said
to her get out of my way or I'll shoot you
lie went out into the bar room; after he went
into the 5ar-room the woman Augustine
ca me out Of her room into the bar-roum; she
went and stood at the door looking out into
the street, when the deft. went to her and
Augustine, fire this pistol into the
street She said she was afsaid to do so, that
it might hit somebody in the street She
pushed him out of the door and said in Span
ish, 60 away with your pistol. He then
stepped back and fired Immediately, when
she fell and said in Spanish, am dead wo.
man. He pointed the pistol at her and fred
deceased was leaning against the left side of
the door at the time the deft shot.
CROssExAMINRD.
Had been acquainted with deft. three or
four months; never heard Of any difficulty be-
tween deft. and deceased; never heard the
deceased say they were unfriendly | was
inside the bar at the time the pistol fired /;
couldn't see which hand the pistol was in !:
could not see the deft. but saw the hand and
pistol.
DIRECT EXAMINATION.
The deceased was shot IN the right side ;
the ball did not go through her; the pistol is
Colts revolver; deceased lived Is or 20
minutes after she was shot
Andrew Gee sworn for people Testified
substantially the same about the fight be.
tween the two Spanish women, and how
Jones came in possession of the pistol the
deft would shoot any one who attempted to
take the pistol from him; he said nobody
should have the pistol that night but nigh:
have it in the morning. One of the women
told the dcft. to 60 to bcd--a man went with
him to the door of his house but he came
back in The bar-room the deceased came out
Of her reom into the bar.room and stood
leaning against the side of the doors looking
cut into the street; she was smoking Span
ish cigar; the deft. came up to me and asked
me to shoot; she took hold of the pistol and
I dn't
in the scufiie he got round with his back to
the door, and she pushed him out. l saw
him then present the pistol and fire; she fell
Immediately; some one told him he had shot
the deceased; he said she shot herself
CRoss-ExAMINED
Deceased had hold OF the pistol in the
scuffie; deft took it from her; the pistol did
not fire Immediately; upon deft being pushed
out of the door, he had time to cock and
fire it.
James Oakiey's deposition as taken before
the committing magistrate was then read /;
said there was sufficient time after she push.
ed deft. out of the door before the pistol went
off, for him to cock and fire it; and that The
deft had manifested nothing but il-will all
that evening. When deft. handed deceased
the pistol, he said shoot that man.
j. 3. Carter sworn for people.-Saw 9eft.
while he was out doors, and man was try.
ing to get him to bed saw him point pistol
at man standing by post, and say how
easy could pick him off some one told him
to be careful he would shoot his best friend !;
he, the deft., said he had no friends; that he
had been in South America is years and
was accustomed to shooting shooting was
nothing,
Dr' W. j. Amor testified the wound was
mortal
John Grore sworn for deft.-Said he tried
TO get the deft. to bed but didn't succeed
that he pointed the pistol at man, and he
told him he would shoot his best friends he
aeit' sald he had no friends; deft then went
INTO the house and witness went home. (He
teshiied some ether facts, nothing but what
mas been stated in testimony of witnesses fer
people.) '''
%, ~. HH'dms sworn for deft.-Saw the
WnOle transaction. fcir,u