The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-28
THE MURDER OF BEN. JONES.

The Coroners jury rendered their verdict
yesterday in the case of Ben. Jones ,coloredb who
was killed. on Sunday night, in Cahoun-sreet.
The inquest lasted the greater part of three days.
and the jury which consisted exclusively OF coored
men, appeared to be most anxious to sft the truth
from the testimony which was brought before them.
The evidence in the case may be summed up
follows:
On sunday last the murdered man, with Trince
prioleau, Stephen Jones and james Jenkins, ali of
them colcred, were in company together, and at
about7 P. NJ, started out to so to the West Point
Mills After they had gone some distance two white
men pass ed Prioleau, who had dropped behind, and
Proleau ieard Stel hen Jones call out twice to Ben
Jones to go on home Prioleau turned to look, and
saw the two white men standing up, and saw Ben
Jones, who was in front of them, run of
the sidewalk, holding his head down. Piioleau
ran up and asked the white men what was the mat
ter, and asked one of them whether he knocked
the boy Jones. The man replied with curse, in
the afil NATIVE and added that he would knock the
Sd eaker, Prioleau who then said. 'No you can't"
T he white man, when some more words had passed,
drew knife and made at Prioleau. who ran to the
middle of the street Prioleau then returned to the
sidewalk and found that Ben Jones was dead. Prio-
lesu did not witness the fatal blow, but could recog-
nize the white man who told him that he had struck
Jones' Jas jenkins wall ing ahead of Ben Jones,
and heard some one soy, "By God will not love for
you;" and another person say, "Well, / will not
move for you Directly after, jenkins heard Pen
Jones say, "Oh, Lord!' He turned back at once
and caught Jones, who had then been cut Stephen
Jones, who was one of the party, heard Ben Jones
cry out "Oh, Lord" and when he turned met Prince
pr,oleau running towards him the wituessl; he saw
three or four white men, who were walking slowly,
and did not disturb him; few minutes later Prince
came up with some bricks in his hand and called
Ben, when witness (stephen Jonesl said "Bow can
you call Ben when he is dead" Prince then ran OIL
This witness did not see Prince talking to any white
men, any boys speaking to him. nor hear any per
son threaten him. did Prince tell witness that Ben
had been atabbed by white man when he tPrince)
came up with the bricks in his hand; witness did
hear Prince tell Lieutenant Hendricks SO after the
body I'D been carried TO the Eouse of the witness
Thomas rafferty,. who resides at No. 7S Calhoun
street, gave the following important testimony:
was III Calhoun street at or about seven O'Clock
p N on the Oath January, 1869. between Middle and
Wall streets, in company with Riey Morgan, John
King John Burke. Armstrong, and heard
James Reeves say 10 colorpd man that 1t he could
not walk the streets withou bsing troubled that be
would fx somebody; said Reeves had knlte ia ms
hand at the time and saw m put it into the back
of his PANTS; George Murray went up to him and
asked him to come home; took him by the hand
aud carried him to bis (Nurrays house; wnen
Reeves got TO the house be asked II this was Mrs
Murrny's; some one said yes, and he went
in I was alongside OF Reeves as he was
going to Mis-. Murrays house, and there was
o crowd along also; then went to where tho man
was lying. but could not see hip there being such
crowd around him; heard some persons sing out.
carry i'm to the DOCTOR" hea:d Reeves say ss he
was going 10 Mis-. Murray's, 81 Iilcl," and some
thing else that sou dt Is II he SAID "ihe son OF
bitch" heard Reeves say to Prince Prioeau col-
ored you son of bitch III give it 10 you and
ssw him put his band behind his hacB, and after
Prince Pr:oleau run off, saw the knife iu Reeves
hands; deponent told Mr.. Ferguson that he saw
Reeves put the knife behind his back.
George Murray, o. No. 81 Calhoun-stieet. saw
james Reeves and colored man quarrcling. Wit
ness said:
The colcred man cursed Reeves. the colored man |
having brick in his hand James Reeves cursed the
colorcd man. saying '1l cut you. too; the colored
man then rsfn off, but before the colored man rah Gil
saw Reeves pick up knife, which was op the pave
ment and make two or three efforts to cut !im tthe
colored mani with the said knife.
The names OF the Coroner's jury as follows: E.
NJ Pit ray Foreman; Samuel Dickerson. James Nit
chell. Ack Edwards, 8. Grant G. n. Robinson, Paul
ord, Henry Larcombo, A. Gaillard Stephen Cole
man, Samuel Wright, VIM. Anderson, VIM. Hord.
The following is their verdict: "Ih benjamin
Jones came to his death by wound inflicted in the
left breast with sharp instrument in the hand or
hands of James J. Reeves in Cahoun-st Gel. on Sun.
ay night, the oath January, 1869, about half-past
seven o'clock; and that Michael Byrns 1ls accessory
to the killing"