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


y The Coroner's, jury rendered their verdict
yesterday IN the case Of Ben. goses Solofed, who
was siled, on Sunday night. In CSIhoun-street,
me inquest lasted TIE greater part Of three days,
and the jury which consisted exclusively Of colored
men, appeared to be most anxious TO sfs the truth
from tho testimony which way brought before them
= The evidence in the case may be summed up as
On Sunday last the murdered man. with. Prince
Prioleau, stephen Jones apd James Jenkins, all Of
them colored. were in company together and at
about7 p M, started but to GO 10 the West Point
Mills After they had gone come distance two white
naen passed Prioleau, who had dropped behind, and
Prioleau heard Stephen Jones cali 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 in front of them, run off
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 af, NATIVE, and added that he would knock the
sp eaker, prioleau, who then said, "No you can't"
The white man. whom some more words had passed.
drew knife and made at Prioleau, who ran to the
middle of the street. Proleau then returned to the
sidewalk and found that Ben Jones was dead. Prio-
eau did not witness the fatal blow, but could ecog
nze the white man who told him that he had struck
Jenes. JAS Jenkins walking ahead of Ben Jones
and heard some one say. By God, will move for
you;" and another person say, "wall I will not
move for you.' Directly after, Jenkins heard Ben
Jones say ooh, Lordl" 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 TUNED met Prince
Proleau running towards him (the witness); he saw
three Or four white men, who were walking slowly,
did i'm. Ioko p,1xo
came up with some bricks in his hand and called
Ben. when witness (Stephen jones' said ..Bow can
you call Ben when he Is dcad, Prince then ran off,
This witness did net Prince talking to any white
men, nor any boys speaking to him. hear any per-
son threaten him, did Prince tell witness that Ben
had been stabbed by . white man when he Prnce
came up with the bricks in his hand; witness did
hear Prince tell Lieutenant Hendricks 80 after the
body had beon carried 20 the,bouse of the witness
Thomus Haferty. who resides at No. rs Calhoun
street, ga yetfe following important testimony:
was 10, Calhoun-street at or about seven O'Clock
Wall streets, in company with Ri'ey Morgan, John
King, john Burke, - Armstrong, and heard
James @ Reeves say to Solored man that il he could
would fix somebody; said Reeves had knife in his
hand at the time, and saw h M put it into the back
asked him to come home; took him By the hand
and carried him to hts (aurray's) house; when
reeves got TO the house he asked IL this Mrs.
Murrays some one eaid yes, and he went
in; T. was- alongside OF Reeves as he was
going TO MRS. Murray's house. and there wos
lying, but could not see him, there being such
crowd Ground him.; heard some persons sing out
"oarry i'm to the DOCTOR" heard Reeves cay rs he
was going 10 MIS- Murray's. s.I kil!cd," and some-
thing eiso that ron ded ii he sold s'he son of a
bitch" heard Reeves say to Prince prio;eau tcol-
oredh "you son Of bitch. I'll give 1t to you and
saw him put his hand behind his back, and after
Prince Prioleau ran of, Isaw the knife in Reeves
hands; deponent told Mr., Ferguson that he saw
Reeves put the knife behind his back.
George Murray, o. No. 81 Calhoun. street, saw
James Reeves and colorsd man quarreliing. Wit
ness said;, 4. a31.t
The colored man cursed Reeves, the colored man
having brick In HE hand James Reeves cursed the
colored man. saying 'I'n cut you, too; the colored
man then of. but before the colored man ran off
saw Reeves pick up knife which was on the pave.
mont, and make two three efforts to cut him 1.-THE
colorod mani with the said knife.
The names OF the Coroner's jury are as follows: E.
M. Pitray, For eman; Samuel Dickerson james Nit
chell. Alick Edwards. s. Grant g. N. Robinson, Paul
Ford, Henry Larcombe. A. Gaillard, Stephen Cole.
man, Samuel Wright, VIM. Anderson, VIM. Hord.
The following is their verdict: .ihat Benjamin
Jones came to his death by wound inflicted in the
left bresst with as1rurp inrtrument IN the hald or
hands Of James j. Reeves in Calhoun-s eet, on Sun
day night, the oath January, 1885, about half-past
seven oclock and that Michael Byrns was accessory
to the killing" S.