The Lincoln County herald., 1872-01-11
THE JAYNES.SYDNOR MURDER.
Jaynes Gives Himself Up-Is Tried and
Acquitted by a Justices Court.

Last Thursday evening Josiah Jaynes,
who killed W. 7. Sydnor last Christmas
night, gave himself up to the law, and
an examination Of his case commenced
the Saturday following before Justices
David Shelton and A. Y: Brown, aud
closed last Tuesday afternoon. We give
below the evidence
r. A. Trail being duly sworn, upon
his oath states: 81 live in Troy, Mo, at
the Laclede hotel; am 27 years old am
acquainted with the prisoner, 10. Jaynes
| was in Thornhill and Boswell's saloon
on tue night of the 2oth of December
1872, in Troy, Mo. 10. Jaynes came in
that saloon a little after o'clock Be
tween and 10 o'clock at night w. 4
Sydnor came in that srloon. Mon
Thomson, Mr.. Jaynes and myself were
in the saloon When Mr. Sydnor came ia.
10, Jaynes had not been out since he
first came in. When Mr.. Sydnor came
in, Mr.. Jaynes, I. and | were talking
Jaynes was singing. l walked around
behind the bar as Mr. Sydnor came in.
| went behind the bar to wait on Mr.. S.
if he wanted anything, Mr. S. walked
up to the stove and stopped in front of
the stove. Mr.. Jaynes said to Mr., S,
"Have you anything against me IT, you
have, 90 up and take drink" Mr.. s
said You draw pistol on me and | will
shoot the - out of you" | run
around from behind the bar; when | got
to the end of the counter, l saw both
pistols, one in the hands of each. When
| was within about two feet of Mr.. s..
Mr. J.s pistol fred. MIR Sydnor dropped
back TO the left in leaning position. l
said "Whit, are you shot ?" lie said
Yes" lie walked five or six steps, by
me holding 10 him. near an ale barrel.
He sank down to the floor. He died in
about one minute and half. Drawed
three or four breaths after cased him
down on the floor. The saloon is stua.
ted east and west. Mr.. S. entered at the
west door. The stove is a little nearer
the cast end than the west end of the
saloon, on tho south edo. Stove f-nnts
north. When Mr.. Sydnor was standing
in front Of the stove he had both hands
in his pockets, his face to the stove. Mr..
Jaynes was sitting on tho east side of
the stove, not more than 3 or four feet
from it. At the time Jaynes spoke to
Mr.. s. l could see them both, but did
not have fair view of Mr.. Jay mes. At
time Jaynes spoke didn't see pistol 10
his hands, l saw Mr.. SIS pistol first,
from the fact that he was standing up
l then looked at Jayncs and saw pistol
in his right hand. l don't know whether
Jaynes' pistol was cooked or not. 1t was
pointing in the direction of Sydnor
When | first saw the pistols was coming
around the end of the bar, about feet
from the ond Of the same. could not
have been more than two or three feet
from Mr., s. when Mr.. Jaynes pistol fired.
did not stop after started around from
behind the bar until the pistol fred
Mr.. Jaynes must have been sitting IN the
chair half hour or more when NJ. sgd,
nor came IN. | saw Nc. Jayues have q
pistol before this. l did not sea him
have it while sitting in the chair, until l |
saw it just before he fred. / did not
hear Jaynes say what he intended to do
with this pistol, at any time. Mr. sgd.
nor's arm was pointed in the direction Of
Mr.. JaynsS, in which he held a pistol.
The pistol was ansigbt isctl Navy, sosaS
barrel.