The New York herald., 1878-09-27
GEORGE W. JONES TESTIFIES.
He Saw Prisoner at Washburne's
After He Heard the Shot.
EXPERT EVIDENCE.
A Dlicroscopist Thinks the Fatal Bullet Was
Fired from Pistol.
rpY TELEGRAPH TO THE Hxn.rp.l

cold, bleak wind has prevailed throughout this
vicinity for two days This made riding through the
districts very uncomfortable hence the farmers
among attendants at the Billings trial
tnis morning and afternoon The cqulnoctal storm
has fully commenced, and three heavy frosts thst
preceded it scared the leaves and caused them to
fall In myriadal showers Nut gathorers are already
busy securing the Drowned treasures The romantic
upper Hudson Valley, TO which this place is
contiguous. has lost tho charm that IL presented
when the throng OF summer tourists frequentcd its
picturesque hsides, plains and wales. This morning
there were lew persons to ho seen promenading the
streets OF this village, which was once boasted OF
being Americas greatest watering place. That
prior 10 the development OF Saratoga, Long Branch
and Newport. Now Round Lake on tho south anu
Saratoga tho north, each the next railroad staon
arc famous abiding places In warm weather, while
Bsston Spa has lost It's prestige In that direction.
There has been no event In twenty years
past to give this village the notoriety that
It has attained through the proceedings current
at the County Court House, where Jesse Billings, Jr.,
undergoing trial Tor hs ie In pursuance OF an in.
dictmeut charging him with having on the night OF
June last deliberately and with malice aioret ought
by meaps Of a weapon, commonly called gun, muir
dered and killed his vile, Mary Eliza Billings" Al
though the village thoroughiaros looked deserted
the within the largo room on Court House Hill
WIS au enlvenea one during the day. rho Develop
ments that were made hourly have been OF vial in
terest 10 the Of public justice and 10 the pop
uiacc, while Infinitely more important to the man
under accusation
EVIDENCE.
TIC evidence deduced to- day marks crisis In the
case. When George ". Jones placed on the wit
stand and declared under oath that he saw Bill
ngs enter the Washburne house at least three min
before the shot was fred he advanced proof that
ust result the prisoners acQutai II II could not
be destroyed. But this particular Jones happens to
bo au unfortunate or unreliable momber OF that
numerous family. Although tho frontal to his Oh rs
tian namo Is George Washington, ana he
is an Irishmau, there are grave doubts On
tertaned respecting his vcracy. Jonos has
been shown to be parsonage OF mutifarious habia.
tions Questionable associations, varied occupations,
dubious relations and peculiar likes AMI diskes.
Jones also ntsmperate To say tho least, he showed
natural wit and shro owdncss In enduring i've hours
searching regarding his character
islics without showing embarrassment or making
contradictory statements Jones added another to
the list OF eccentric personages that have taken part In
this case. HIS livelihood was shown 10 To obtained
from his taonts musician, fisherman,
hunter, waiter. messenger, lnborer, sawyer,
painter, farm hand, c!oik, bartender, lumber
msu, boa,inau, coachman and drover, and at
iugton Jones 10 have been an unfortunate per-
sonagc, al least Tor Billings, on whom should uopend
for most vital part OF the testimony In connrma-
ton 0f alib In case the Washburne family assev.
erations should seem to bc sufficient. The prose-
cuon elected the fact, also, that Jones has, sincc
the weight and value Of his knowledge became known,
been EN- Dyed ana clothed by ths broIhers-n-aw OF
Billings, Nessrs Dey nd Baucus but thty muy have
done tnis soely TO keep him from slraying away.
There are vague rumors about the village that MIR.
Jones may perhaps be conclusivey contradicted Dy
persons who It SAID. VIII swear tna al tho
mad I'm a. rhar m m hnnt
KRFECr OF JONES TESTIMONY.
Joncs has at least succeeded IN creating q sem
foundation Tor large Iund OF speculative theories.
These generally terminate In Two material conclu-
aid 10 clear Billings get int" jail for perjury.
Which Of The two 1t will be The rebutuny evidence Will
determine.
| THE KILLINGS FAMILY.
Jennie Billings urives TO and from Saratoga Springs
| ana this village every day She will he summoned
the rebutting testimony. Jesse Biliiugs, sr, the
father o. the accused who is upward OF eighty years
of age drives from Northu Oerland this villa 60
| every morning and returns In the evening. Ho 10 u
SNOWY naireo physician, Is highly respected and
thoroughly known throughout all this region.
doctors whom all the townsiolk from youth
upward know and esteem Ho says that ne ne
healthy exercise He starts at Blk O'Clock, reaches
here early enough attend the opening OF court and
greets prisoner acctionately no emergcs from
| his cell every day; then accompanies him to tho
court chamber and sits beside hum through every
starts home, attends to his patients and manages his
sons large business affairs at home aurlng
has Kindly greeting Tor all, nrmly be.
leves In tho prisoners Innocence. Wnsn asked once
II ho thought jesse committed the crime he ex-
| claimed, with evident emotion and broken voice,
s.No no. no. never! Jesse has not u murderous
mind instincts. He was often WI ong. perhaps. Ia
| the quarres aud troubles with Eliza, but however
Jealous bitter or biasphemous she may have been my
boy Jessc not tho man who could put tina, gun u
his shoulder and so de,ioeralely take tue lilo OF one
| IL
| have been hlml 1 know of his troubles lie has
brought them to me co and oiton but noth NJ
yer make him desperate enough TO commit thal
| awful cnmc.n Ii wOuld seem AS II "a convection o
the accused would Kill this devoted and good parent
the ordeal oil the trti has not hardened his gentle
manner at all times, though 1t must affect tue peace
OF mind so venerable as that Of tho genial octo
genarian.
George W. Jones r,callod-was not ordered away
boarded at Glenn Duol's awhile; did not Know II was
house OF prostitution; dia not tell Duei's sou that
he didn't smut up would tell about helping To bury
his sister Roxy's baby dos,t remember helping Ie
know that there were iewd women kept at Duofs die
not tell James Mathis, about the 23d OF june that saw
horse at WashDurnc's, bnt did not know whether II
was Rinngs' or not: got Finnc's boat the night o.
the murder abou, eight O'Clock Of Mr. Firnc, befor,
Finnc gave the key Le went into the wagon
and got the oars; IT was about eight O'Clock that
went after the boat, have no watch or Clock 1t wal
not dark wncn got tho boat; II took me about ter
minutes to go and got the second KEY; went up th,
river then.
KILLINGS AT wAsHpURxE's AFTER rmE snor.
Ii was not dark when got opposite the Iane stait
there thrcc-quartcrs oi an hour; saw tho hors
driven up TO Wasnburne's; rowei righti aloDgsdo o
Billings as he drove along the road alter heard th
shot saw gray horse 20 up the road could soc IN
road from that polut as sat IN the boat tue bank
high opposite Washburnes house; dd not see an.
lights or hear any noss around tha, night; wa
catching hoodwood on tho river; tho next day wen
to work about niUo o'clock and staG iii noon.
U Ii you went on the river al nipe O'Clock an
sta,d I'll noon how could you have taKen the Key 4
Finne's at ten o'clockY A. Don't think said l wen
at ten O'Clock won't swear did say 50: the lane gal
was open that nlght Billings didn't have 10 get oc
OF his wagon to open the gate.
Re-cross-I knew wben the Coronor's jury was
Session thai Billings was suspected OF beng tue muI
dcrcr.
DOMESTIC RELATIONS OF PRISONER AND HIS WIFE,
Alpneus u. Davis, direct examination :-Have chare
of Mr.. Billings affairs ut Northumberland; went thei
, juno 10; was also there from the spring OF 1873
the spring OF 1876 was CLERK IN the store aud ave