Middletown transcript., 1878-12-14

extent, bringing out several bold eontradlc-
tions on the part of the witness. Both the di-
rect and cross-examinations Of Jones were full
and lengthy, continuing through the entire
morning session. There was considerable ar
gument on the part of the counsels in regard
10 bringing out the whole story about the
whipping and the motives that led to 1T. The
cross-vxamination of Jones was continued at
the beginning Of the afternoon session. An
drew Caulk, colored, was next called ana
stated how Jones had come to his house on the
night Of the alleged shooting-called him up
and stated that he had been shot Gauik, IN
reply to a question by Mr.. Pennington sald
tiBoss, was 4 skeered black man, shore"
Georre Johnson. colored, the next witness tes-
tilted in regard to hearing pistol shots on the
night Of the alleged shooting. Did not know
at what hour the shots were heard Thought
some one was shooting at coons. It was no
uncommon thing to hear shots during the
night. Joseph Roberts, Esq was called ana
exhibited plan of the spot and surroundings
Of the alleged shooting. Jones pointed ous 'he
place where the shooting was done, and before
be (Mr. Roberts) could measure the distance
to Caulk's house, Jones had fixed upon anoth-
er spot 2O6 yards from the first location OF tue
alleged shooting DR.. Howard Ogie was
sworn. He visited Jones on the Friday follow
ing the alleged shooting, and made slight
examination of his wounds. The wound hao
been cut By another physician, and could not
say positively, unless he had seen it before II
was disturbed. whether it was made by pls-
to ball or not was Of the opinion that y
could have been made by sharp instrument.
Trueman Rose was next called. lie proouceu
hat which Jones claimed to have had on At
the time of the shooting; hat had two holes
in it-one through the band and one through
the brim-supposed to be bullet holes. Inc
last witness called by the State was Isaac MAT
thews, who lives on an adjoining farm 70 that
Of Mr.. Dodson, and with whom Vincent ana
Newcombe worked He stated that the two
men above mentioned left his house on the
evening Of the alleged shooting, driving away
| in York carriage belonging to NeWcomDe
when he got up in the morning, at o'clock,
found them at home in the sitting room where
they had made fire; il was no unusual thing
for them to be away they were out almost
every night The State, after recalling Jones
| to fix the date of the assault, rested the case,
and George Gray, Esq, counsel for the de-
fence, addressed the jury for about fifteen min
utes. His remarks were brief, neat, forcible
and effective, and commanded the. utmost at
tention Of bench, bar, jury and spectators. At
the conclusion of Mr.. Gray's address, Alice DE-
Prettyman was sworn. On the Tuesday OF
the whipping James Jones came to the house
with her father and Mr.. Vincent; this was
about noon: Jones was taken to the branch
and made to dig for things he had said he had
buried, but nothing was found Jones then
acknowledged that he had lied, and had buried
nothing, but had made the story upi was thth
asked what should be done with him, and re-
piled that the "boys" might whip him; Vim
cent and Newcombe then tied his hands be-
hind his back aud whipped him with car
riage whip; Jones was then put in the meat
house. and Vincent and Newcombe went in
and took dinner with the family. The sub
stance of the remainder of Mrs. Prettyman's
testimony was that Jones was released from
the meat house about o'clock that evening,
under the promise that he would leave and
ntell no more lies." Vincent and NewcomDe
were then present, and spent the evening IN
the sitting room with Mrs Dodson, hersslfend
sister, and younger brother Mr.. Dodson re-
tired at eight O. o'clock she retired about eleven
O'Clock; eldest brother came homefrom church
at 10 80 o'clock Newcombe and Vincent re-
mained all night in the sitting room, and were
Just preparing to leave when witness came
/ down at O'Clock next morning. When Jones
was released from the meat house he immedi-
ately went away towards the road, and that
was the last seen of him. Dora Dodson was
next sworn and gave about the same testimony
of her sisler, only differing in some minor
points. Both these witnesses were subjected TO
a rigid cross-examination by Mr.. Pennington.
After he examination of Miss Dodson, court
at GP. NJ, adjourned until Wednesday. The
first witness called Wednesday morning was
Eliza Howard, colored, who lives in Mr.. Dod7I
sons house. She corroborated the evidence Of
MrR Prettyman in regard to the digging by
linn Jones: his failure to find what he had al
legged to have buried, and his final acknowi-
edgement that he had lied about the matter,
and his submission to the whipping. Did lot
see Jim after he was locked in the smoke
house. William A. Howard, husband Of Eli
"a. corroborated his wife's testimony saw
| the horses Wednesday morning their legs
were muddy had been running in the meadow
the day before and had not been cleaned
there were no harness marks upon them. Will
lard E. Dodson and Owen Dodson, sons Of Mr..
and Mrs. Dodson, corroborated the testimony
of their sisters in regard to the presence Of
Vincent and Newcombe in the sitting room at
10 80 Tuesday night Of the alleged shooting.
A number of witnesses were then examined in
regard to Jones' character and reputation for
veracity, all of whom testified that he was a
liar "to considerable extent" some agreeing
that he was notorious liar" Several gen
tlemen testified that they would not believe
him on his oath. We neglected to state that
in the beginning Of the examination the wit
nesses, both for the State AMI defence, were
excluded from the court room, being brought
in as their names were called, and had no op-
portunity of hearing each others testimony.
A number of witnesses then testified 10 the
good character Of the prisoners, after which
the defence closed, and A. P. Robinson, ESQ
for the State, addressed ihejury. He was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Gray, for the defence, in one Of
the ablest arguments and most touching ap-
peals ever heard in this court room. Charles
B. Lore, Esq, followed Mr.. Gray in an able
argument, after which Attorney General PEN
ninpton closed for the State The Chief JUS
tice delivered his charge, and at TAO P. NJ,
the Jury retired, re-entering the court room at
the end of forty minutes with verdict of mot
guilty" When the verdict was announced
there was a slight manifestation of applause,
which was promptly suppressed by the Court
The prisoners were then discharged. They
were then surrounded by their friends and con-
a