The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-15
JoNEys TRIAL ron PERJURY.
jesse BininRs's second Trial for Murder De-
pendina on the Hesuit.

BALBsToN, March H.-The trial of George
W. jones' the main witness for the defence in
the Billings murder trial. was begun in the
Court OF Sessions on Monday afternoon. There
was n large attendance. and everybody seemed
to manifest intense interos, In the proceed
ings. Billingss second trial depends on
the result. 1t may b. remembered Jones tcs-
titled at the Billings trial that on the evening Of
Mrs. Bilings's murder he WAS sitting in boat
which lie hal borrowed from Alvnzl Finnc.
hnd u few minutes before the report Of the SHOT
was heard he saw Billings drive 10y in the Iii
rurtion Of tho Washhurne residence. Finne
aud others denied that Jones had tho boat on
the day Of the murder and he WIS arrested ON
Charge OF perjury. The first attempt to in
dict Jpnes failrd, aud hc was discharged. The
recent Grand Jury found u true bill, howcyer.
ana he has been in Jail fvr several days. his
bondsmcn having surrendered him.
District Atorp.y Ormshy appprs Tor the peo-
pie. and J. \. L'AmurrnuN AM james L. Butler
ior the defonre. MIR. Ormsby ohio tod To the
constitution OF the court claiming that S. Fort
Brnt,. ono OF the JuHtcrs o. Sessions. having
d"fcndel Billings IN n published article, could
not legally sft and that conviction under the
present constitution OF tho court would bo IL
LEGAL. The defence objected To- tho introduction
Of afldavlts In support OF Mr.. Ormsby's motion.
County Judge CrHne. who prceides said the
other members Of tho Court could not try Mr..
Brou that tn" latter must act on his own re-
sponsibllity; and that II he insisted upon ait
ting there WIS no law to prevent him. The
upon tho minutes OF tho court against Judge
Cranes decision.
The entire afternoon Of Monday wns con.
sumod IN an ondehvOr to procure n Jury, and
when the Court adjourned no jurors had bsrn
accepted, although nineteen OF the thirty-six
jurors constituting the nancl had been drawn.
jury was not obtained until $3.50 r. NJ GU
"Wednesday, when the entire panel had been AK
hnusiod and eleven taitsmen summoned. One
OF tho jurors drawn Wus a witness for Billings,
and he was EXCUSED.
=, District, Attorney ormeby opened the case for
the peopls. briefly reviewing the testimony
given 10y Jones in the BllinRs trial and said
that while II was not denied that Jones had Dor
rowed Finne's boat the prosecution would not
only show that he did not borrow II on the day
Of the murder. hut that nj that time II was on
tn, Stoke and not in u condition to be used,
MIR. IAmorrauN moved 10 uuash the indict-
ment on the ground that II did not contain amy
legal allegation upon which to base a charge Of
wiliul and corrupt perjury.
The testimony OF the ur soner rs given In the
Billings trial was introduced In evidence Ono
witness testified that i've days prior 10 the muir.
der he tried to borrow Finnes boat but could
not obtain II because 1t wins freshly painted and
not in \ condition TO he used.
=, on wednesday three witnesses swore posi-
drred they saw Finnes boat IN his yard.
Fnne also testified, and narrated his story
IA told at the Billings trial, Jones hay
ng sworn on the murder trial that he only
borrowed Finnes boat once. that part Of his
~'sffnAo y'yas Int r7lc ,->i ~ ceAancb a.
witness WIS called who swore that ne was pres
ent when Finne let the boat to Jones. and that IL
WIS about three weeks prior to the murder
W. ~ ~ 10 ''t "
Intense interest IL manifested in the trial. II
was expected that Billings would be present
but he las not put in an appearance ms yet.
On Thursday several witnesses testified that
they saw Finne's boat In his yard at about the
time Of the murder. Finne was cross-examiued
~ length hut his testimony was not shaken
The people called eighteen witnesses in ALL and
rested their case. In the afternoon. after open
ing the defence. one witness swors positively
that he saw Finne launch his boat n day or two
prior to the murder n Mrs. Biilings. Dr. Bill
lnRs. Jesse's father. and many other near rula-
NFaA N Il p n In laNN
room.
To-day. six Witnesses for the defence we're
examined, all Of whom swore positively that
they saw the Finne boat In the water within a
lew days prior or subsequent to the murder Of
Mrs. Billings: One OF them. a canal boat cap
with Jesse Billings. Jr., about the case in New
York this week. and that among other ques-
money.