The Dawson journal., 1883-05-10
THE OGLETHORPE TRACE
DY.
Trial and Conviction of Jones.
the Wife Murderer.
Savannah News.

LExINGroN Ga, April 23.-The
case OF the State against Joseph e.
Cohen, alias Joseph E. Jones, for
murder, was called last Tuesday, but
the defense was not ready. Some
material witness did not reside in the
county, but Judge Pottle immedi-
ately sent for them, and it was
Thursday afternoon before the case
could be brought to trial. On
Wednesday the excitement was
great Lynchiag the prisoner was
openly discussed on the streets, but
wiser. counsels prevailed and the law
was allowed to take its course. The
crime charged was the murder of a
poor, helpless woman the wife of
the murderer Jores-all because his
treatment to her was so cruel that
she refused to live with him. It
seems that after their separation he
made several attempts to persuade
her to go back and live with him, but
she refused. He hAally determined
that she should live with him or he
would take her life. Beyond a
doubt the murder of his wife was
premedltated. To show his cunning
he lett the county, saying that he in
tended to 60 to Texas, but was ab
sent only few days. During this
uine he went to Athens aud bought
self revolving pistol, returned to
the home of his wife and her mother
and concealed himself near spring
from which they used water. There
he remained from early in the morn
ing until L p, m., watching an oppor-
tuniiy to Kill both his wife and hen
mother, Mrs. Matthews.
As they did not show themselves
he finally became restless and left
his place Of concealment, and the first
they knew of his return he was
standing in the door with his pistol
drawn, threatening to blow THEN
brains out. He made them kneel
and made his wife promise to live
with him, and her mother Mrs. Mat
thews, to give him full control of the
| plantation and everything that was
on i. It was in evidence that be
ordered Mrs Matthews to leave hel
house for one hour She complied
with Mis- demands, and fastened tc
some hands she had at work near by
aud seat a runner TO the Glade. Z
small village near, for help. In &
very short time three gentlemen came
10 her assistance. On their arriya
all apparently was quiet. Jones and
his wife were standing uear the fence
she on. one side and he on the 9th
er He was stroking back her hail
and drawing his pistol at the same
tune. She discovered it and scream
Ell, "Oh, Joe, don't kin Inc he i
going TO kill me, and while shewal
| pleading with this brute for her lifC
he fired, the ball breaking her arm
and entering her side. He then seiz
ed her, and holding her firmly will
one Land, he raised the other will
the pistol drawn above her head
killing her instantly. Jones next at
tempt was to escape, but the gentle
mcn rushed on and secured him.
AL the evidence showed. it to bt
one of the mos, brutal murders tha
was ever committed. Tie old dodg,
Of insanity was put up for him, bu
numbers Of our medical experts OF
the stand swore they believed him t.
be a sane man His trial was one o
the most impartial l have ever wit
nessed The jurywas in their rocn
only few moments, when they re
turned verdict of guilty of murde
without any recommendation to ner
cy. On last alurlay, the 2l st
Judge Pottle passed the sentence o
death on the poor hardened criminal
He viii ba 8 on the 2Sth day Of May
| am tod by those who knew tha
the wife Of thi, fend was an amiabl
2 good woman Nothing could b
SAID against her character. She wa
connected with some ofthe best fam
: lies in OgfeShorpe county, and maj
| ried before she was thirteen year
D old,