Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-04
aBABE" JONES' END.
At ELEVEN YESTERDAY MORNING.


PiTrsBrRsH. April S-GeorEs alias Babe
Jones, the calored boy murderer. convicted
of killing John Foster, also colorsd, was
hanged In the county jail yard this morn.
ing In the presence Of several hundred
spectators. Tns doomed boy net bis fate
unfiinchingly. He slept soundly last
night from nine o'clock until Ave this
morning when he arose and partook Of
hearty breakfast He then dressed him.
self in the new snit which he was 70 b
buried 10 and as hs stood before the look.
ing glass asked II The suit at him, AMI II
he wasn't we'll built boy. Father Ward
then administered spiritual, consolation
and promptly at eleven the Sheriff and
deputies arrived and notified him his
hour had come. He quietly aross and
after his arms were pinioned the march
was taken up to the scaffold. The oon.
demned exhibited no sign Of failing oour.
-sgs, and mounted the gallows with arm
step. He then shook hands with Father
Ward and Sheriff McCsllin, and In reply to
the question whether he had anything to
say whispered, "No." Wnen the moose Vas
placed around his neck he raised his chin
to assist in its proper adjustment Tae
white cap was then placed over his head,
and at ll:l0h the trap was sprung and
Jones launched into eternity. He died
from strApgulation, and the physicians
after the drop. The body was cut down
and this afternoon buried In st. Mary's
Cemetery.
JouSs' Crime.
The crime for which Jones was hanged
was the murder Of John Foster on the
morning OF April 4, 1852. TIE victim, Was
. co'o,d man employed - fireman on the
steamer Sampson No. 2, and was said 10 b
an industrious, sober and quiet man. The
only motive for the crime, % far % has
ever been learned, was that on the previous
afternoon Foster had prevented Jones aud
q ompan'on named John Hughes from
besting another colnred man. Jones sWors
he would be revepged on Foster for his 10.
tsIferrnse. About half-past eight the next
morning Foster was talking With Q com.
panion In front OF Martin Carnsy'a saloon
on Water St, with his back turned toward
Wood street, when babe" Jones turned
the corner OF the latter street. Az soon -
he caught, sight OF Foster, whose back Was
turned to him, he advanced quietly, until
within three PAGES Of his victim, drsw .
revolver and fired, the ball entering the
back at the right OF the dorsal vertsbrs
and lodging in the spinal canal. Foster
fell Immediately, but was caught BY Ben
Richards, TO whom he had been talking.
As soon 20 be had fred. Jones turned aad
fled up Water street, succeeded Ia eludins
arrest and escaped from the city. A few
days afterWAra be was arrested at Erie
by Officer Sol Coulson. After the
shooting Foster was taken TO the Central
Station and the next morning he vas taken
to Mercy Hospital, where he died July
rs. After the Coroners inquest BABE
Jones, Jesse Carter and John Hughes wsre
John Foster. Hughes was used as Wit
ness before the Coroner. aud gave dsmsg.
ing testimony sgainst Jones and Carter.
He said he had
Heard the Two Taikiss Abort Foster
when Jones said he was gins TO shoot him,
and asked Carter 10 stand by him, to which
Carter replied. "Yes, will. and I'll put
couple OF bullets In the e----- my.
self" It also transpirsd that Carter had
been with Jone, when the latter was hunt
ing pistol, and one witness said she bad
seen Carter near the scene of the shooting
when IL occurred. At the trial In the fol.
lowing September, the evidence against
Hughes being very slight he WAS dis.
charged, and was made Q witness Tor the
commonwealth
Jones and Carter we're both convicted OF
murder in the first degree. The csss wAs
taken to the Supreme Court aud the YER
dict OF the lower court wss sustained. ~
then went before the Board OF PArtons but
that body refused 10 recommend parton.
Several attempts were made 10 s:jre Q
rebearing Of the case, but without avail.
and finally the Governor signed the death
warrants OF the two men 70 DO eIscuted
April s. In the meantime Jones had msds
a conft ssion OF the crime and also sxoners.
ted Carter from completely therein.. on the
strsr 9Th OF which the Board OF Psrdons re-
nu.s:ed the Governor TO grant Carter Q re-
prisye for two months In order that his
sse might be rshesrd. This was done 80
Jones swung alone to-day.
Jones was young coiored man aoout 20
wears of sge, below the medium Insight, .
sou.droon In color and Of rather preposs.
-s,ipg appearance. He he'd been In the
city about ak months before this sfdf ,snd
was looked upon NJ . dangsrou, charsctsr.
who made q living by gambling spd ,hi.v.
ing. He was defended by Thomas u. N or.
shall VIM. Reardon snd Georgs Elphin.
stone Esul