The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-12-18
The Cox Murder Trial.


Sunbury. When the court house bel
rang Cox took his seat at the tabl,
usually occupied by counsel for tn,
defense; he was soon joined by hi,
attorneys Hon. s. p. Wolverton, Hon
A. II. Dill, Hon. Charles S. Wolfe
J. II. Vincent, Hill and son, and d
w. Cox, Esq, his brother. AT the
table for the commonwealth was seat
ed L. A. Mahan, district attorney
Lewis Dewart. Esq, and Hon. George
w. Ziegler, of Sunbnry, and Con
Smith, Esq, of Scranton, who has the
reputation of being one of the ablest
criminal lawyers in the state.
Several hours were occupied in The
selection of jury.
During the selection of the jury Co,
was Joined by his wife, accompanied
by lady friend, as well as by hi'
father, Charles Cox, ho:el keeper
residing at Mifllinburg, Union county
He was recognized by many friends
and associates at the adjournment oI
coult, who pressed forward to the bar
and warmly grasped his hand and
made many expressions OF a kind
nature. At the table occupied by the
attorneys for the commonwealth sat a
handsome young woman OF perhaps
thirty years; neatly dressed in black
tenderly caring for a little golden
haired child of perhaps twenty months
of age. Many eyes of sympathy were
turned towards her, as it was told
from one to an other through the vast
audience, that they were the wife aud
child OF the nnfp'tup''" Milo Jump,
who was the victim of CIx's revolver.
District Attorney Mahan made the
opening address to the jury. 1t was
a strong effort, foretelling in clear
unmistakable manner the line about
to be pursued by the commonwealth,
concluding by telling the jury that
they would produce facts that wonld
warrant them in finding the prisoner
guilty in manner and form as he stood
indicted
The first witness called was Mrs.
Lizzie Jump, the widow, who ascended
the stand bearing the little child in
her arms. She testified that she was
the W fe { Jump; that she saw him
lest in life some time in May last, and
that the next time was after his death
in June. She said the child in her
arms was Jumps. There was no cross
examination.
The next witness was E. G. Chesney,
a young man about 2S years of age,
who resides in Northumberland and
who accompanied Jnmn ~, the Pal
mer House-Cox = hotc' a Northu n
berland-on the 25th of June last, the
night of the shooting. When himself
and three companions-Jump included
approached the bar, one of them
asked for drinks; the bartender refused
Jump; Jump turned to leave the room,
when Cox entered the room and ex-
claimed, "See here, you -, did
not tell you to stay ont of my hpus".
you?" When Jump started for
the door Cox took him by the shoulder
and turned him around, put his hand
in his hip pocket, pulled his revolver
and shot him.
The first witness called on. Friday
was L. H. Bingham who testified sub
stantially, that on the night of June
25th last he stopped at the Palmer
House in Northumberland, the scene
of the murder. arriving there about
9:45 .. m When he arrived the band
was on the street playing. He went
into the wash-room to wash, when he
heard an alteration, apparently be-
tween persons in the bar-room He
heard some one, whom he presumed
was Cox, say, SECT out of my house.
l have told you often enough to stay
out of here Perhaps moment
later he heard the report of a pistol.
He at once rushed from the wash-room
and met Mr.. Cox in the reading.room.
On asking Cox the cause of the dis
turbance, Cox said, shat fellow has
robbed me, and have forbid his coming
into my house. He came in here to-
night, and l went to put him out, and
he raised his fist to strike, and l shot
him." Mr.. Bingham is conductor on
the railroad, and his testimony was
given with an air of frankness. He
being a stranger he knew nothing
further of the particulars or their
cause.
The next witness called was II. J.
Fisher, who was in company with
Jump on the night of the murder. He
told how he, Mr.. Chesney, Burg and
Jump went into the Palmer House on
the 25th of June and Bright, the bar
tender, refused to sell anything to
drink to Jump, who had asked for
soda. That while standing there Cox,
the proprietor, came in and ordered
Jump out, using the same language as
by the former witness. That
Jump started to go out and Cox put
his hand on Jumps shoulder and tried
to push him out of the screen door.
As be got Jump at the door after CIV
ing him shove and turning him
around, Cox drew from his hip. p.pocket
a revolver and shot him.
After Mr. Fishers testimony the
Commonwealth called large number
of witnesses, who testified substan-
TALLY the same. That Mr. r. J. Cox,
the defendant, snot Mr.. Milo Jump
was proved beyond a shadow of a
doubt. All testified that they either
saw Cox shoot or heard the report of
the pistol and saw him Immediately
afterwards. The pistol and the bullet
found in the lung of Milo Jump were
in evidence, as were also the clothes
worn at the time of the murder. When
the clothes were exhibited, Jumps
who, with her little babe, sat
along side of the District Attorney,
wept bitterly, her little babe laughing
in her arms az what seemed to it an
uncalled for proceeding.
A number of witnesses were examin-
ed on Saturday and their testimony was
corroborative of those previously heard.
developing any further par
tlculars the prosecution rested, and
counsel for Cox opened for the de-
fense.
Mr.. Cox's family physician was the
first witness called for the defense. He
stated that Cox had been suffering for