The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-06-24

aration continued for more than a week.
The climax was reached on Sunday
evening, FEBRUARY az. The three Jones'
were then living in the Sargent house,
in the custody of the sheriff. There
were present on that evening Sheriff
Ballard, Mr.. Cotton, friend of the pris-
onerS, and several ladies'. Suddenly
knock Mt the door was heard and the
house was found to be surrounded by an
armed and masked mob, who demanded
tn see the sheriff. When Mr. Ballard
came forward he was ordered to leave
the house with all the inmates exccpt
the three Jones' He demurrcd, but as
threats were made that the house would
be burned he deemed it hest to leave,
Col. Charles Jones, Cuthbcrt Jones, and
his brother remaining behind. They
fastened the doors securely and sought
| refuge in the lower front room. The
'Ioneses were we'll armed. When the
attack began the father was standing
near near the hcdstcad, whcrcon he
rested his wounded right arm, and held
revolver in his left pointed at the door.
The eldest son had two revovcrs, one in
each hand. Cuthbcrt Jones was armed
with single weapon. They had bare
ly prepared for the defence when the
door was burst open with axes and the
| RI in
shots fired simultaneously, and Col.
Jones fell mortally wounded. The elder
son desperately wounded, tottcrcd out
into the garden in the rear, only to be
shot to death by one of the mob who
stood over him, revolver in hand, as he
lay gasping.
Cuthbcrt Jones had fed up stairs, and
the mob rushed up in search of him.
His escape from death that night was
almost miraculous. Fearing to leap
from the window, Cuthbert stepped out
along the lower sill. and hung bctwcan
the window and the ground on n narrow
ledge, just wide enough for him to get n
fair grip with his fingers. Thus he
swung sixty feet above the ground.
His hunters broke into the room, saw
the open window and looked out. 1t
was pitchy dark night, and the men
held torches out to see if Cuthbert was
visible anywhere. Although the torch
es almost touched him, the young man
was not seen, for no one could have i'm
agined he was hanging there. The feat
could only have been accomplish by a
young gymnast. When Cuthbcrt strug-
gled back into the room he fell faintinp
upon the floor. His hands were so Grip
pied that he could not use them. The
enemy wes gone, and he fled to the rv-
or, swan or rode down it, and sought
refuge on passing steamer, only to find
himself in the presence Of several Of his
fathers murderers. One Of these recog-
nizcd him, but spared his life, and Sc
| cretcd him in the hold under a pile Of
cotton bales.
He reached New Orleans several days
later, but it was asserted that some Of
the mob had tracked him to the city
and had threatened to murder him there.
| He found tho murdcrers around his
dwelling, and becoming alarmed sought
another asylum in secluded portion Of
the city, where strong police force
guarded him. The State officials assis
ted him to escape from the country and
he fled to Europe, where he joined his
mother.
Thus ended the Liddcll Jones rued.
Nothing WAS ever done with any y: the
murdcrcrs. The young man lived
wandering life OIL the con tincut. His
rowing lie was ended by his appoint
mcnt by Grant to the consulate at Trip
oil. He proved good representative in
Earbary, as his reports show. He was
spoken Of for preferment, and WAS
candidate for several offices. but always
abroad, for he showed no inclination to
return home. Had he not hecn sugges-
ted as consul to Callso the fued would
have been allowed to rest and have soon
been altogether forgotten.
WAGNEIs'S WONDROUs STORY.
A Seige Without a Parallel in the
1 IkzA.