Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-21
A CONUNDRUM.
Jurors Who Can,t Make Up their
Minds.

The trial of E. W. Jones on the charge O,
having attempted to poison his son, daugh
ter-fn-law and three other persons. who
were staying at the sons house In La Dow
district by mixing an arsenical preparation
called Trough on Rats" in their food, was
as stated in yesterdays HERALD, abruptly
interrupted on Friday afternoon, because a
doubt had arisen in 1.-The mind of Judge
Cheney from the testimony adduced, that
the defendant was sane at the time Iof the
| alleged crime or is now in the possession OF
his mental faculties. The court therefore
ordered special venlre for yesterday
morning in order to try the prisoner on the
issue OF his sanity. The following persons
were impanelled; Samuel Prayer, w, H.
Tuttle, John O'Neil, .Chas. Triekett, G. W.
Rowe, L. A. Preuss, g. w. Durfee, W. R.
Lewis. 4. A. Robertson, Robt Martin, E.
witnesses subpoenaed by prisoners
counsel were examined as to the men
tai status OF Jones before the com
mission s,n OF the crime with which
are all respectable farmers and gentlemen
living in the neighborhood of the defend.
ants old home, were of the opinion that
Jones was not In the full possession of ali
nVO0J06flGaI
question as to whether he was able or una
Bile to distinguish between rightful and an
unlawful act was generally parried by
equivocai or undecided answers. The wit
Gardner Rowland, Adolphus @. Russell. 8.
w. La Dow, F. b. Clark, ]. f. Ourrel, Geo d.
Howland, H. M. Green, VIM. Riley, Philip
MeAnaney,J. J. H. Snyder. aud Milton Lind
ley. ". Hill, prisoner in the county jail,
was also examined and gave it as his opin.
ion that Jones is insane.
For the People, Jailor J. Thompson, Dep.
uty Sheriff Darcy, and G. +. Lnm mis- of the
Times were examined, and said that the de-
latter witness stated that he had no doubt
at all that Jones was perfectly aware when
first arrested of what constituted the differ
ence between right and wrong. Ira B. Kill
trial. DR.. BioEnei, i's Wsilliam lam pfISstns Iyste4'
John Tufts, s. N. Davidson. M Doster
Robs Greenless, M ): Golding, Geo. A.
the daughter-in-law Of the defend ant, were
also examined: Their testimony was all in
favor Of Jones' sanity. though they admit
TED that he was peculiar. The last witness
said IN cros-examination. that she bore no
prisoner, was positive of the sanity of his
father. He admitted that six years ago
there had been talk in the family to have
Jones examined for insanity, and that he
possessed Of his mental capacities The
District Attorney offered to submit the case
without argument, but the attorneys for
Jones resisted the proposition. Both sides
made short argument and the case went
to the jury at AS. Trey returned into
court at s O'Clock and inquired whether 1t
was necessary that a unanimous verdict
should be reached. The Court SO oinstructed
them and they once more entered into de-
liberation. At ?. N. they had reached no
result and Judge Cheney went home, leav-
ing word that If any agreement was reached
before ten O'Clock, he should be sent for.
During the whole days examination
Jones appeared very little interested. He
leaned most all the time on his hand in a
listless manner and never communicated
with his counsel. His appearance was
gaunt and careworn. ~
At ten O'Clock at night the jury still fail
ing to agree, they were locked up for the
remainder of the night. 1t is understood
that they were eleven to one, and from all
thatcould be gathered that one was the only
one who believed that old Jones is insane