The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-15
THE COTTON KILLING.
MAGISTRATES HOLD COURT IN THE
OPEN AIR.
MUCH INTEREST MANIFESTED
IN THE TRIAL.
cuARlis r. JONES DrSCuARGED
FEon CUSTODY.
The Ca~c Against sohn Jones 30 he
Heard fo.Dsy The Funeral
Procssston Pass Near the
scene of tho lrfai.

Under a big mulberry tree. in the
shadow Of the ruins Of the old Burfoot
House, or a quarter Of a mile above tn,
Manchester end Of the street-cor line
justices Clayton. Hewlett and smith
the two last named being colored held
court yesterday afternoon, beginning
at 8 O'Clock and ending at Z. The occa-
sion was a preliminary examination OF
Charles T. and John Jones. who had
been arrested, charged with the killing
OF Alexander Cotton. some reference
10 which was made in yesterday 5
TINES.
About one hundred and fifty persons.
including boys. attended the prelimi-
nary examination. aud much interest
was manifested in il on account Of the
wide acquaintance ia Manchester, Rich
m0Dd. and Chesterfield Of the parties
accused aud Of the deceased. There
was two largo a crowd present for the
julices to conduct the examination in
the little shanty where Squire ilew-
lett generally holds court, and this was
the cause Of the adjournment to the
mulberry tree.
The parties accused were represented
by Judge James NJ. Gregory and Judge
George L. Hughes. Colonel w. /.
Giddings. father-in law Of Mr. Charles
T. Jones, was lso on hand. giving the
defense the benefit Of bis legal ex-
perience and knowledge, and Common
wealth's Attorney Cogbill was looking
after the interests Of the Common
wealth.
While the examination was being
conducted The remains % the murdered
man we're being taken to Maury cems-
terry, near by for intrrment, followed
b. large turnout OF Druids and Red
Men. in which organizations, as well as
in the Iron Hail. the deceased was a
prominent member
THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.
The first witness called Was j. w.
Tlnglc. lie related iu substance the
testimony given by him yesterday be
fore the CoronerA jury. published
fully ina The TIMES yesterday. lie sand |
that when Cotton was picked up of the |
flDOr ne WAS irHcnsib'e. but rallied |
somewhat afterwards. Cotton talked |
a littlesafter he was carried home. At
II o'clock he was taken with q stupor
and never said anything afterwards.
The witness then told about Cotton 5 /
condition up To the time Of death !
When the coiOred constable presented /
the bill 10 Cotton. he lCOttoml SAID he |
knew nothing Of the bil but ssught /
the goods were bought by Mrs Cotton. /
Witness SAID 10 Mr.. Cotton: Let us 20 /
Up and see Mr. Jones, aud pay the bill." /
aud added. we went up there. and /
just as got inside something was said /
about the bill. went out.
and as l clme in | heard Cot /
tom say: Mr. Jones. YOU have /
treated me d--d rascally.n Mr. Jones /
then asked: DO Won mean to call me "a
ID ra.caly and then made for Mr.
Cotton. One Of the ticks | received l /
think / got IL from Charles Jones.
The witness further stated that he
and Cotton lcft Morfissstt's store and
went up To Jones store; that he re-
marked TO the colOred constable: 1T /
was old man Cotton would not pay
that bill. Witness was led 10 make This
state msut because Cotton had said that
be lCottom) did not owe The money.
Subsequently the witness said that he
advised Cotton TO go and pay tire bill
il he lCOttoml had the money. Judge
Gregory questioned him closely. seek
ing reconciliation of the statement
a. to the payment of the bill. and the
witness adhered TO both of his state
ments-0ne 10 the effect that he would
not pay the bill if he was Cotton. and
the other that he advised Cotton 10 pay
the bill if he lCOttoml had the money.
The witness was at the end Of the lat
tice work IN the house when Young {
Cotton sand: Look at my father lying
down with his head burst open. /,
turned around and looked and saw Mr..
Cotton ON the floor. Winners said MIR. {
Cotton had no hing in his hand al the /
time. Young Cotton was close to his
father and could have seen if Mr.. Cot .
tom had anything in his hand. There ,
was only one colorcd man I'm the store ,
at the time-Jesse Elmunes. Witness ,
had lot been in the house more than
two minutes before he was struck. lie
got the blow on the
TOP OF MS HEAD /
before he received his other ticks
thought that the instrument used by {
John Jones was "a baseball bat saw a
Charles Jones run from around the
counter had nothing1n his hand then. a
but later ON he &C.. 4. Jones) had a
Ratchet. Witness was certain that I
&. 4. Jones had a hatchet III
ms hand. and heard Mr.. Cot d
tom tell Jones rot TO Init him. h
he never SAW &. +. Jones ctnke lick "a
with the hatchet, and did not believe
that any blows were dealt with IT,.
W hen he wen. la John Jones was at
the front door. Witness never tiied To q
strike Charles 7. Jones. but ran up. to
separate Jones aud Cotton.
Upon the REORGANIZATION witness q
acknow lodged that he had told Charles \
Jones that he tJlnCsi had treated Cot \
tom rascally. This WAS after the diff n
Guilty had started. 4
YoUNG COTTON. "
Alexander Cotton. Jr., was next T..
called. He c0Trob0rated the statement ~
Of Jingle rs 10 going to the store, aud ,
sad he saw John Jones s,Iike Mr. Tin ~
gle. but wes not certain that Joan Jones ~
struck bis father. "Nheu my iathe4 :
was falling said the witness. John q,
Tones grabbed Jingle Witness also \,
aid that his father never had ~
weapon that Mr.. {. T. Jones !,
ather had the halchet, aud .,
afterwards Charles Jones grabbed "
~ the Ratchet. when Mr.. Addison >,
Jones rushed IN with the Ratchet. ] 70
hoved hun back to keep him from -,
hitting MIR. Tngle. MY father asked III III
ir. Jones about The bill. Nj. Jones a.
and. Ma goI some things from the -
tore amounting TO four dollars. - '''
When father put bis hand In his -,
'ocket, Mr. Jones was behind
he counter. Father was going
l.. ..|