The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-03-21
4 CELEBRATED CASE.
The Third Mistrial In the Case of Jones. OF
Edgefeld.

trial was entered this morning in the
case against Robert 7. Jones, which has
become celebrated over tho State fo1
several reasons, the first Icing that
nearly four years ago be committed the
most foul and deliberate cold blooded
murders ever perpetrated in this State or
upon any civilized community, except
those of his coequal, Voolfolk of Geor.
| gia, with whom he can divide "honors.' .
1t is celebrated, in the second place, on
account of its having been on the crimi.
nal docket for ten terms, and having been
tried four times; thirdly, on account Of
the prominence and eminence of the
counsel engaged in his prosecution and
defense; and fourthly, for the most as
founding and inexplicable reason that
three juries have made mistrial of the
case. Out of the forty.eight men who
have sat on his case, only twelve have
been found land that was at the second
trial who have done him the justice to
bring in q verdict of guilty of man
slaughter and the State and outraged
community The injustice of not making
their verdict guilty of murder"
Jones is butcher by trade, and on
the 18th of November, 1855, he domou.
strated that he was not only expert in
his avocation of slaughtering cattle, but
equally so in "butcheripg" human flesh,
is not necessary 10 go fully into the
testimony in this case at this time, as
every man, woman and child in South
Carolina, especially, is familiar with the
narrowing circumstances attending the
killing. 1t will be sufficient, therefore,
only to say that the facts are there as
proven on the stand at every trial which
has been held. Jones, in consequence
of misunderstanding between the three
Pressleys and himself about piece of
land which the Pressleys were renting
and which he, through the courtesy of
the Pressleys, va, living on free of rent,
determined to take the law in his own
hands and eject the Pressleys.
On the morning Of the 18th of No
vember, seeing Mr.. Edward Presley and
his two sons-Charlie ard Edward
ploughing this ground, he deliberately
proceeded to his house, got his gun, went
to the the field where they were, and
said to Charlie Pressly, Charlie, didn't
I tell you all not to work this ground
until it was decided who had the right to
plant it7" And at the conclusion OF
this little speech he took aim and emp.
tied both barrels Of his gun into Char.
lies side, killing him almost instantly.
Edward Presley, Jr., seeing that his
brother had fallen dead at the hands OF
Jones, and having no weapon about his
person with which 10 defend himself and
avenge the death of his brother. picked
up rock and advanced on Jones'
Jones, having discharged the contents Of
his gun, took to his heels, pursued by
Edward Presley, Jr. Jones ran sutli'
cient distance to enable him to get his
'butcher', knives ready for use and then
stopped, and as Edward ran up to him
he literally cut him to pieces. He must
have cut him at least seven times; hi:
heart was cut in two and his stomach
was ripped open. Leaving Edward dead
Jones coolly reloaded his gun and walk
ed back near to where he had kiilee
Charlie, and where old man Edward
Presley was standing, holding bis sor
Charles mare. When he got in abou
FIVE or ten feet of him he said to the OLE
gentleman: "Dog gone you, | will xii
you, too," and shot him down dead, hi
aged victim falling, as Jones, said on tn
stand, "at the crack Of the gnn." Oh
S1r. Presley was palsied, and rs year
old he could not have hurt a fly, so in
firm was he.
Jones was tried the first time for tn
murder of Charlie PRESLEY and the jur
failed to agree; on the second trial b
was tried for the murder of old Nj
PRESLEY and found guilty of manslugh
ter, and sentenced by Judge Norton
, the penitentiary for twenty-five years
: The Supreme Court gave him me-
, trial, and siuce then he has been trie
twice for the killing of Edward Pres:
ley, sr., aud mistrials have been th
j result.
, Jones has been on the stand fou
times, and every time has told his tai
| and recited the particulars of the killing
in manner that stamps him as q <oelt
; hearted creature. Itseems though he hf
friends who manage to get cn the jurie
for in no other way can the mistrials b
: accounted for, as the testimony again'
3 him is as strong as ever heard in cou
f of Justice. AS telegraphed you yeste
; day, the jury took the case under COZ
a sideration at S o'clock Saturday nigh
| After an effort for fifteen hours TO a
!, rive at verdict they sent for Judge a
drich this morning at II o'clock, viii
t the church bells we're ringing and II
t good Christian people were wendir
Q their way TO the different houses OF no
j. ship. On announcing that they coul
!. not agree, Judge Aldrich said +: "Wel
a gentlemen, am sorry you canno
i EdgeGeld County is noted in The anna
8 Of this State as q grand old County an
0 a proud County, and l am sorry that i
4 honor and reputation carnot be su
9 tanned by jury composed Of her cit
zeus." The attorneys for the prison
bit thir lips, and some Of the jurro
!. looked like their feathers had been CT
e Jones's case is remarkable one
d another respect: The crime he committ
J is so heinous that it is most horrible