The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-23
EDWARD JONES IS GUILTY.
The Jury Said He Committed Murder In
The Second Degree.
IS YEARS IN THE PENITENTIARY.
Full Story OF the Sunday Evening Crime OF
Last June-The Testimony Was Com
ploto and Proved His Guilt.

In the Hastings Court yesterday Edward
Jones was on trial for his life.
The story Of the crime is still wildly re-
membered. Every one will recall that Sun
day-evening homicide which startled the in
habitants of Lumpkins Bottom, and which
made Edward Jones felon and q prisoner
On the l4th Of June-over month ago
Jones became involved in. or rather sought, n
quarrel with Lizzie Holmes, a negro girl. and
after striking her with his clenched hand,
hurled lighted lamp at her The lamp ex-
ploded. and the burning oil covered the girl.
injuring her so terribly that she only lived
twsnty-fOur hours
Jones endeayored 10 escape the penalty of
his crime by speedy fight, but there had been
a witness % the killing and tho slayer was
marked and easily captured by the police.
He was arraigned before the Police Court,
later indicted tor murder in the first degree
and on yesterday was placed before the bar
Of the Hustins Court t. be tried by jury.
THE TRIAL.
The trial began about ~ o'clock.
Jones was defended by the well-known
criminal attorney, Samuel 81. Page.
The prisoner is a rather good-looking mu-
lsttO. about twenty nine or thirty years Of
age and hos q face that is rather progresses
ing than otherwise. His eyes have not the
hardened stare Of tho Vicious criminal, and
there is little trace OF brutal feeling about his
mouth He seemed very sad yesterday. Most
OF the time his head was resting upon his
hand, and only when some strong point was
made did he look up.
Gray Evans. n cOlored man. was the first
witness introduced by the Commonwealth.
He testified that on the evening when the
killing occurred he was standing at one of the
rear windows of: his house. which overlooked
the scene of death. He saw Jones
come out of small building in the
rear Of Lizzies shanty on Union street.
and heard the quarrel which ensued. Jones.
il appeared owed Lizzie thirty-fye cents
which he refused TO pay. Bad words passed
between them, and then the witness saw the
prisoner strike the girl with his fist. She ran
from him into her house He pursued her
and, Selling a lighted lamp which was stand
on a table threw it at her with the fatal re-
suit that is now a matter of record
DR.. Dew, the surgeon who took the girl 10
the almshOuse in the city ambulance shortly
afterwards, testified that he took her 10 the
almshOuse, where she died the following al
ternoon from the effects Of the burning. On
the way the wounded girl made TO him a
dying declaration which cOrrObOrated Evans
testimony in every particular Its Gods
truth, Doctor" she said, / tell 1t because |
am about die.
EDWARD JONES STORY.
The prisoner was placed on the stand and
testified IN his own behalf, giving his version
of the story. He claimed that he attempted
TO take the lamp away from her and that the
explosion of the lamp and the burning was
purely accidental. He denied that Evans
story Of the affair was true.
Counsel for tho defense then introduced
Messrs. Langhorne Futney, Bennett and =. b.
ale be laff fs4S-
titled that Jones was steady. reliable man
and Of excellent character.
The Commonwealth then recalled Gray
Evans, who rebutted the prisoners testi-
mOny especially that part of 1t IN which the
defense shdeavored to prove that Evans
could not have seen the killing from the WIN
dow where he stood.
At this point the jury was taken down TO
the scene ofthe murder and examined it care
fully. II was plain To them that Evans was
in n position where he could see everything
that occurred in Lizzie Holmes back yard.
ARGUMENT BY BoTH sIDEs.
II was $50 when Commonweath's-At At
torney H. NJ Smith. Jr.. opened the case for
the Commonwealth, and forty-fve minutes
later when Dir. Page addressed the jury on
behalf of the prisoner
At 7.Os. after the Commonwealth had
summed up the evidence. the jury was sent
out.
The minutes went by until 1920 when the
jury filed into court and were tailed OFT.
Edward Jones. stand up" said the clerk
and then the prisoner looked into the faces Of
the jury. and heard them pronounce him
guilty Of murder in the second degree.
The verdict was thirteen years IN the State
penltentary.
After the verdict had been announced Mr..
Page moved that the verdict be set aside as
contrary b the law and evidence.
Judge Witt announced that he would post
pone sentence until to-day. and would then
FIX day agreeable 10 both attorneys when the
argued.
Jones was taken back to Jail, where ne is
passing the weary hours to-day.