The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-23
rs JONES INSANE !?
Trial by Jury to Determine His
Condition.
GREAT CONFLICT OF OPINION.
Evangelists Rally in His Defense-An
Untrustworthy Administrator Re-
moved From Once.

The case of Charles Frank Jones. the ex-
newspaper man. charged with insanity.
was on trial yesterday before Judge Lich-
tenberg and jury, whom the accused had
demanded to try the case. 1t was begun
ct 10 o'clock in the morning, and had not
been finished at $50 in the afternoon
when court adjourned. The trial will be
resumed at o'clock this afternoon, when
the testimony for the defense will be con.
Guided.
When the case was called, the court
room was crowded with interested specta-
tors. The accused man appeared rational
enough In the courtroom, and made no
movement further than leaning over oc-
casionally to whisper suggestion to his
attorney, Frank II. Knapp Mrs. Jones.
who was one ofthe most import ant wit
nesses for the state, occupied seat inside
of the railing throughout the PROCEEDINGS.
Captain d. F. Willard and Lieutenant
F. L. Sims, of the city police force. both
testified to Jones' arrest after he had been
parading about Pioneer place with an
open Bible held aloft in one hand. an
American flag in the other and placard
inscribed with the word Freedom" fas-
tened across the front of his hat.
Captain A. III. Manning and ]. w.
Clothier testified to the same effect as the
officers, as did also DR.. George Newlands.
The latter's examination and cross-exami-
nation was thorough and entered some
what into questions of medical iurispru-
dence. The examination of Vince III.
Faben, an attorney, was O lengthy one
and brought out the same facts adduced
by the preceding witnesses.
Mrs. Jones was placed on the stand and
testified that she was married to the ac-
cused SIX years ago. Up to about a year
ago he had been dissipated and drank a
good deal. AT times he was very cross
and irritable Since he had found religion
his conduct had been milder He had
treated their child kindly and gave it
lessons from the Bible. He had said that
God had called upon him to go out and
preach. and that He would take care of
the wife and child. Having no support
from him, she had been compelled to open
boarding-h house.
Matte Easterly, a domestic employed
by Mrs. Jones, testified that she had seen
the husband quarreling with his wife on
the question of religion. He had taken
hold of her and thrown her on lounge.
The witness then left the room.
Most of the witnesses for the defense are
themselves interested in preaching the
gospel in public places, and from the gen.
eral tone of their testimony seemed to be
laboring under the impression that they
were defending the cause of q brother who
was being made martyr. The first to
testify was Rev. Z. b. Sutton, the prohibit
ton orator, and he made vigorous de-
tense of Jones. On cross-examination, in
response to a question by Mr.. Mcbride,
the assistant prosecuting attorney, as to
whether he had ever, in the history OF the
Christian religion, known of cases similar
to that of Jones, the witness replied that
they were numerous. He then launched
into lengthy dissertation, in which he
outlined the history of Jesus Christ, John
Wesley and Martin Luther, and told of the
prosecutions from the people. likening the
present case to theirs. In the middle of
spirited harangue, in the argumentative
style, which had lasted perhaps fifteen
minutes, he was interrupted by Judge
Lichtenberg, who said that he must con-
fine himself to answering the questions
Then followed fencing match between
Mr.. Mcbride and the witness, the latter
generally evading the question and never
giving a direct answer. The argument
grew very spirited, and tho two men
launched into discussion of the life and
time of Christ. Finally the court inter-
rupted. and declared that while the Bible
was well in its place and he would recon-
mend the study of it, they were not con-
sidering matters which happened 1892
years ago, but the present question of the
insanity of Jones.
The mex. witnes, was Mr.. James Eva,
whose testimony was similar to that of
Mr. Sutton, although not so lengthy nor
as srgumentative.
Colin A. Johnson testified that he had
been member of the Salvation Army for
years up til. about year ago. Since then
he has been connected with the City Mis-
sion, although he makes his living by
keeping store. He thought Jones per-
fectly sane. When asked by Mr.. Mcbride
he was not chum of Mr.. Jones', he re-
piled: II am chum of anybody who fol-
lows Christ"
Dr. +. A. Churchill thought that Jones
was not insane, but on cross-examination
admitted that his mind was not perfectly
sound.
Jailer w. I. Monroe who has had Jones
IN his charge for the last two weeks. testi-
he'd that recently his conduct was not
that of an insane man. When brought to
jail he was certainly not in his right mind.
lie thought that he grew better during his
confinement. He had not talked to him
on religion