The morning call., 1892-12-27
DYING IN PRISON.
The Story of an Old rIan's
AtrOCiOuS Crime.
LIFE STILL SWEET TO HIM.
George Jones VIII Escape the Ga.Iows
by Soon Expiring i'm the Alameda
County Jail.

swell. partner. life is sweet under the
most dismal circumstances. Here am a
poor, old paralytic. slowly dying, and all
the while resting under charge of murder.
Am l murderer? Impossible! My hands
have never been stained by the blood of a
fellew-man."
SO spoke the yenerable-looking George
Jones yesterday when / entered his cell at
the Alameda County Jail Eyes th at flashed
with an unhealthy brilliancy shone from
beneath shocky head of snow-white hair
as the prisoner rolled over on his cot and
scanned the features Of his visitor.
~ on look honest enough" continued the
old man after close scrutiny. 'but every
one can tell you that Pm not much given to
talking. Yes, / still cling to life III hop
OF seeing the dawn of new year. 1t will
bring no joys or blessings to me. for per-
haps The gallows awaits me If l ever re-
cover sufcien tiy to appear in court. They
say III at l killed Lorenzo DutiI, and many
circumstances bear out the charge. Never
theless I'm an innocent man, and not the
first TO become victim of circumstantial
evidence.
Poor old George Jones! Over 50 years of
age and paralyzed in the 10 wer limbs, he is
TO be ptied, indeed. The jailers do pity
him and have done everything possible to
make more pleasant his miserable exist
ence. For nearly eight years he has been
an inmate Of Alameda County's coy little
Jail. His cell is neatly furnished and car
peted. and rs much attention is paid him as
though he was millionaire
For years his case has attracted considera-
bic attention, and is rather puZzliug to The
physicians. At times the: aged fellow APP
pears somewhat cranky" and the jailers
humor him in every way. Twice week he
Is carried TO warm bath, carefully rubbed
down and returned to his cell.
What crime did he commit? you will
naturally ask. Circumstances point to the
conclusion that he committed most
tendish murder for the purpose of robbery
On the night of January Is 1855. Jones
was seen drinking in the saloon of Lorenzo
Dutil at Nineteenth street and San Pablo
avenue. Oakland: Late the same night Dutil
was found dead IL the place. He had been
knocked down by a bottle and his head
beaten in with a cobble rock. His money
and other valuables had been taken by the
assassin.
For several days the murder appeared
most mysterious and the Oakland police
were unable to discover any clew, except
that Jones, who up to that time had been
considered respectable gardener, was 10
the saloon on the night of the killing.
1t was an evil hour tor George Jones when
he imbibed of liquor that was red few
nights later. In short, he was arrested for
drunkenness. At the Oakland City Prison
evidences of the murder were found in his
possession. While being searched he at
tempted to conceal something in his right
hand. 1t was gold matchbox that had
belonged to Dutil and bore the murdered
mans initials. Then the officers remem-
bered that Jones had acted as though he
was throwing away something while being
taken to prison. They went back over the
route they had taken, and found some gold
and silver coin scattered along and Dutips
watch and chain.
Jones contradictory statements as to his
movements on the night of the murder
tended TO tighten the chain of circumstan-
tial evidence that was being. woven abo ut
him. mot guilty." was his plea from the
start. but on February Z, 1885, lie was COM
mitted for trial. La the Superior Court
such strong evidence was introduced
against the accused that jury found him
guilty OF murder in the first degree. On
July II. 1885. he was sentenced to pay the
death penalty.
Soon after this he secured new trial on
the ground Of newly discovered evidence
and errors committed during the first trial.
A lew months later when Ii was time for
him TO appear in court and have date set
for the second trial he refused TO leave his
cell. de said he was sick and unable TO
walk. At first the iailors thought he was
feigning sickness. but the attending physi-
clans decided that his lower limbs were par
alyZed
From time to time the case was continued
until eighteen months sgo, when the court
appointed a commission of physicians to
examine into Jones' condition and report.
Ihe doctors soon informed the court that
Jones could not appear in court unless
carried In on streteher. So his case has
never come up for second trial, and the
chances are that it never will.
Slowly and surely the disease is creeping
upward. DIR. Stratton. who has attended
the sick man for years, has taken a special
interest in the case from a scientific point
OF view. The spread of the paralysis is
slow and rather pulling 1t is only a cues.
ton OF time. however, when tbs disease
reaches the heart and death will end the
aged mans troubles. When will that be P
1t is impossible to tell, so the doctor SAYS,
but the poor old prisoner hopes it will not
be until after the dawn of the New Year
for has not life still charms for even such
wretched creature as he? CROMWELL,