The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-12
THE iNFANTlcIoE CASE.
John William Saunders Ananias
Changes His Story.

Tho coroner's jury which was in ses-
sion Wednesday MISUNDERSTANDING the
mystery surrounding the death of the
infant found that evening in the quarry
on kiu bali avenue, met promptly at 10
O'Clock yes'e day morning at G. W.
Sisters undertaking establish ment and
resumed the examination OF witnesses.
j. w. Shields, Jr cashier OF the Firs.
National Bank, first testified thai the
paper in which the child was found was.
no doubt, either taken from his home
or moro likely from tho Terry building
by the janitor or some OF his assistants
who cleaned up the b,nk That cir.
cumstances did not place any suspicion
on any OF the servants in his household.
Charlie Stanfeld, colored, aged about
III years, the chum and boon com
panion of that all.round disciple of
Ananias, John William Saunders, who
claimed to have found tho baby, was
placed on tho stand. AT this time and
at different times subsequently, during
the day when he was recalled, he told
prac ideally the same story. He said he
was with John William when he made
the find and that John Win an seemed
to know the bundle containing the baby
was buried in tho quarry before be
pulled it out. This witness seemed to
have some regard for the truth and the
variations in his narrative may be at
trihuted to extreme ignorance aud
fright. Tho jay was pilo,ed over the
ground by young Stanfield for an hour
or more. Ono or two other witnesses
were introduced but TO facts were
brought out whe n the jury I'D journed an
hour for dinner
John William Saunders was then
q p1onn1 ha Nd
telling the story in half d zan diff.
tere Mt ways without mucn interruption
from the Jury, admitted under rigid
cross examination that he did bury the
baby in the quarry and that n woman
named Louisa Jones promised him n
dollar If he would do so. That he was
ignorant of what the bundle contained.
but supposed it was clothes she had
stolen and wanted to hide for while.
That he believed this until he was dis
missed from school Wednesday even
ing when he. in company with Charlie
Stan6eld, vent to dig up the bundle 10
sec what it contained While making
this state ent the boy had the appear
anco of speaking the truth, looked
brighter and kept better c:untenance
than at any other time.
Two or three neg-o women we're here
examined without obtaining any in
formation, but while this was going on
through q mistake John William was
placed upstairs over the room. in which
the inquest was held, together with his
sister Phyllis and the woman. Louisa
Jones, whore the trio evidently fixed
up some testimony to suit the occasion,
for few minutes later John William
was recalled and sw. re he had been
frightened into making the admission
he did, but 1t was not true.
Louisa Joue denied the whole trans
action bitterly, but afterwards John
William again changed his mind and in
the presence of Louisa this changoable
witness ain asserted that she pro-
missed i'm 81 TO bury tho bundle and
this time faithfully stuck to this story.
Mrs. Dora Payne, a white woman who
lives between Salem and Railroad ave.
nues, near Randolph street, for whom
Louisa Jones sometin mes work2, was
sent for. but little evidence of import
ance was obtained. Her daughter was
summoned. but Mrs Payne stated sho
was too sick to attend. Ono or two
other unimportant witnesses we're
examined.
Louisa Jones was arrested and placed
in jail pending the investigation, and
the 10 portant witness. John William
Saunders. was also retained in custody
Charlie Stanfield and the other wit
nesses were released on their own re-
cognizance. Throughout the whole in.
vestigation the comm onwealth was ably
represented by w. FL. Saunders, Esq !,
who materially assisted the coroner and
the jury in examining the tnesses.
The body is still at Sisters place
whore tits hourly visited by numbers Of
curious persons.
The jury will meet this evening at
7:30 o'clock in the mayors office to con
tinue the examination. at which time it
is believed sufficient evidence will have
been secured to enable the Jury to ar
rive at verdict.